What is the cleansing of the Temple narrative about?
Q: What is the cleansing of the Temple narrative about?
A: The cleansing of the Temple narrative tells of Jesus making people who sold animals leave the temple in Jerusalem and driving out the money changers.
Q: Why did Jesus drive out the money changers?
A: The temple required that only special coins be used to buy the animals or donate to the temple, and the money changers were sometimes corrupt and cheated people who came to worship. Jesus says they are turning the Temple into "a den of thieves".
Q: When did this happen in the life of Jesus according to the Synoptic Gospels?
A: The Synoptic Gospels tell of this happening near the end of Jesus' life.
Q: Why did the Jewish leaders oppose Jesus?
A: The cleansing of the Temple was one of the reasons that the Jewish leaders opposed Jesus.
Q: When did the Gospel of John put this event in the life of Jesus?
A: The Gospel of John puts this near the beginning of the three year ministry of Jesus.
Q: What do some Bible scholars think about the timing of this event?
A: Some Bible scholars think this happened two times and others think it refers to a single time.
Q: What was the purpose of the people who sold animals in the temple?
A: These people provided animals used in the Jewish rituals of sacrifice.
