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This event, as we have previously mentioned, is difficult to place in the life of Christ. We believe it occurred early in His ministry as it is recorded in John 2:13-25, and certainly occurred again as recorded by Matthew, Mark and Luke either on Palm Sunday or the following Monday. All the accounts are similar.
On entering the courtyard of the Temple, He observed merchants selling oxen, sheep and pigeons to be used for sacrifices and money changers, who exchanged foreign currency, for a price, so foreigners could purchase their sacrifices. This time He made a whip of cords and drove them out of the Temple.
What was wrong with what He observed? Was it not lawful to do what these people were doing? This practice developed as a matter of convince. It was easier for worshippers to bring their money, particularly those who came long distances, than it was to bring a sacrifice. The practice was sanctioned by the Chief Priest because they received a cut of the profits. The Moneychangers had a purpose also. Jews came from all over the Middle East and brought with them many different kinds of money. The Temple fee was to be paid in Hebrew money, the half shekel. The Chief Priest collected the fee from the worshippers. The moneychangers exchanged foreign coins of Hebrew coins, Naturally, they charged a fee and naturally, the Priests received a percentage of this also.
What fault did Jesus find with this? Certainly it was a convince where all seem to benefit. Well, as is always the case where there is much gain, corruption and abuses came into the practice. Worldly gain detracted from godliness. The merchants were supplying inferior animals for sacrifices. The worshippers were taking the easy way out. The moneychangers were over charging for their service. The Temple had become a den of thieves.
Notice what Jesus did. He drove them all out of the Temple. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and drove out the merchants and their animals. To justify what He did, He quoted Isa. 56:6-8. It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer but you have made it a den of thieves. God had opened His Covenant and thus the Temple to foreigners. They had accepted his Grace, became proselytes to the Jewish religion, but belittled their responsibility to Him by making their worship convenient and of little consequence.
They were stealing from God. Those who do not give sacrificially to the church, do not steal from the church, they steal from God. They also steal from themselves for they miss the blessings of sincere giving.
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