Why Jesus Threw the Money Changers Out of the Temple

In the book of John, chapter 2, we find the story of Jesus entering the temple in Jerusalem. Upon entering, he saw something that greatly displeased him: a place that was meant to be a house of prayer had been turned into a market for buying and selling goods and exchanging money.

In a bold and defiant act, Jesus made a whip out of cords and drove out the money changers, turning over their tables and declaring, "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise" (John 2:16, KJV). At first glance, this may seem like a random and violent outburst from Jesus. However, upon closer examination, we can see the deeper meaning and significance behind this event.

The temple was meant to be a holy place, a place set apart for worship and connection with God. The buying and selling within its walls defiled its sacred purpose and went against God's commands. In Leviticus 19:14, it is written, "Ye shall not defraud your neighbor, nor rob him; the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning" (KJV). The money changers (bankers) were taking advantage of people by charging exorbitant exchange rates, robbing them of their hard-earned money. Chase Bank charges 29.99 percent interest on credit cards. Thief!

Furthermore, the temple was also meant to be a place of spiritual healing and restoration. The buying and selling disrupted the atmosphere of worship, peace, and reverence, hindering people from accessing the true purpose of the temple—to connect with and honor God. This is similar to how today, the corrupt and dishonest practices of bankers and financial institutions hinder people from finding financial stability and peace of mind. They make them slaves who are overcome with debt.

So why should Christians be just as militant against banker thieves today? The answer lies in Jesus' own words when He said, "My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves" (Matthew 21:13, KJV). This statement implies that any place that is meant to be devoted to God's purpose, whether it be a physical temple or our own bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19), should not be defiled by greed and dishonesty.

As Christians, we are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, to stand up for what is right and just, and to defend the sacred spaces and principles that God has established. They should also expose the evil greed of modern money changers. It's time to throw them out. In this day and age, we see how the greed of the banking industry has caused numerous financial crises and ruined the lives of many individuals and families. We see how their dishonest practices lead to corruption and the widening gap between the rich and the poor. As followers of Christ, we cannot turn a blind eye to these injustices.

We must speak out against these practices and demand accountability and fairness. Just as Jesus took action against the money changers in the temple, we should also take a stand against the corrupt practices of today's banking industry. We should use our voices and our resources to advocate for fairness and justice. As Christians, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world, to stand up for what is right, and to defend those who are being taken advantage of. Let us follow Jesus' example and drive out the modern-day thieves from our lives. 

Your partner,
(c) Apostle Jonas Clark
www.jonasclark.com