El Greco was very devout and believed that grace and not symmetry was what composed a truly noble painting. One can see that though the figures in his works are not always accurate of reality, they convey a strong religious symbolism hidden in them.
In The Cleansing of the Temple, one can see the difference between the people on either side of Christ. Those on the left grasp their goods or money to escape Him, more worried about their wealth than the house of God or Christ. The apostles on the other hand, have nothing of their own, and do not cling to worldly goods. In reliefs on the temple walls behind the scene of confusion, are depicted two very great events in the old testament that relate directly to the people below them. On the left is the depiction of Adam and Eve cast out of Paradise, because they chose a lesser good than God. Just so, those money changers in the temple chose a lesser good to place their happiness in, and they like Adam and Eve are being expelled from God’s holy place. On the right is an image of the Sacrifice of Isaac. Isaac gave all to God and chose God’s will above his own, even to the sacrificing of his only son. Those beneath this picture, like Abraham, do not desire their own will or lesser goods to God and are willing to sacrifice their worldly possessions for love of God. This whole painting brings to mind the Last Judgment when Christ separates the goats onto His left and the sheep onto His right; those who chose themselves on the left, those who chose God on the right. Christ as the Just Judge condemns those who chose their own lesser goods to God, Who is the Highest Good.
