The two passages may have been two different instances of jesus cleansing. Webif the narrative of the cleansing of the temple is not part of the justification for the priests to seek to kill jesus, it is no longer necessary for it to occur at the end of the gospel. The messiah king asserts his authority over the temple in anticipation of impending. Webthe chapter focuses on three episodes upon whose authenticity most scholars agree: The act of “cleansing” the temple; The accusation that jesus says he will destroy (and. Webthe narrative of jesus' cleansing of the temple is present in all four gospels: When he cleanses the temple,. Webjesus cleanses the temple, overturning tables and driving out the money changers, declaring “my house shall be called a house of prayer, but you make it a den.