Jesus Drives Out the Dove Sellers

Jesus stands inside the temple courts with a corded whip in His hand, confronting the merchants who have turned worship into trade. Dove sellers recoil beside a wooden table as birds burst into flight, emphasizing the disruption of commerce in a place meant for prayer and sacrifice. The stone walls and column place the moment within the sacred precincts of Jerusalem, where pilgrims came to offer devotion before God.

The scene portrays the cleansing of the temple, when Christ overturned the business of exploitation and declared judgment on those who profaned His Father’s house. The doves recall the offerings of the poor, making the corruption especially grievous. This artwork serves sermons, Bible lessons, Holy Week resources, and teaching on righteous zeal, worship, repentance, and the holiness of God’s house. by Jeff Preston