Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 21:14

"And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them." — Matthew 21:14 (ASV)

This last mention of Jesus’ healing ministry takes place probably within the temple precincts in the Court of the Gentiles. It was not uncommon for the chronically ill to beg at the approaches to the temple (Acts 3:2); but the only place where the lame, blind, deaf, or otherwise handicapped could go in the temple area was the Court of the Gentiles.

Most Jewish authorities forbade any person lame, blind, deaf, or mute from offering a sacrifice or appearing before the Lord in his temple. But Jesus heals them, thus showing that “one greater than the temple is here” (12:6). He himself cannot be contaminated, and he heals and makes clean those who come into contact with him. These two actions—cleansing the temple and the healing miracles—jointly declare his superiority over the temple and raise the question of the source of his authority (v.23).