Cleansing of the Temple

When the pilgrims arrived at the Court of the Gentiles, their animals would be inspected by one of the priests. This priest was an inspector, called a mumcheh, or “one approved,” who would check to see if the animal was without flaw. It was common for this inspector to find a flaw in the animal. Then he would offer to buy the “inferior” animal from the offerer at a price below the market value. The offerer would then be encouraged to buy a “perfect” animal from one of the “salesmen.” But before one could purchase an animal, he or she had to convert currency into “temple money,” because only “temple money” was accepted by the “salesmen.” The money changer would assess a tax for converting the offerer’s money. The offerer would also have to pay a temple tax. Since the Sadducees, which included most of the priests, controlled the temple, this was a very profitable business for them. That is, they took advantage of the religious worshippers. This is what Jesus saw when He walked onto the Court of the Gentiles.

And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” (NASB) John 2:15-16

It is amazing how religious leaders justify their evil conduct using God’s Word. So Jesus started using the whip to drive the animals away and to scare the people out of the court. How would you respond to a man who was waving a whip at you? Most of us would walk or run away quickly. Jesus also poured the coins onto the ground and turned over the tables of the money changers. Some of the coins would be rolling along for awhile and fall flat. The clinking of coins, coins rolling along, the crashing of the tables to the ground, people yelling, and the hoofs of running animals would have been a scene to behold. Then Jesus responded with, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” Jesus’ behavior was holy. King David had predicted that He would do this,

His disciples remembered that it was written, “ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.” (NASB) John 2:17