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The Gospel accounts each record Jesus entering the temple in Jerusalem on the Passover, and then proceeding to (èkbállo– throw out, drive out, remove, exorcise) both those who (polẽo-sell) and who (àgorázo-buy). In John’s version, he places the event at the beginning of his ministry, while all other accounts this event follows the triumphal entry. John includes detail that he made whips out of cords (John 2:14). The scene describes Jesus turning over the tables of the moneychangers (kollubistés-one who exchanges currency) and spilling their coins. The merchants were selling, pigeons, sheep and oxen, and Jesus is clearly making a scene, and rebuking people for making God’s house of prayer into a den of robbers.

“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” (Matthew 21:12-13) see also (Luke 19:45-46) (Mark 11:15-17) (John 2:13-17) (Isaiah 56)

Good interpretations require context. So here are few vital pieces:

1. Passover- The first month of the Jewish calendar is Nissan (corresponds to our March/April). On the 14th day of the month, Jews were instructed not only by Moses on the first Passover in Egypt, but also later (Numbers 9:2), God instructed the people to keep the Passover. It’s a holy holiday and still practiced today as Pesach. This tradition centers around the sacrificial lamb, whose blood covered the doorposts of the obedient and provided protection from God who was destroying all firstborn males in Egypt (Exodus 13:15). This was the final plague God used to free Israel from their bondage in Egypt.
2. Pigeons, sheep, and cattle– The Levitical law required each person to bring their best animal and sacrifice it in the tabernacle (prior to temple), the priest would slaughter it as a sin offering. The poor who couldn’t afford a calf, or sheep, were to bring two doves or pigeons. (Leviticus 5:6-7)
3. House of prayer– Jesus quotes scripture (Isaiah 56:7) in regard to the temple being a house of prayer. A vital nugget here is that this passage specifically refers to the foreigner, what Jews would call a Gentile or heathen. Isaiah’s prophecy illuminates how God will join himself not only to the Jews, but also to the foreigners and eunuchs (effeminate males) and give all people a lasting and true name, and shall not be cut off (v.5). Jesus expectation of the temple experience revealed it had been totally adulterated.
4. Poking the bear– To create such chaos, on the heals of riding into town with people praising him as the fulfillment of the Messianic prophesy, not only caused the religious leaders to seek his death, but and incur a riot would bring Rome in to quell any uprising. There are few better examples which prove how subversive Jesus was to institutional power.

The story is familiar and not overly complicated. The Greek tenses and language don’t offer much variation nor surprises. As far as interpretations go, this is very straightforward. The challenge today is in its application and modern contextualization. So allow me to take you where your full-time paid pastoral staff, will not take you.

Why are moneychangers in the temple at all? The Passover was an invitation for foreigners to get on good terms with Israel. All comers would journey a long way to come to the temple during Passover. Moneychanger would exchange currency. Second, travel was easier without bringing one’s sacrificial animal, the temple would provide a sacrifice to “buy”. Essentially, turning the temple into a transactional business, where the optics were good, but the heart of each person was not transformed.

All religion is big business today. The Christian religion has 25 times more churches than Starbucks, nearly all of which require “moneychangers” to exist. How many pastors and staff will work for free? Buildings have mortgages or rental agreements, insurances, upkeep, parking, supplies, audio-visual, music, and programs for every age and stage of life. The easiest correlation to the pigeon is the business of the corporate mission. Instead of a congregation each being responsible to share Christ within their sphere in life, people can “pay the clergy” to establish a corporate mission endeavor. How many people invite family and friends to church services hoping the guests will hear something that wouldn’t tell them directly?

Congregations pay for experience, they pay comfort and convenience, churches have coffee shops, book stores, nice parking lots, stadium seating, and the ambience of modern theaters, including laser lights and a fog machines. People scan a QR code to give money, get energized with concert hall music, all making us feel good about ourself, slightly better than everyone else, and favorable toward “church.” Consider your Easter program, how has moneychanging transformed your reflection of the Passover lamb? Has it become a market, or a sober prayer for deliverance?

It’s astonishing how most pastors reject the clarity of this biblical revelation in the name of God. Both (buyers) and clergy (sellers) willfully refuse to believe that the modern church has drifted far from the blueprint of its Founder. How many churches if they closed this week would be missed by the foreigners and eunuchs? What would it look like if a pastor was truly willing to follow Christ into the “house of prayer” and throw out all transactions of money? The sad reality is that most decisions made by elder boards are at least in part…business decisions.

Today’s Christian culture cannot sit still. Quiet and stillness before God is seen as “dead air.” Jesus warned about praying to be seen by others, yet many attend services for the optics. Like a tween who can’t without their screen and feed, so the church can’t feel alive without praise music and pomp. Faith has become so transactional that we skim over the transformational. Here’s the test: If you stopped attending for six months, would your faith remain strong? Or would you drift away from God’s word and your own prayer closet? If the system props you up, then you are a buyer and under Christ’s rebuke.

I know there are truly sincere people in the midst of the big show…there always has been, but these are not spared from the prophetic voices that call communities to reform. Consider Isaiah as he speaks for God to the people:

“When you come to appear before me,
    who has required of you
    this trampling of my courts?
¹³ Bring no more vain offerings;
    incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—
    I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.” (Isaiah 1:12-13)

“When you spread out your hands,
    I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
    I will not listen;
    your hands are full of blood.” (Isaiah 1:15)

And David…

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)

In fidelity to Scripture, I call all buyers and sellers to repent. May we follow Christ in throwing out the exchange of money and return to God alone. Perhaps God will heal us of our addiction and distractions, then perhaps we can gather again, in the midst of our cities in a way that brings all comers into the joy of God.