Cleansing of the Temple

Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple (El Greco, Washington)

The cleansing of the Temple narrative tells of Jesus making people who sold animals leave the temple in Jerusalem. These people provided animals used in the Jewish rituals of sacrifice. Jesus also drove out the money changers. The temple required that only special coins be used to buy the animals or donate to the temple. Sometimes they were corrupt and cheated people who came to worship. Jesus says they are turning the Temple into "a den of thieves".

Major events in Jesus's life in the Gospels
Birth Baptism Temptation Commission of Disciples and Apostles Sermon on the Mount Miracles Entering Jerusalem Cleansing of the Temple Last Supper Promise of the Holy Spirit Arrest and Trial Death and Resurrection Great Commission Ascension Second Coming Prophecy

The Synoptic Gospels tell of this happening near the end of Jesus' life. It was one of the reasons that the Jewish leaders opposed Jesus. The Gospel of John puts it near the beginning of the three year ministry of Jesus. This makes some Bible scholars think this happened two times and others think it refers to a single time.

Cleansing Of The Temple Media

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  Driving of the Merchants From the Temple by Scarsellino

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  Herod's Temple, referred to in John 2:13, as imagined in the Holyland Model of Jerusalem. It is currently situated adjacent to the Shrine of the Book exhibit at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

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  Christ Driving the Money changers from the Temple by Theodoor Rombouts

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  Christ Driving the Money Changers out of the Temple Valentin de Boulogne

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  Cleansing of the Temple. Unknown artist

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  Casting out the money changers by Giotto

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  Christ driving the money changers from the temple by Jan Sanders van Hemessen

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  Christ Expelling the Money-Changers from the Temple by Nicolas Colombel

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  Christ Cleansing the Temple by Bernardino Mei