traders to depart ; nor did any of the people dare to oppose his sovereign command.]
This act of his could not fail of attracting universal notice :
It discovered,
1. His holy indignation against sin —
[Such a profanation of the temple was indeed a grievous sin : nor could his righteous soul behold it without the utmost abhorrence. His anger was justly excited by the indignity offered to his Father. To have felt it less, would have been a crime ; and to have refrained from manifesting it, a mark of cowardice. We indeed are not called to manifest our dis- pleasure in the same authoritative way ; but we should never behold sin but with pain and grief; nor can our indignation be ever sinful, provided it be directed against sin as its object, and be felt only in proportion to the malignity of the offence committed. We can never err, if we follow the example of those eminent saints b — .]
2. His courageous zeal for God —
[The priests themselves were accessary to the dishonour done to God : if they did not encourage it for gain, they at least promoted it by connivance. Thus they, no less than the traders, were interested in maintaining the abuse, and, no doubt, would be forward to uphold it with all their power ; but Jesus feared not the face of men, though all should com- bine against him. He resolutely determined to suppress these gross abominations, and, without any regard to consequences, set himself to perform his duty. Thus should we move un- daunted in the way of duty ; nor ever be deterred from it by the dictates of carnal policy0.]
3. A miraculous power over the minds of men —
[What but this could prevent their rising against him ? He detected their hypocrisy, reproved their impiety, mortified their pride, opposed their interests, and loaded them with disgrace. He did this singly, unarmed, unsupported, and in opposition to the existing authorities : yet, behold, they were all constrained to yield submission to his will. We cannot doubt but that he miraculously overawed their minds : nor was this a less exertion of omnipotence than any other of the miracles which he wrought.]
The sight of these things particularly affected his immediate followers, and brought to their recollection
b Ps. cxix. 53, 136, 158. Jer. ix. 1. <= Jer. i. 17.