Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Mark 11:17 - 11:17

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Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Mark 11:17 - 11:17


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17. ἐδίδασκεν. Mt. once more (see on Mar 6:34, Mar 10:1) mentions healing where Mk and Lk. mention teaching; but Mt. records more of Christ’s latest teaching than they do. Cf. Act 3:2. Although Jesus had allowed Himself to be proclaimed as the Messiah, yet He goes back to His old work of teaching (and healing). He shows that His mission is still, not to reign, but to serve (Mar 10:45); He went on teaching and saying to them.

Οὐ γέγραπται; He again appeals to what “stands written,” for which they professed such reverence, while they habitually ignored it (Mar 2:25, Mar 7:6-7, Mar 10:6-7, Mar 12:10; Mat 21:16). The quotation follows the LXX. of Isa 56:7.

πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν. For all the nations. Not only Mt., but Lk. also, omit these words, which looks as if Lk. had not Mk before him at this point. The words have special significance, for it was the Court of the Gentiles that Christ was restoring to its proper purpose as a “house of prayer.” Cf. 1Ki 8:41-42; Joh 12:20. See on Mar 13:10, Mar 14:9.

ὑμεῖς δέ. All are held responsible, all who took part in, or countenanced, the traffic. Renan, Vie, pp. 215, 344.

πεποιήκατε. More accurate, as covering both past and present, than ἐποιήσατε (Lk.) or ποιεῖτε (Mt.).

σπήλαιος λῃστῶν. A robbers’ den. A.V. often obscures the not unimportant difference between the mean, purloining κλέπτης and the violent λῃστής, who is more of a “brigand” or “bandit” than a “thief.” See on Joh 10:1; Joh 18:40. These words come from Jer 7:11, where the Prophet is exhorting the Jews to avert judgments by repentance, as Christ does here. The reference may be to the extortionate charges; διὰ τὸ ὁμοίως τοῖς λῃσταῖς φιλοκερδεῖν (Euthym.); or λῃστής may be used of any kind of flagrant offender. In any case, as Origen says, these traffickers were doing in the house of prayer τὰ ἐναντία τῇ εὐχῇ.