Matthew 21:12-17

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

12 Then Jesus entered the temple courts ^[a] and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. ¹

13 And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ ^[b] But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’ ^[c]”

14 The blind and the lame came to Him at the temple, and He healed them.

15 But the chief priests and scribes were indignant when they saw the wonders He performed and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”

16 “Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’ ^[d]?”

17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night.

Cross References

• 1. (Mark 11:15–19; Luke 19:45–48; John 2:12–25)

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally the temple; also in verses 15 and 23; BYZ and TR the temple of God
• [b]. Isaiah 56:7
• [c]. Jeremiah 7:11
• [d]. Psalms 8:2 (see also LXX)