salem, are only related by St. John. For some wise reason the other three G-ospel writers were inspired to leave out this part of our Lord's history.
H. — [Found in the temple those that sold, <&c.] The presence of oxen, sheep, doves, and money-changers, within the temple courts, is easily accounted for. The animals were intended to supply the wants of Jews who came to the Passover and other feasts, from distant places, and required sacrifices. For them the dealers in oxen, sheep, and doves, were ready, within a few yards of the altar. The changers of money came naturally enough where buying and selling went on, to meet the conve- nience of Jews who had nothing but foreign money, which they wished to exchange for the current coin of Jerusalem. The tendency of the whole custom was evidently most profane. It was no doubt connived at by the priests from covetous motives. They were either connected with those who sold animals and changed money, and shared in their profits ; or else they re- ceived a rent for the privilege of carrying on business within the sacred walls. No doubt they would have pleaded that all was done with a good intention ! Their end was to provide facilities for worshipping Grod ! But good intentions cannot sanctify un- scriptural actions. As Dyke says on the passage, ''No pretence of good ends can justify that which is forbidden by G-od."
When we are told that our Lord found all this going on '* in the temple," we must of course understand that it means " in the courtyards surrounding the temple, — within the precincts of the temple." But these courtyards, we must remember, were regarded as part of the temple, and therefore holy ground.
I am inclined to see in this visit of our Lord to the temple at His first appearance in Jerusalem after beginning His ministry, a partial though very imperfect fulfilment of Malachi's prophecy : " The Lord whom ye seek shaU suddenly come to his temple." (Mai. iii. 1.) While the Jewish nation was expecting the ap- pearance of a conquering Messiah with power and great glory, the true Messiah suddenly appeared in the temple, and declared His presence, not by exhibiting temporal power, but b}^ insisting on greater purity in the temple worship, as the first thing which the nation needed.
That a fuller and more complete accomplishment of Malachi's words remains yet to come, I feel no doubt. But like many Old Testament prophecies about Messiah, the words were purposely intended to have a double fulfilment, — a partial one at Messiah's first coming to suffer, a complete one at Messiah's second coming to reign.
The great majority of the best comment ators hold that our Lord cast out the buyers and sellers from the temple twice, once