Driving Out the Money Changers at the Temple in Jerusalem

Money changers are still to be found in Jerusalem as they were at the time of Christ. There are a few differences. They are not on the temple mount as there is nothing there to buy. And there is no trading in livestock. Nevertheless, they are there to exchange your currency into Israeli Shekels. While they offer ATMs, they like currency (not torn or marked bills). You will get the best rate if you have an Arabic speaking friend do the exchange. In Jerusalem most of the money changers are Arab. Israeli’s generally prefer to use banks.

During the time of Christ the temple priests received substantial payments from those who sold livestock and exchanged money. In fact, donations to the temple could only be made in temple currency thus mandating the exchange of currency by virtually all pilgrims.

“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matthew 21:12-13.

John adds, “And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” John 2:14-16.

Some have mistakenly thought the the scourge/whip was used on the money changers. The making of the whip would have taken time, so this act was NOT done in anger. The whip would naturally be used to prod the sheep and oxen to drive them out of the temple grounds. The money changers would have not physically confronted the Lord but would have depended on the temple guards to rescue the situation. But the guards only observed and reported to the priests – the guards feared the people who approved of the removal of the distortionist money changers.