We all
remember the story about the Lord making a whip and casting moneychangers and
merchants out of the Jerusalem Temple. Do you know why they got to be there in
the first place? Let’s explore some historical facts to make this Bible story
more clear…
Holy
Evangelist John the Theologian recounts, And
the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 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: 13‒16).
Note
that, judging by the context, it happened in the very beginning of Jesus’
public ministry. He had just started making miracles. Many interpreters of the
Holy Scripture believe that the Lord committed that act in order to forestall
claims of his apostasy, which could be made after He started healing people on
Sabbaths. That was how, showing his zeal in defense of the House of God, He
proved once again that He wasn’t against God.
What Did Jews Need Moneychangers For?
Each Jew
had to donate half a shekel (approx. 8 grams of silver) to the Temple. At that
time, the Jews used Roman coins because they were under Roman rule. There were
images of Roman emperors on those coins. The God’s people considered the
emperors’ faces to be idolatry. Therefore, Roman currency wasn’t suitable for
donations to the Temple. That was where moneychangers stepped in. They
exchanged Roman coins for other coins without portraits on them.
However,
people had to pay an exchange fee, too. The moneychangers, greedy to earn as
much money as they could, forgot about the holiness of the place and started
acting like robbers.
Who Was Disturbed by Trade Operations in the
Temple?
Sellers
of animals and birds weren’t perfect, either, as they were charging exorbitant
prices for their products. Just consider this: it wasn’t easy for some people
to get to the Jerusalem Temple and participate in a holiday. Scorching heat, a
long road, lack of all kinds of comfort… Naturally, it was cumbersome to bring
one’s own animal for the offering. That was why people preferred buying
everything they needed right on the spot. It made the merchants who sold
animals super-rich because they knew that people would buy their animals no
matter how expensive they were.
But
that’s not the end of the story. The enterprising merchants and moneychangers
set their shop right in the inner yard of the Temple, where Gentiles were
allowed to worship. What could be more damaging to the awe and sacredness of
that holy place?
How Many Times Did Jesus Drive the
Moneychangers out of the Temple?
Finally,
another interesting fact. An attentive reader will notice that the story of
driving the merchants and moneychangers out of the Temple is described in the
Gospel according to Matthew, too (Matthew 21:12,13). However, Matthew puts that
episode in a completely different context: it occurs not in the beginning of
the Lord’s public ministry but near the end of it (just a couple of days prior
to his Passion). It isn’t a mistake, though. Blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria
explains that the Lord simply did it several times…
By Ilya Alekseev
St.
Elisabeth Convent
CONVERSATION