The Jerusalem temple, which Herod expanded sat on 35 acres that we now call the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem.
Only priests could enter the temple itself, which took up a small part of the mount and was surrounded by three courts:
From around the world, first-century Jews came to the temple at Passover to sacrifice to the Lord.
Most people did not bring animals with them to sacrifice but bought them in Jerusalem for a price.
Most Jews also paid the temple tax at Passover, and money-changers were there to convert Roman coinage into appropriate currency, Roman money that was pagan made it unacceptable for Yahweh’s house.
These practices became occasions for sin. Pilgrims paid high rates to change money, and sellers benefitted from those who were poor, overcharging for the poor man’s offering of pigeons and doves.
These merchants set up shop in the Court of the Gentiles, making it useless as a place of prayer due to the buying and selling. Therefore Jesus drove out the sellers.
These merchants, and the priests who allowed their presence, cared nothing for true worship as long as they could make money.
Our Savior hated this sacrilege, which kept the nations from learning about the living God in His sanctuary.
Jesus entered the Temple and overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of them that sold doves.
Matthew 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
Matthew 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Matthew 21:14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.
Matthew 21:15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased.
We no longer need to go to man-made Temples, but the Christian have become the Temple of God.
Acts 7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2 Cor 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
1 Cor 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
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