Category:Cleansing of the Temple (subject)

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The Cleansing of the Temple refers to an episode in the Passion of Jesus. The episode is narrated in the Synoptic Gospels (Mark 11:15–19; Matthew 21:12–13; Luke 19:45–48), as well as in the Gospel of John (John 2:13–22), although with a different chronology.

Passion of Jesus : Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem -- Cleansing of the Temple -- Plot to Kill Jesus -- Anointing of Jesus -- Betrayal of Judas -- Last Supper -- Agony in the Garden -- Arrest of Jesus -- Trial of Jesus before the High Priest -- Peter's Denial -- Trial of Jesus before Pilate -- Trial of Jesus before Herod Antipas -- Barabbas -- Flagellation of Jesus -- Mocking of Jesus -- Way to Golgotha -- Crucifixion of Jesus -- Burial of Jesus

< Life of Jesus : Nativity of Jesus -- Childhood of Jesus -- Jesus' Hidden Years -- Ministry of Jesus (Parables of Jesus, Miracles of Jesus) -- Passion of Jesus -- Resurrection of Jesus -- Relics of Jesus >

Overview

The Cleansing of the Temple is one of the few events in the life of Jesus that is recorded by all four "canonical" Gospels.

The setting in Mark-Matthew-Luke is that of the final confrontation of Jesus with the Temple authorities during his final visit to Jerusalem. It was a direct attack to the Temple's sacrificial system, carried out during the critical time of the Passover by an organized group of people. As such it was an offense that the Temple police could not overlook. Jesus' destiny was sealed.

The Gospel of John was aware that the event took place when "the Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." However, it changed the chronology, by moving the event at the very beginning of Jesus' preaching, turning it into a teaching about the role of the Holy Spirit in the interpretation of Jesus' words.

Scholars tends to support the Synoptics' chronology, as the episode makes more sense at the end of Jesus' ministry. It was this open challenge to the authority of the Temple that likely prompted the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus, as explicitly stated by Mark and Luke. The tendency of the Gospel of John was to downplay the political aspect of the final confrontation. The causus belli was rather the Raising of Lazarus; the emphasis shifts on the religious claims about Jesus, which now separated the Johannine community from "the Jews".

Cleansing of the Temple, in ancient sources

Gospel of Mark

Mark 11:15–19 (NRSV) -- 15 Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; 16 and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 He was teaching and saying, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers." 18 And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. 19 And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 21:12–13 (NRSV) -- 12 Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but you are making it a den of robbers."

Gospel of Luke

...-> Talents -> Cleansing of the Temple ...> Plot to Kill Jesus -> Betrayal of Judas -> Last Supper ...->

Luke 19:45–48 (NRSV) -- 45 Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; 46 and he said, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers." 47 Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.

Gospel of John

John 2:13–22 (NRSV) -- [13] The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 He told those who were selling the doves, "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!" 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." 18 The Jews then said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews then said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?" 21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.