What the Bible says
“And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.”
John 2:15–16 (KJV)
“And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”
John 2:17 (KJV)
“It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
Matthew 21:13 (KJV)
What was happening in the temple
Worshippers coming to Jerusalem needed animals for sacrifice and the temple currency for offerings. Trading had moved into the temple courts themselves — the outer court where Gentiles were allowed to pray. The place meant for seeking God had become noisy, profitable and, in Jesus's words, a den of thieves.
A whip — for what?
John says Jesus made a scourge of small cords and drove them all out, with the sheep and the oxen. A cord whip was the ordinary way to move livestock. The text does not say he struck anyone. He overturned tables, released the animals and spoke with authority. Even the dove-sellers were simply told to take their things away.
Holy anger
Jesus was angry, but his anger was for God's honour and for the people being kept from prayer, not for himself. His disciples remembered Psalm 69: the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. He still clears out what stands between us and the Father.
Common questions
Did Jesus hit people with the whip?
John 2:15 says he drove out the traders with the sheep and oxen using a scourge of small cords; the text does not say he struck anyone.
How many times did Jesus cleanse the temple?
John records it at the start of his ministry; Matthew, Mark and Luke record it in his last week. Many believe it happened twice.