the moneychangers in the temple?

Question

According to the new testament Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple. What exactly where they doing there? Moneychangers presumably mean people similar to those at international airports who exchange one currency for another for foriegn travellers, but why would they be in the temple? As far as I know the only trade in the temple precincts was the Sadducee's sale in animals for sacrifice. Also if relevent why did JC object to these moneychanger's being there.

Answer 1

you are right the Sadducee's were sell animals, the trouble was that it was a money making proposition, they were selling blemished animals, and would only accept Jewish money, while the common monetary system was roman, so to be able to make your sacrifice you had to buy from the Sadducee's in Jewish money and the rate of exchange was very high, and that's why He called them robbers and thieves.

Answer 2

First of all, the animals were being sold at a highly exhorbitant price. Also, a pilgrim who had brought his own beast as often as not had it judged as imperfect, and had to exchange it for a perfect one, and make up the difference in money. The Sadducees were cheating the people, and making a huge profit doing it.
Second, the moneychangers were, as you say, there to exchange the money from the various provinces to money the Temple could use, and they also charged an outrageous rate of exchange, cheating the people, again making a huge profit.
This went on with the full knowledge and consent of the Temple authorities (i.e., the priests), who stood to make a great deal of money.
JC was righteously angry...the Temple was never intended to be a den of thieves!

(Does this system sound vaguely familiar to anyone?)

Answer 3

The money changers were doing as you suggest currency exchanges do, so that worshippers could buy the animals. It wasn't so much that they were providing a service, but that there was a racket set up that exploited the people coming to the temple. The money changers took advantage of them and made obscene profits, knowing that they HAD to have the right currency to buy animals for sacrifice.

And just for the record, the Bible doesn't say "money is the root of all evil" it says "the LOVE of money is the root of all evil; man cannot serve two masters". Or words to that effect. Money in and of itself isn't evil. But greed is.

Answer 4

because there was a racket going on in the temple. the devout would go and sacrifice their offerings according to Levitical Law, sheep, goats, doves, for whatever reason, and instead of allowing the parishoners to bring their own firstborn critters without spot or blemish they had to use the sheep provided by the folk doing business with the leaders of the temple. So, you had to by a temple critter for sacrifice AT THE TEMPLE. Now you couldn't use the shekels that you brought from home to buy the sacrificial critter, you had to use THE TEMPLE SHEKEL and the rate of exchange was governed by the priests that ran the temple! and of of course the priests got a cut of all the action! clearly illegal, according to Levitical Law. and that was the reason for the hubbub.

Answer 5

Because they had turned the temple (a place of worship) into a place of commerce. The Sadducee's had elevated the price of these "sacrifices" and were making heavy profits.

Answer 6

the fact is they were not doing anything wrong.

first they were not in the temple but on the outside market.

these men were providing a valuable service by changing money so people could purchase animals to offer as a sacrifice to G-d.

without them it would have made bringing the Pascal lamb or any other sacrifice harder.

Answer 7

It's my understanding that the moneychangers were those who sold the animals for sacrifice. If you know about the selling of the animals, you undoubtedly know why He was so upset about them doing it.

Answer 8

I think they were using the temple as a kind of marketplace, and it shouldn't have been. I also wondered if it was some sort of betting going on. Or maybe they were doing some banking (ie. lending money). Whatever they were doing, they shouldn't have been doing it in the temple and that's why he ran them out.

Answer 9

They were buying and selling merchandise.Making money.in the house of God.