Gospel

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So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” John 2:15-16 NIV

Let us consider some of the ways in which actions taken in the temple courtyard made it like a marketplace. First, the courtyard was a prime area, being by the temple, which is where the sacrifices were made. This brought in prime rental charges to those in charge of the temple and surrounding area. Secondly, many of the animals sold as sacrificial offerings were sold at exorbitant prices. Third, it is believed that at times the priests would sell the animals which had been provided as sacrificial offerings back to the vendors at a reduced price that they might be sold again, bringing some profits to the priests and more profits to the vendors. One final item I wish to mention is the money changers. Quite often their charge for exchanging currencies was itself quite exorbitant. They knew that most of the purchasers would need to make a currency exchange. Talk about turning the temple courtyard into a marketplace. Everyone but the purchasers of the animals had their hands in the till.

Let’s make sure that our worship of God in church is a devotion to Him rather than some man-made venue purpose.

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