The term "Sellers of Doves" refers to individuals who were engaged in the trade of doves and pigeons, primarily for sacrificial purposes, within the context of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. This practice is mentioned in the New Testament, particularly in the accounts of Jesus cleansing the Temple.

Biblical Context

In the Jewish sacrificial system, as outlined in the Old Testament, doves and pigeons were often used as offerings. They were particularly significant for those who could not afford more expensive animals like lambs or bulls. Leviticus 1:14-17 and Leviticus 5:7-10 provide instructions for offering birds as sacrifices, highlighting their role in atonement and purification rituals. The provision for doves and pigeons ensured that even the poorest members of society could participate in the sacrificial system.

New Testament References

The most notable mention of the sellers of doves occurs in the New Testament during the event known as the Cleansing of the Temple. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus enters the Temple and drives out those who were buying and selling animals, including doves. Matthew 21:12-13 states: "Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. And He declared to them, 'It is written: My house will be called a house of prayer. But you are making it a den of robbers.'"

Similarly, in the Gospel of Mark, the account is recorded in Mark 11:15-17 : "When 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 He began to teach them and declare, 'Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of robbers.'"

Significance

The presence of sellers of doves in the Temple highlights the commercialization and corruption that had infiltrated the sacred space. The Temple, intended as a place of worship and prayer, had become a marketplace where the focus shifted from spiritual devotion to economic gain. Jesus' actions in driving out the sellers of doves and other merchants were a direct challenge to the religious authorities and a call to restore the sanctity of the Temple.

The doves themselves, while innocent and necessary for the sacrificial system, became symbols of the exploitation occurring within the Temple. The sellers, by conducting business in the Temple courts, contributed to the environment that Jesus condemned as a "den of robbers." This phrase underscores the moral and spiritual degradation that had taken root, as the Temple's purpose was subverted by greed and profiteering.

Cultural and Religious Implications

The practice of selling doves in the Temple courts reflects the broader socio-economic dynamics of first-century Judea. The sellers provided a necessary service, enabling worshippers to fulfill their religious obligations. However, the location and manner of their trade became problematic, as it encroached upon the sacred space meant for prayer and worship.

Jesus' actions in cleansing the Temple were not merely a critique of the sellers themselves but a broader indictment of the religious system that allowed such practices to flourish. His emphasis on the Temple as a "house of prayer for all nations" (Mark 11:17) points to a vision of inclusivity and purity in worship, free from the corrupting influence of commerce.

In summary, the sellers of doves represent a critical element in the narrative of Jesus' ministry, illustrating the tension between religious devotion and economic exploitation. Their presence in the Temple serves as a backdrop for Jesus' prophetic call to restore the holiness and purpose of God's house.