ACC ~ Mark 11 v15 - 19

OVERVIEW:

Before gloating over the driving out of the traders from the temple, remember that divine judgment on the church in history may be equally severe (BEDE). The textual evidence may indicate that the scourging of the sellers happened on two different occasions (AUGUSTINE).

11:15a | He Began to Drive Out Those Who Sold and Those Who Bought

THE TWO REPORTS

AUGUSTINE: This account of the many sellers who were cast out of the temple was reported by all the Evangelists, including John, but in his case he introduces it in a completely different order. … John proceeds to tell us that he went up to Jerusalem at the season of the Jews’ passover, and when he had made a scourge of small cords drove out of the temple those who were selling in it. This makes it evident that this act was performed by the Lord not on a single occasion, but twice over. Only in the first instance was it recorded by John, but in the last by the other three. [1]

HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS 2.67. [2]

[1] Cf. Mt 21:12-13; Mk 11:15-17; Lk 19:45-46; Jn 2:13-17.

[2] Cetedoc 0273, 2.67.129.231.15; NPNF 1 6:160**.

11:15b | He Overturned the Tables of the Moneychangers and the Seats of Those Who Sold Pigeons

DRIVEN OUT

BEDE: He scattered the fraudulent traders, and drove them all out, together with the things that had to do with the carrying on of trade. What, my beloved, do you suppose our Lord would do if he should discover people involved in disputes, wasting time gossiping, indulging in unseemly laughter, or engaged in any other sort of wicked actions?

Remember: when he saw traders in the temple buying the sacrificial offerings meant to be made to him, he was prompt in getting rid of them. [1] … These things should cause us great perturbation, beloved; we should dread them exceedingly with well-deserved fear, and carefully avoid them with painstaking diligence, lest he come unexpectedly and find something evil in us, as a result of which we should rightly be scourged and cast out of the church. EXPOSITION ON THE GOSPEL OF MARK 2.1. [2]

[1] HE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL | MARK 1:1-5

[2] Cetedoc 1367, 2.1.39; HOG 2:23*. Cf. Jerome Commentary on Matthew 21.15 (CCL 77:188).