Page 413 - Bible History

386 CHRIST'S TEACHINGS, IRA ES AND CHURCH
chants and money changers had set up their booths in the Court of the Gentiles, and there they carried on their business. The merchants sold the doves, pigeons, and other animals which the people o ered to the priests for sacri ce. The money changers gave the people Jewish money in exchange for Roman money, since only Jewish coin could be used for the money o erings in the Temple.
In the rst year of His public life, when Jesus went up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Pasch, He saw these merchants and money changers as He passed through the Court of the Gentiles. They were surrounded by crowds of people who were pushing one another about. and there was much loud talking and confusion. The
House of God had been turned into a market place. Moved by a holy anger, Jesus made a whip of little cords and, pushing His way through the crowd, he beat the merchants and the money changers with the scourge and drove them out of the Temple. He over­ turned their tables and scattered the money on the ground. The sheep and the oxen He also drove out of the Temple, and to them that sold doves He said, '' Take these things hence; and make not the House of My
Father a house of business.''
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him,
" hat sign of authority dost Thou show unto us for doing these thingsf'' Jesus answered and said to them, '' I it not written, 'My house shall be called the house of prayer to all the nations.' But you have made it a den of thieves.'' Then, as a sign of His authority, He said to them, "Destroy this Temple, and