He Nailed the Money Changer's Club

It doesn’t matter what dispensation you refer to, money is a #1 priority. Don’t believe it? Have you noticed that the Bible speaks volumes about money? And not very much of it is favorable. The money changers seem to warrant special attention from the majority of people and Jesus too.

Where there’s money, there’s always someone trying to ease your burden of carrying it! The money changers reputations weren’t too favorable. Maybe that’s why their names are omitted. Don’t you think it’s bad enough that nobody is named Judas or Jezebel anymore?

A couple instances in particular stand out in history. One special event occurred immediately after Jesus rode into Jerusalem and the people spread their coats and palm branches on the road when Jesus rode that donkey into the city. The Scripture in the Bible records what happened when Jesus visited the Temple.

“Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer,” but you are making it a den of robbers.” Matthew 21:12-13

There was another instance where Jesus drove out money changers in the Temple. (John 2:13-16) Jesus was very upset that God’s temple was again being misused by people who had turned it into a marketplace. These marketers had forgotten, or didn’t care, that God’s house is a place of worship, not a place for making a profit. Jesus was obviously angry at the merchants who exploited those who had come to God’s house for worship. Jesus made a whip and chased out the profiteers. He took the evil acts in the temple as an insult to God, and did not deal with them halfheartedly. He was consumed with righteous anger against such disrespect for God.

The money changers were doing the visitors at the Temple a favor—or so it seemed. You see, ordinary coinage had to be exchanged for ancient Hebrew or Tyrian shekels, which were of standard weight and without blemish, as an offering to God. Maaaybe they made a tiny profit in the exchange! But there is something bigger under the surface here. Did you notice Jesus combines parts of the Old Testament verses together? (Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11) That’s warning two birds with one rebuke!