Southern Steps of the Temple Mount

In the Bible

Jesus entered the temple courts, overturned the tables of the money changers and taught. Every day He taught at the temple, and every evening He went out to the Mount of Olives.

Mark 11:15–17When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Luke 21:37–38Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. And early in the morning all the people would come to hear Him at the temple.

Here today

Wide steps of the 1st century and the blocked gates of the temple's south wall, uncovered by excavations begun in 1968, in an archaeological park.

Through the eyes of old pilgrims

Here is also the corner of an exceeding high tower, where our Lord ascended and the tempter said to Him, 'If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence.'The Bordeaux Pilgrim, 333

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Land outlines: Natural Earth (public domain).