ACC ~ John 2 v14 - 15

THE HOUSE OF THE SAVIOR’S FATHER

ORIGEN: He found in the temple, which is also said to be the house of the Savior’s Father, that is, in the church or in the proclamation of the sound message of the church, some who were making his Father’s house a house of merchandise. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.133. [1]

[1] FC 80:286; SC 157:466.

SELLING THE HOLY SPIRIT

AUGUSTINE: Nevertheless, in order to seek the mystery of the deed in the figurative meaning, who are they who sell the oxen? Who are they who sell the sheep and doves? They are those who seek their own interests in the church rather than those of Jesus Christ. [1] Those who have no desire for redemption have everything for sale. They do not want to be bought; they want to sell. Yet surely it is for their good that they be redeemed by the blood of Christ so that they may attain the peace of Christ. For what profit is there in acquiring anything temporal or transitory in this world—whether it be money, or gorging oneself on food or achieving high honors from your fellow human beings? Are not all things smoke and wind? Do not all things pass on in a moment? And woe to those who want to hang on to passing things, for they pass with them!… My brothers, those who seek such things sell them. For Simon [Magus] too wanted to buy the Holy Spirit for that very reason—because he wanted to sell the Holy Spirit [2] —and he thought that the apostles were the kind of merchants that the Lord drove out of the temple with a scourge. But he was the one who was actually such a merchant, wanting to buy what he might sell. He was of those who sell doves. For the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove. [3] Therefore, brothers, who are those who sell doves—who are they except those who say, “We give the Holy Spirit”? Why do they say this and at what price do they sell? At the price of their own honor. They receive for a time bishops’ seats as their price, that they may seem to sell doves. Let them beware of the scourge of ropes. The dove is not for sale; it is given gratis, for it is called grace. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.6.1-3. [4]

[1] Phil 2:21.

[2] Acts 8:9-24.

[3] HE WORD IN THE BEGINNING | JOHN 1:1

[4] FC 78:216-17.

THE ONE LATER SCOURGED, SCOURGES HERE

AUGUSTINE: He, who was to be scourged by them, was first the one who scourged. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.5. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:70*.

WHY SUCH VIOLENCE?

CHRYSOSTOM: But why did Christ use such violence? He was about to heal on the sabbath day and to do many things that appeared to them transgressions of the law. However, so that he might not appear to be acting as a rival to God and an opponent of his Father, he takes occasion to correct any such suspicion of theirs…. He did not merely “cast them out” but also “overturned the tables” and “poured out the money,” so that they could see how someone who threw himself into such danger for the good order of the house could never despise his master. If he had acted out of hypocrisy, he would have only advised them, but to place himself in such danger was very daring. It was no small thing to offer himself to the anger of so many market people or to excite against himself a most brutal mob of petty dealers by his reproaches and the disruption he caused. This was not, in other words, the action of a pretender but of one choosing to suffer everything for the order of the house. For the same reason, to show his agreement with the Father, he did not say “the holy house” but “my Father’s house.” See how he even calls him “Father,” and they are not angry with him. They thought he spoke in a more general way, but when he went on and spoke more plainly of his equality, this is when they become angry. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 23.2. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:81**.

THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THE WHIP

HERACLEON (VIA ORIGEN): [Heracleon says] that those found in the temple selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money-changers sitting, represent those who give nothing away free but suppose the entrance of foreigners into the temple to be a matter of merchandise and profit. They furnish the sacrifices for the service of God for the sake of their own profit and greed…. The whip, in turn, was made from cords by Jesus, who did not receive it from another…. The whip is an image of the power and activity of the Holy Spirit who blows away the wicked…. The whip, the cord, the linen, and all such things are an image of the power and activity of the Holy Spirit…. The whip was tied to a piece of wood. [1] The wood is a type of the cross… that the gamblers, the merchants and all evil have been nailed upon and destroyed by this wood. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.212-214. [2]

[1] Origen correctly notes that this detail is added by Heracleon.

[2] FC 80:302**; TS 1 4:68-69.

JESUS ABOLISHES THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: Having a symbolic purpose in mind, Jesus obscured his intent with allusions instead of stating plainly what he was doing. He thought that his hearers could not understand yet what he said. The disciples themselves did not understand either, as the Evangelist observes. They believed that by driving away the sellers of cattle and sheep, he abolished the market, but in truth what he meant was that the sacrifices of animals would be abolished. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 1.2.13-18, 19. [1]

[1] CSCO 4 3:61. See also Origen Commentary on the Gospel of John 10.138-39 (FC 80:287).