When Did Jesus Cast Out The Money Changers

Question

Who were the coin changers in the Bible?

Answer

The Bible records two instances of Jesus cleansing the temple of money changers and those selling sacrificial animals. Jesus' first encounter with money changers was at the start of His 3-twelvemonth ministry building (John 2:xiv–xvi). He made a whip of cords and drove them out. The 2nd time He confronted the money changers was the calendar week before His trial and crucifixion. Seeing that the coin changers had come back, He once more drove them out, saying, ""It is written, 'My house will be called a business firm of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers'"" (Matthew 21:13).

Because Jewish law required a temple tax of a one-half-shekel (Exodus 30:11–16), Jews and visitors from other nations came to pay their taxes when they offered their sacrifices. But foreign coins with the likeness of pagan emperors would not be accustomed in God'south temple. So money changers exchanged those foreign coins for Jewish coin, just they did so at an exorbitant profit. Rather than provide this service as a business organisation in another part of town, they exploited the religious zeal of the visitors to Jerusalem and did their business on temple grounds. Because they determined their own exchange rate, money changers easily took advantage of the poor and the foreigners pouring into Jerusalem for Passover.

These same money changers were associated with others who engaged in shady concern practices in the temple courts. Some sold sacrificial animals, overcharging people who did not bring their own. Others were in charge of examining the animals to be sacrificed, and information technology was a simple matter to declare an brute "unapproved" and forcefulness the worshiper to buy another brute—at an inflated toll—from the temple vendors. Such goings-on, exploiting the poor and the foreigner, angered the Lord Jesus and was strictly forbidden in the Mosaic Police (Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 19:34).

The money changers in the temple courts were similar to taxation collectors in that they extorted coin from their own people. They were more ordinary businessmen. They were seeking to profit financially from the worship of God. Wherever passion and zeal are found, there volition as well be those who seek to profit from that zeal. Paul wrote to Timothy about such people, false teachers who establish a way to make a fortune off the gospel (1 Timothy 6:5). Modern versions of the money changers flood the airways, promising to exchange your hard-earned dollars for blessings, healing, and God'due south favor. For a suggested donation, they will supposedly pray for you or promise virtually anything you want. For another 20 bucks, they will sell you a book about how to wrangle prosperity, health, or spiritual insights from God. And, like the simony of the first-century money changers, the practices of modernistic religious price gougers only aid those worshipers who accept enough greenbacks to purchase their wares.

Paul often antiseptic the difference between his ministry and that of simulated teachers by pointing out their greed. In ii Corinthians 2:17 he wrote, "Different and so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak earlier God with sincerity, as those sent from God." Peter also warned that ane way to spot a modern-day money changer is to detect his or her fascination with fiscal gain (2 Peter 2:three). Jesus hated the coin changers' exploitation of the devout ii thousand years ago, and He nevertheless hates information technology. We may not take shady characters collecting temple taxes outside our places of worship, but we have them invading our homes through radio and television receiver. We are wise to remember how Jesus reacted to such selfish swindlers. With no apologies, He drove them out of His Father's house. When nosotros place a modern money changer, we should do the aforementioned.

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Who were the money changers in the Bible?

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This page last updated: January 4, 2022

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