“Respondit Jesus, et dixit eis : Solvite templum hoc, et in tribus diebus excitabo illud.”
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
“Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.””
“Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.””
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
(2.) Christ's answer to this demand, v. 19. He did not immediately work a miracle to convince them, but gave them a sign in something to come, the truth of which must appear by the event, according to Deut 18 21, 22.
Verses 12-22 The first public work in which we find Christ engaged, was driving from the temple the traders whom the covetous priests and rulers encouraged to make a market-place of its courts. Those now make God's house a house of merchandise, whose minds are filled with cares about worldly business when attending religious exercises, or who perform Divine offices for love of gain. Christ, having thus cleansed the temple, gave a sign to those who demanded it, to prove his authority for so doing. He foretells his death by the Jews' malice, Destroy ye this temple; I will permit you to destroy it. He foretells his resurrection by his own power; In three days I will raise it up. Christ took again his own life. Men mistake by understanding that according to the letter, which the Scripture speaks by way of figure. When Jesus was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered he has said this. It helps much in understanding the Divine word, to observe the fulfilling of the Scriptures.