Reference - Matthew 21:12–17

Video Summary:

Jesus was passing by the temple court and noticed the large number of businessmen taking advantage of the crowds gathering there for worship.  They were cheating customers and extorting money from the poor.  Angered by what he saw, Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers and knocked over the displays of goods being sold by the evil vendors.  

After rebuking these practices which were targeting those coming to worship, Jesus also confronted the temple priests, letting them know their acceptance of these ‘robbers’ in the court was wrong and needed to stop.

One businessman felt convicted by Jesus' response and decided to stop gouging and cheating his customers for the items of worship they were hoping to buy.  The result is that his business began to thrive and his testimony revealed how Jesus had changed his life that day long ago. 

About this Video:

When some customers are impressed at his good prices, a merchant tells how Jesus once came and drove out all business from the temple. This example convinced the merchant to work differently.

Matthew’s use of three Old Testament passages in this story emphasizes how Jesus fulfilled Messianic prophecy. Jesus is the Messiah, God’s chosen one to save all people. This is shown many times in scripture.

Read Mark 11:15–19 for another version of the story. John’s version of Jesus cleansing the temple (John 2:12–25) may be a different event. Notice John puts this story in the beginning of his gospel instead of at the end like Matthew and Mark.

Like all people, Jesus experienced many emotions, including anger. However, Jesus never sinned when he was angry.

Questions to Consider:

1. How do you think the business people felt when Jesus turned their tables over and called their business area a den of robbers?
    
2. Do you think the religious leaders at the temple approved of the selling of animals in the temple courts?  
    
3. For those traveling from far away, purchasing animals for sacrifice at the temple was an important ritual. How do you think they felt about Jesus' criticism of the money changers and thieves?
    
4. What do you think made Jesus so angry in the temple?