Matthew 21:12-17

Cleansing of the Temple. Hosannas of the Children (Mark 11:15; Luke 19:45). In St. Matthew this event seems to take place on Palm Sunday, but Mark 11:11 makes it clear that it did not occur till next day. On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus went into the Temple, and 'looked round about on all things,' but, the hour being late, retired to Bethany.

This cleansing of the Temple is probably not the same as that described John 2:13; (see notes there), but a distinct event. For, (1) both events are definitely dated by the evangelists; (2) the repetition of the act is natural, the abuses, during a period of two years, having had time to recur; (3) the omission of the former event by the synoptists, and of the latter by St. John, are explained by the general design of the synoptists to record only the Galilean ministry, and of St. John to supplement rather than duplicate the synoptic narratives. The cleansing of the Temple and of its worship, and of the priesthood, were among the expected activities of the Messiah, according to Malachi 3:1.

The incident of the children in the Temple is peculiar to St. Matthew.