Cleansing of the Temple

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The Cleansing of the Temple is a New Testament episode in which Jesus drives out merchants and money changers from the Jerusalem Temple, condemning the commercialization of sacred worship.

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Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf New Testament episode
biblical narrative
event in the life of Jesus
artisticDepiction common subject in Christian art
associatedWithQuote My house shall be called a house of prayer
You have made it a den of robbers
biblicalReference John 2:13–17
Luke 19:45–46
Mark 11:15–17
Matthew 21:12–13
category Events in the Gospels
New Testament miracles and signs
chronologicalPlacement near the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in the Gospel of John
near the end of Jesus’ ministry in the Synoptic Gospels
describedIn Gospel of John
Gospel of Luke
Gospel of Mark
Gospel of Matthew
featuresAction condemning buying and selling in the Temple
driving out merchants
overturning tables of money changers
hasMainSubject Jesus Christ
surface form: Jesus
hasOutcome heightened conflict between Jesus and religious leaders
hasTheme condemnation of commercialization of worship
critique of religious corruption
purity of the Temple
zeal for God’s house
interpretedAs challenge to Temple authorities
symbolic act against economic exploitation
involvesObject seats of those who sold doves
tables of money changers
languageOfPrimarySources Koine Greek
liturgicalUse read in Holy Week in many Christian traditions
portraysCharacter merchants selling animals for sacrifice
money changers
relatedConcept Temple cleansing
den of thieves
house of prayer for all nations
religiousTradition Christianity
Second Temple Judaism
significanceInTheology example of prophetic protest
prefiguration of judgment on the Temple
sign of Jesus’ authority over the Temple
takesPlaceIn Jewish Temple
surface form: Jerusalem Temple

Jewish Temple
surface form: Temple in Jerusalem
timeContext Second Temple Judaism
surface form: Second Temple period

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem precedesEvent Cleansing of the Temple