And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
And he went into the temple, and began (or proceeded) to cast out - but no mention is here made of the "whip of small cords" with which this was done the first time (John 2:15). It is simply said now, He cast out "them that sold therein, and them that bought" - "and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple" - that is, the temple-court. 'There was always,' says Lightfoot, 'a constant market in the temple, in that place which was called "The Shops," where every day was sold wine, salt, oil, and other requisites to sacrifices; as also oxen and sheep, in the spacious court of the Gentiles.' The "money-changers" were those who, for the convenience the people, converted the current Greek and Roman money into Jewish coins, in which all temple dues had to be paid.
The "doves" being required for sacrifice, as well as young pigeons on several prescribed occasions, could not conveniently be brought from great distances at the annual festivals, and so were naturally provided for them by dealers, as a matter of merchandise (see Deuteronomy 14:24-26). Thus the whole of these transactions were, in themselves, not only harmless, but nearly indispensable. The one thing about them which kindled the indignation of the Lord of the Temple, now traversing its sacred precincts in the flesh, was the place where they were carried on-the profanation involved in such things being done within an enclosure sacred to the worship and service of God-and the effect of this in destroying in the minds of the worshippers the sanctity that should attach to everything on which that worship cast its shadow. On His "not suffering any man to carry a vessel through the temple," Lightfoot has a striking extract from one of the rabbinical writings, in answer to the question, What is the reverence due to the temple? The reply is, That none go through the court of it with his staff and shoes and purse, and dust upon his feet, and that none make it a common thoroughfare, or let any of his spittle fall upon it.