John 2:13–16

Followeth, Christs going up to Jerusalem at the Passeover, and (which is the first branch of this part of the chap.) his purging of the Temple, wherein he fulfilled that prophecie, Mal. 3.1, 2, 3. in the beginning of the solemn execution of his office; and declared his glory as much as in the former or any miracle, having not a lifelesse creature in its obediential subjection to work upon, but Satan acting in malicious men to oppose him; The pretext of this abuse, which he reformes, was taken partly from the Law, Deut. 14.23, 24, 25, 26. requiting, that those who dwelt far off, should bring money and buy their sacrifices at Jerusalem; partly, from the condition and other ordinances of the Jewes; as of old the males, from twenty years old and upward, did pay half a shekel to the Lord, according to the Law, Exod. 30.12, 13, 14, 15. So we finde that practice continued, 2 King. 12.4. 2 Chron 24 9. beside other voluntary oblations of all sorts of persons, which are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, all which did occasion the necessity of changing greater coine into lesser, as the word in the Original signifieth. Others of them living in divers countreys, needed to have their strange coin changed into currant mony to buy sacrifices. Now the covetousnesse of the Rulers brought these things into the outer Court of the Temple, under a pretext of having them near at hand to the people, and that the cattel that were there, had been already overseen by the Priests to be perfect: if not also, that they were more acceptable which were bought there. These corruptions Christ reformeth, partly, by terrour and force; driving the men and their cattel out with a scourge made (belike) of the cords wherewith they led and tied the cattel, and overthrowing the Tables with the money; and partly, by his word, commanding some to take away their commodities, and forbidding all to prophane the Temple with their merchandise. What is here said concerning the Temple, is not to be applied to places set apart for publick worship under the Gospel; (for, however it be a fault to apply such places to common and prophane uses, especially to the impeding of publick worship, except in the case of necessity, yet they are not typically holy as the Temple was) but to the Church of Christ. Doct. 1 The observation of Easter and such like dayes is a Jewish rite, proper to them, and not belonging to the Christian Church; for, John, who wrote last, knew it for no other then the Jewes Passeover, or, a feast of theirs. 2. Christ our Lord went up to Jerusalem at the Passeover, in obedience to the Ceremonial Law, yet in force, Exod. 34 23. and that he might take occasion in the concourse from all places in this publike time, to publish his office and doctrine. By the first, to teach us condescendence and reverence to all the Ordinances of God, and by the second, that we should neglect no occasion of promoving the honour of God in our stations. 3. Great abuses may creep into the visible Church, and corruption may get far in; for, so was it here, He found in the Temple those that sold oxen and sheep, &c. This one was the fruit of many more. 4. The covetousness of Church-men is the great breeder and entertainer of abuses and corruptions in the House of God, whatever be the pretences they are cloaked with; for, this was the rise of the abuses here. 5. There is no hope of reforming abuses in the Church, till Christ come and take order with them; and when such as should see to it, will not, Christ will finde a way for it, though he will not approve of mens following any unlawful course, or to which they have not a calling to promove this; for, here Christ cometh to purge, and when the Civil Magistrate was Heathen, and cared not for Religion, and the ordinary Church rulers had an hand in the transgression; yet Christ doth it by his absolute Authority, as Lord of the house. 6. When other means faile, Christ can use violent remedies, and by plagues put sinners from their courses; Yea, when he cometh to reforme, he may see it just to smite the very creatures for sinners cause. So are we here taught, in that by force, be drave them all out of the Temple, and the sheep, and the oxen 7. Our Lords face is very terrible when he is angry, even in his abasement; and a weak mean of Reformation in his hand, and assisted with his power and terrour, will serve the turn; for, when he had made a scourge of small cords (more fit in appearance for affrighting children, then for this work) he drave them all out, and none durst resist him. 8. It is the duty of all such as are employed in a work of Reformation, to testifie their zeal and integrity, by not minding or seeking their own things under pretext thereof; so much doth Christ: practice teach, who poured out the changers money, and overthrew the Tables, but put none of it up. 9. There ought to be no tryfling nor composition in the matter of corruptions in the House of God no lesse must satisfie then putting them out at doors, as here Christ doth. 10. Corruptions, even after they have been cast out by Christs own hand, may yet creep in again into the House of God; in which case Christ will deal more severely; for, Christ, having purged the Temple in this first year of his Ministry, hath it again to purge of the same evils, Matth. 21.12, 13. in the last yeare, where, in stead of an house of Merchandize, he chargeth them with making it a den of thieves. 11. Reformation will not be through, when only force and violent remedies are applied to purge, unlesse instruction be joyned with it, to take out the roots of corruptions out of mens mindes, and to make them willing to concurre and reforme themselves; for, Christ joyneth his Word here, bidding some take these things hence, and warning all not to abuse his house. 12. As Christ is Lord and heire of his Fathers house, the Church, Heb. 3.6. and therefore careth for it; so all who have relation to God as their Father, their heart will rise in his quarrel, when his honour, house or service are wronged, nor can they endure the presence of what desireth his house; Make not, saith he, my Fathers house an house of merchandize. 13. Albeit men would passe over faults done to Gods house, and beare with them, yet Christ will not, but in due time will see to the redressing of them; as here we see in this instance. 14. Things lawful, being done in a wrong time and place, become sin, as it is also unlawful to spend what is dedicated to God, in common or prophane uses; both which are reproved in this, Make not my fathers house, dedicated to him, an house of Merchandize, though Merchandize be lawful in its own time and place.