Mark 11:15

“This account of the multitude of sellers who were cast out of the temple is given by all the evangelists; but John introduces it in a remarkably different order.” — editor's note: Matt. xxi. 10–13; Mark xi. 15–17; Luke xix. 45, 46; John ii. 1–17.

“Then the said Mark subjoins the statement that He came into Jerusalem, and that, on going into the temple, He cast out those who sold and bought there, as if that incident took place not on the first day specified, but on a different day.” — editor's note: Mark xi. 11–17.

What the Lord had done in figure, when He cursed the barren fig tree, He now shews more openly, by casting out the wicked from the temple. For the fig tree was not in fault, in not having fruit before its time, but…

He calls moneychangers, changers of a particular sort of money, for the word means a small brass coin.

Because the Holy Spirit appeared over the Lord in the shape of a dove, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are fitly pointed out under the name of doves. The Dove therefore is sold, when the laying on of hands by which the…

But if a man by sinning gives up to the devil the grace and purity of baptism, he has sold his Dove, and for this reason is cast out of the temple. There follows: “And would not suffer that any man should carry any…

He speaks of those vessels which were carried there for the purpose of merchandise. But God forbid that it should be taken to mean, that the Lord cast out of the temple, or forbade men to bring into it, the vessels…

[This] according to Isaiah [Isa 56:7]. “But ye have made it a den of thieves,” according to Jeremiah. [Jer 7:11]

He says, “to all nations,” not to the Jewish nation alone, nor in the city of Jerusalem alone, but over the whole world; and he does not say a house of bulls, goats, and rams, but of prayer.

Further, He calls the temple, “a den of thieves,” on account of the money gained there; for thieves always troop together for gain. Since then they sold those animals which were offered in sacrifice for the sake of…

For they were in the temple for this purpose, either that they might persecute with corporal pains those who did not bring gifts, or spiritually kill those who did. The mind and conscience of the faithful is also the…

John, however, relates this in a very different order, wherefore it is manifest that not once only, but twice, this was done by the Lord, and that the first time was related by John, the last, by all the other three.

Which also turns to the greater condemnation of the Jews, because though the Lord did this so many times, nevertheless they did not correct their conduct.

In this again, Mark does not keep the same order as Matthew; because however Matthew connects the facts together by this sentence, “And He left them, and went out of the city into Bethany,” [Matt 21:17] returning…

But the Evangelist shews what effect the correction of the Lord had on the ministers of the temple, when he adds: “and the Scribes and Chief Priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him;” according to that…

Matthew 21:12 and Mark 11:15 share the same wording (29 words).

Cited together in Jerome on Mark 11:15–18 (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Jerome on Mark 11:15–18 (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Glossa Ordinaria on Mark 11:15–18 (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Mark 11:15–18 (2) (Catena Aurea).