31 · Action of Jesus

Jesus Clears the Temple

Mark 11:15–19

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Jesus overturns a money changer's table in the temple courts while adult merchants and visitors react; no weapon or whip is visible.

Jesus confronts the temple's misuse with prophetic words.

Was Jesus angry about trade in the temple?

Choose a perspective

There is no score – choose the perspective you find closest and discuss why.

Discuss: When can religious institutions begin to work against their purpose?

After your discussion: compare with our assessment

Our assessment

A takes Jesus' first scriptural quotation seriously. His criticism is framed in relation to the temple's intended function as a house of prayer “for all nations.” It is therefore too narrow to reduce the scene simply to Jesus disliking money. C takes the Jeremiah quotation seriously. In Jeremiah 7, the “den of robbers” language appears within a larger context of injustice, false security, and people coming to the temple while violating God's will.

31 · Mark 11:15–19

Go deeper

Text & context

Full translation

15 They came to Jerusalem. He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves, 16 and he would not allow anyone to carry any object through the temple. 17 He began teaching them and said, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 The chief priests and the scribes heard this and began seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 When evening came, they went out of the city.

Translated from the Greek text – SBLGNT

What is happening here?
Jesus comes to Jerusalem and enters the temple courts. He begins driving out those buying and selling, overturns the tables of the money changers and the seats of the dove sellers, and prevents people from carrying objects through the area. Mark does not present the action as wordless. Jesus begins teaching and interprets what is happening through two prophetic texts. The first comes from Isaiah 56:7: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” The second echoes Jeremiah 7:11: “But you have made it a den of robbers.” The chief priests and scribes respond by seeking a way to destroy Jesus. The temple confrontation therefore becomes an important part of the escalating conflict leading toward his death.
Notice this

Jesus does not only say what the temple should not be. He says what it should be: “a house of prayer for all nations.” Also notice how Mark places the story: Before the temple scene, Jesus looks for fruit on a fig tree and finds none. Then comes the temple scene. Afterward, the fig tree has withered. Mark does not explicitly say, “The fig tree symbolizes the temple.” But the placement creates a strong literary possibility of reading the stories together and asking what “fruit” Jesus is seeking.

Language & translation

From the Greek

ἤρξατο ἐκβάλλειν – ērxato ekballein

began to drive out Ekballō is a forceful verb that can mean drive, cast, or send out.

κατέστρεψεν – katestrepsen

overturned Mark describes a concrete physical action. Jesus overturns tables and seats.

οἶκός μου οἶκος προσευχῆς κληθήσεται – oikos mou oikos proseuchēs klēthēsetai

my house shall be called a house of prayer Jesus' wording echoes Isaiah 56:7.

πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν – pasin tois ethnesin

for all nations These words are important within the Isaiah quotation. The intended function of the temple is expressed with an international scope.

σπήλαιον λῃστῶν – spēlaion lēstōn

den of robbers Spēlaion means cave or den, while lēstēs can refer to a robber or bandit. The image concerns not only robbery itself but the place where robbers take refuge.

Translation note

Independent English translation from the Greek text, using SBLGNT as the primary Greek edition.

Compare for yourself

Read Mark 11:12–21 as one continuous sequence. Pay particular attention to: Also read Isaiah 56:1–8 and Jeremiah 7:1–15 for the contexts of Jesus' quotations.

  • ekballō
  • katastrephō
  • “house of prayer”
  • “for all nations”
  • spēlaion lēstōn
  • the fig tree before and after the temple scene

Compare John 2:13–22 and notice which details John includes that Mark does not mention.

Continue the conversation

Discuss further
  1. What does the phrase “for all nations” suggest about the temple's purpose?
  2. What does “den of robbers” mean when Jeremiah 7 is read in its wider context?
  3. Where is the line between necessary practical functions and activity that begins to undermine a religious institution's purpose?
  4. How strong do you find the literary connection between the fig tree and the temple?
Parallel passages
  • Matthew 21:12–17
  • Luke 19:45–48
  • John 2:13–22
  • Isaiah 56:1–8
  • Jeremiah 7:1–15
  • Mark 11:12–14, 20–21
Sources
  • The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (SBLGNT), Michael W. Holmes, ed.
  • Mark 11:15–19
  • Isaiah 56:7
  • Jeremiah 7:11
  • Standard Greek lexical resources for ekballō, katastrephō, proseuchē, ethnos, spēlaion, and lēstēs