Cleansing of the Temple

Jesus confronts corruption and commercialisation in the house of prayer.

In the temple courts, Jesus drives out exploitative commerce and declares the temple intended for prayer, intensifying hostility from the authorities.

Scripture

Matthew 21:12-17 Mark 11:15-19 Luke 19:45-48
Matthew 21:12-17

12 Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers' tables and the seats of those who sold the doves.

13 He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den of robbers!"

14 The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.

15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children who were crying in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the son of David!" they were indignant,

16 and said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" Jesus said to them, "Yes. Did you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing babies you have perfected praise?'"

17 He left them, and went out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there.

Mark 11:15-19

15 They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the temple, and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of those who sold the doves.

16 He would not allow anyone to carry a container through the temple.

17 He taught, saying to them, "Isn't it written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations?' But you have made it a den of robbers!"

18 The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.

19 When evening came, he went out of the city.

Luke 19:45-48

45 He entered into the temple, and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it,

46 saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of robbers'!"

47 He was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people sought to destroy him.

48 They couldn't find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said.

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