Why did Jesus overturn the tables of money changers? The reason is as Jesus said, they had made the House of God a marketplace, a den of thieves. There have been many sermons preached regarding this passage. The outcome from their interpretations has lead to more severe holiness mindsets in some churches, with no business transactions at all. Others churches have turned to book sales, rummage sales, espresso bars (and the crazy report of the church that offered free beer on Super Bowl Sunday).Today organized churches run like corporations with their CEO's back at their Bible-Belt headquarters, and their satellite-store managers standing behind the pulpits of their organization's small, medium, and large sized church facilities. Even the independent churches run pretty much the same. However, I believe there is a bigger issue at stake than organized religion, an issue that is the heart of the problem.
The "money changers" in the Bible were businessmen who operated small booths (trading posts) around and even in the Temple Court. They did business with the Israelite travelers coming from long distances to offer sacrifices at The Temple. And like any business today, location is paramount, the closer to the action the better. Most of the people probably didn't mind, because it made everything convenient. However, there was a service fee for this, of which the purchaser had little control. And like most people they grumbled; yet they would go along with the demands. They could not come before the Lord empty handed. But one day, Jesus rudely disrupted their business practices and abruptly stated that His Father's House was to be a place of prayer.
Remember, a House of Prayer. Jesus wasn't interested in animal sacrifices but something more. Any substitution for God's ways and intended purposes, is the robbing of God; even if the outward appearance seems right, but the heart is not right. This incident that displayed Jesus' anger is recorded two separate times in His ministry (this only goes to show they didn't learn from or understand his first reprimand). These money changers were stubborn and more interested in their money and their beliefs than in honoring God with a sacrifice from the heart. In Psalm 51, King David stated that God did not delight in animal sacrifices but with the sacrifices of "a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart."
Most organized churches today have become trading posts; you give them money and they provide you a service with entertainment, a since of security, and some fellowship. They enjoy seeing you and keeping you as a satisfied customers. They will give you every opportunity to serve and trade (do business) with them, every time the offering plate is passed for your participation. But, the Bible's examples and teachings emphasize that we are to tithe to godly people (Abraham gave this example) and give to the poor and needy with our tithes and offerings.
Many church buildings have become a "place of worship" in title alone. They are places that try to do business with God, some seem do better than others. But Jesus taught that we are His temple.
It is not the organized churches or the TV evangelists or the pastors that are the problem. The real problem is people and their hearts. We are the "money changers" if we support the system. We're the ones who try to negotiate a deal with God on what we are willing to do or give. We're the ones who resist the Holy Spirit's leading by not being led by him or obeying Him. We're the ones who compromise and shirk our responsibilities. We're the ones who refuse to humble ourselves and pray. We're the ones who usually follow people instead of Jesus. But, we're also the ones who can change all that. Unfortunately, most people don't want to change, just like the money changers in the Bible. It's our tables (our mindsets) that Jesus wants to overturn, so that we can see and hear Him correctly. Some of us have been like the servant in the Parable who went and buried his money out of fear. And others take the easy way out and let someone else make the decisions or do the work for them by simply putting money in an offering plate.
Most organized churches are just giving people what they think people want to hear. Something quick, but not very nutritional, something that doesn't cost much. Organized churches are a type of fast food restaurant or TV vending machine—something that is not very personal or sacrificial. For the most part, people are encouraged to put some money in and select what they want. And if enough people like what they get, they will stay in business. But, we don't have to be that way. We can change the way things are done by setting our eyes on Jesus. God has given each one of His children a choice, also something to invest their money, time and talents into, for the sake of the Kingdom of God. We can be responsible money changers and be pleasing to the Lord. We can change things—by repentance, humility and obedience. We can also invest our money, our love and our time the way God chooses. By listening to His voice and following Him we can be good and faithful money changers.
Note—In the next move of God we will see vast growth, "hot spots," where God's Spirit is moving; some of this will even spill into organized churches because there are many people there who love Jesus and are hungry for Him. However, there will always be limitations and controls that will hinder. These churches are often a great place for fellowship and worship, but they're not the pattern as seen in the New Testament.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad (wrong focus), your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 16: 19-23)
