Lent · Third Sunday in Lent · Year B
John 2:13-22 (23-25)
Jesus Clears the Temple
February 28, 2027
Overview & Insights
“Zeal for your house will consume me.” (John 2:17)
Jesus’ first visit to Jerusalem, like each of his subsequent visits, takes place in connection with one of the Jewish feasts. He comes as a pilgrim, to keep the Passover Feast. In particular, the wording of verse 13 corresponds closely to that of 11:55, which signals the last Passover and the beginning of Jesus’ Passion. When the notice here in chapter 2 is followed by an account of the temple cleansing, an event associated in the other Gospels with the Passion week, it appears that this first Passover is indeed the last and that the events of Jesus’ Passion are about to start. The impression has been created because the Gospel writer has transferred the temple cleansing almost to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. This is more likely than supposing that Jesus actually cleansed the temple twice.
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Take it further: John 2:13-22 (23-25)
Commentary
Enduring Word Bible Commentary John Chapter 2Enduring Word Bible Commentary Jn Chapter 2 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik works verse by verse through the temple cleansing and the sign of raising the temple of Jesus' body.
Commentary on John 2:13-22Commentary on Jn 2:13-22 Working Preacher
The exact RCL Lent 3B Gospel, read as John's early relocation of the temple act to signal Jesus as the new temple.
John 2:13-22 CommentaryJn 2:13-22 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary on why John moves the cleansing to the start and ties it to Jesus' body.
John 2 CommentaryJn 2 Commentary Precept Austin
A deep evangelical study collating multiple sources on the temple scene with word notes and cross references.
John 2:13 CommentariesJn 2:13 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic public-domain commentaries (Ellicott, Pulpit, Barnes) gathered verse by verse for the passage.
Third Sunday of Lent, Cycle B, Sunday Connection Loyola Press · Sunday Connection
Catholic family and catechetical helps drawing worship reflection out of the temple Gospel.
Background & Word Study
John | Enter the BibleJn | Enter the Bible Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on the authorship, structure, and themes of the Fourth Gospel.
Book of John OverviewBook of Jn Overview BibleProject
An animated walk through John's design and signs, setting the temple scene in the whole-book flow.
John 2:13 InterlinearJn 2:13 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek text word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers for close reading of the passage.
Sermons & Reflections
Worship & Prayers
Questions preachers ask
What happens when Jesus cleanses the temple?
Jesus drives out the money changers and, challenged for a sign, speaks of the temple of his body, which he will raise in three days.
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