The people of ancient times saw all problematic situations as a crisis between order and chaos. For the Jews, for example, God's work of creation was primarily one of making order out of chaos. Therefore, the occupation of the Temple by the Hellenists was viewed as a period of great chaos. The work of cleansing and setting up the Temple, according to the law of God, was an act of restoring order where once chaos reigned. The Jews erected a new altar, made new vessels and furnishings and restored the Temple to the status it enjoyed before its defilement by the Hellenists. In this way, order was once more established.

When Jesus and his supporters arrived at the Temple, what they witnessed was a chaotic state. Disorder reigned as merchants and money exchangers carried out their trade in the area of the sanctuary. For the gospel writer Luke, Jesus comes to cleanse the Temple as a preparation for him, as the true teacher, to take his seat in the place designed for him. From now on, Jesus makes the Temple the centre of his ministry. He will teach what God's will is and what true worship is. In doing so, he takes the place of what the Temple symbolised, for as God's Son and the cornerstone of God's building, he is God's presence among human beings. With the coming of Jesus into the Temple, order is restored. God is again present in His Temple.