Mark 11:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The sheer volume of sellers and goods, along with the tables laden with money, stalls for vendors, various sacrificial animals, the bartering, conflicts, deceitful practices, and commotion made the area around Solomon's porch the most chaotic and noisy in all of Jerusalem. This entrance had originally been designated for the prayer and worship of the Gentiles, who were prohibited from advancing further. Instead of finding inspiration and edification, any earnest Greek or Roman visiting Jerusalem and Solomon's temple had to endure the same noise and disruptions typical of a marketplace. Is it any surprise then that rather than experiencing reverence for the God of Israel, these visitors developed negative thoughts about His ministry and its servants? Thus, the holy name of God was dishonored among the Gentiles due to Israel's own actions. It was not due to a lack of space that part of the temple had been transformed into a trading area. At the base of the mountain where the temple stood, and outside its confines, ample open space was available for the merchants. However, these areas were less convenient, as the fees for licenses to trade were not so burdensome for the temple authorities, which was the crux of the matter. Self-interest fueled this disorder, and because it was backed by those in power, it reached alarming heights, though many of the principled individuals had long been dissatisfied with the situation. At the outset of His ministry, during the first Passover, Jesus had already condemned the practice of commerce within the temple, expelling the merchants (John 2:14-16). Now it was even more imperative. By accepting the title of Son of David, or Messiah, He assumed the obligation before the people to address the chaos that had infiltrated divine worship, as everyone anticipated that a significant role of the future Messiah would be to reform the practices of worship and restore ancient piety and proper order. The magnitude of the disorder was such that it demanded attention. A holy zeal surged within Jesus! Like a messenger from God, and with a voice that made sinners and hypocrites tremble, He called for an immediate cleansing of the outer court. His demand was met with approval from the disciples, bystanders, residents of Jerusalem, and visitors; even the merchants sensed they were in the wrong place and complied in silence. Some hesitated, wanting to resist, but this only provoked the crowd, who interpreted the command of the Son of David as a directive from God Himself. In mere moments, the animals were expelled, the tables and benches overturned, and the money bags cast aside; the atmosphere transformed from turmoil to tranquility. The goodness displayed was such that no one was permitted to carry anything foreign through the narthex (Mark 11:16).

During festival week, the influx of Jews—sometimes numbering two or even three million—turned the court of the Gentiles into an especially chaotic and unseemly scene. On that day, according to the law, many would select and purchase the Passover lamb, exacerbating the disarray. There could be no justification for transforming the house of the Almighty, which was meant to be a house of prayer for all nations, into a space reminiscent of sordid dens where thieves divide their loot. Christ waited until the temple was restored to a condition of reverence and tranquility before commencing His teaching.