Matthew Poole and continuators on John 2:19

19 Jesus answered and said unto them , Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up .

Our Saviour refuseth to give them any sign, but that of his Resurrection the third day from the Dead. This was the sign to which he afterwards referreth the Pharisees, Matth. 12.39. Luk. 11.29. Our Saviours words must not be understood, as commanding or licensing them to destroy him; but as foretelling what they would do. It is in Scripture, very ordinary to use the Imperative mood for the Future tense of the Indicative, see Gen. 42.18. Deut. 32.50. Isa. 8.9, 10. and 54. 1. Ioh. 13.27. Destroy, is as much as, I know you will destroy, or if you do destroy this Temple, I will build it up in three days. The Resurrection of Christ from the dead, is ordinarily in Scripture attributed to the Father; but here Christ saith he would do it, and the Spirit by whom he is said to have been quickned, equally proceedeth both from the Father and his Son. Nor is this the onely Text, where it is attributed to Christ, see chap. 20.17, 18. It was the work of the Trinity, out of it self, and so the work of all the three Persons. These words were three years after this made a great charge against Christ, Matth. 26.61. but they reported them thus: This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. He said onely, the Temple, meaning his Body.

Marginal references: Matt. 27.40. Mark 14.58. and 15.29.