In the Temple at Jersusalem, the Jews were going to celebrate the yearly Pasch. With His disciples, Jesus went there to attend the feast. When Jesus was about to enter the Temple. He saw men selling oxen, sheep and doves for the sacrifices. Also present were many money-changers.
Jesus saw the buying and selling, and heard the great noise made. How sad and angry He was! Taking a whip of cords, He drove away the sellers, and overturned the tables of the money-changers. He said to those that sold doves, "Take away those things. Do not make of My Father's house a market-place."
The Jews angrily asked Jesus, "By what right do You do these things? Show us a sign."
Jesus replied, "Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up." He was speaking of His own Body, but the Jews did not then understand Him.
The Pharisees and Scribes began to hate Jesus. The Pharisees were those Jews who had studied the Law, but obeyed only its form and letter. They were hypocrites. Although they did not love God, they thought themselves much better and wiser than other men. The Scribes explained the Law to the people.
The Pharisees and Scribes were jealous of Jesus because the people loved Him. He was everybody's Friend. They found fault with Him because He went with publicans and sinners, although they knew well He did so only to make these good.
The publicans were the collectors or tax-gatherers, for the Roman emperor. They were often harsh in their tax-gathering. The Jews disliked them very much.
But Jesus was kind to those whom everyone knew to be sinners. He was kind even to Samaritans, and other tribes despised by the Jews. At that time the Jews believed it wrong to be friends with other tribes. They thought that the Jews were the only worthy people. Jesus, however went with Samaritans as well as with Jews. The Pharisees came to hate Him to much that they planned to put Him to death.
- from My Bible History in Pictures, by Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow, D.D., 1934; it has the Imprimatur of Archbishop Michael J O'Doherty of Manila, Philippines