John 2:20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 2:12-22

Here we have, I. The short visit Christ made to Capernaum, John 2:12. It was a large and populous city, about a day's journey from Cana; it is called his own city (Matt. 9:1), because he made it his head-quarters in Galilee, and what little rest he had was there. It was a place of concourse, and therefore Christ chose it, that the fame of his doctrine and miracles might thence spread the further. Observe, 1. The company that attended him thither: his mother, his brethren, and his disciples.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 2:17-22

2:17-22 His disciples remembered that there is a scripture which stands written: "For zeal for your house has consumed me." Then the Jews demanded of him: "What sign do you show us to justify your acting in this way?" Jesus answered: "Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews said: "It has taken forty-six years to build the Temple so far, and are you going to raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his body. So when he was raised from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 2:20

Then said the Jews ,.... Unto him, as read the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions: forty and six years was this temple in building ; which cannot be understood of the temple as built by Solomon, for that was but seven years in building, 1 Kings 6:37 . But rather of the temple, as built by Zorobabel, commonly called the second temple, and might be more properly said to be "this temple"; the calculations of this made by learned men, are various and endless to recite. Daniel's... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 2:20

Forty and six years was this temple in building - The temple of which the Jews spake was begun to be rebuilt by Herod the Great, in the 18th year of his reign: Josephus. Ant. b. xv. c. 11, s. 1; and xx. c. 9, s. 5, 7. But though he finished the main work in nine years and a half, yet some additional buildings or repairs were constantly carried on for many years afterwards. Herod began the work sixteen years before the birth of our Lord: the transactions which are here related took place in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 2:20

Verse 20 20.Forty and six years. The computation of Daniel agrees with this passage, (Daniel 9:25;) for he reckons seven weeks, which make Forty-nine years; but, before the last of these weeks had ended, the temple was finished. The time described in the history of Ezra is much shorter; but, though it has some appearance of contradiction, it is not at all at variance with the words of the Prophet. For, when the sanctuary had been reared, before the building of the temple was completed, they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 2:12-22

(2) The second sign Supremacy over the theocratic house. Illustrations of righteousness, reverence, power, and sacrificial ministry. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 2:13-22

Christ in the temple. He went up straightway to the Passover at Jerusalem, for he honoured every ordinance of the old dispensation so long as it lasted. I. THE ACT OF OUR LORD IN THE TEMPLE . His ministry must open in the temple, which was the sanctuary of Judaism, and it must open with an act of holiness rather than a display of power. 1 . His attitude was the subject of prophecy. "The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple … he shall purify the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 2:13-22

The honour of the Father's house. Going to Jerusalem meant going to the temple, so far as Jesus was concerned. Where could he go more fittingly than to what he calls his Father's house? Jesus could not but think how often the Divine glory had been manifested in that temple, how many generations of worshippers had trodden its courts, what countless offerings had been presented, what multitudes of beasts had been slain. All places of religious assembly are a grand testimony to man's need of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 2:20-21

The immediate reference of the words to the building before them was only one of a thousand misapplications of the words of Jesus. The seeds of truth which his words contain would take root in after days. Meanwhile the Jews answered and said— taking the obvious and literal sense of the words, and treating them with an ill-concealed irony, if not scoff, to which our Lord made no reply— In forty and six years was this temple built as we see it today. This is one of the most important... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 2:20

Then said the Jews ... - The Jews, either from the ambiguity of his language, or more probably from a design to cavil, understood him as speaking of the temple at Jerusalem. What he said here is all the evidence that they could adduce on his trial Matthew 26:61; Mark 14:58, and they reproached him with it when on the cross, Matthew 27:40. The Jews frequently perverted our Saviour’s meaning. The language which he used was often that of parables or metaphor; and as they Sought to misunderstand... read more

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