The crowd were comparatively innocent, for it was by the arrangement of the chief authorities of the temple that the outer court was turned into a market-place. The great sin of desecration lay upon the priesthood, who had perverted and disgraced their sacred office. The chief priests and elders counseled among themselves as to what course should be pursued toward Jesus, and what his conduct could mean, assuming an authority greater than their own, and rebuking them openly. {2SP 121.2}

Folkeskaren var forholdsvis uskyldig, thi det var templets øvester, som ordnede det således, at den ydre forgård blev benyttet til et torv. Den største skyld på denne vanhelligelse hvilede på præsterne, som havde forvansket og vanæret sit hellige embede. Ypperstepræsterne og de ældste rådslog mellem sig selv, hvorledes de skulle forholde sig mod Jesus herefter, og hvad hans opførsel vel kunne betyde, idet han tilegnede sig en myndighed, der var større end deres egen, og offentlig irettesatte dem.