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What is a money changer in the Bible?
Great question! Here's the answer:
A money changer was someone who took and traded money for God, but many of them actually pocketed it for themselves.
The Jewish temple tax was a half-shekel (Exodus 30:11–16), but the money changers took more than that. Money changers would take foreign money and trade it for Jewish money in order to be used at the temple. Money changers could establish their own rates, and in doing so, they took advantage of the poor and the foreigners. Neither of these things are approved by God (Proverbs 22:22; Exodus 23:9). The Lord Himself tells us, "Treat them as if they were one of your own people. Love them as you love yourself. Remember that all of you were outsiders in Egypt. I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 19:34).
The money changers in the Bible were similar to tax collectors, but much worse. They took money from their own countrymen, and they tried to profit from the worship of God. Jesus was not happy with the money changers, which is shown by His two separate encounters with them. By looking at these encounters, we can understand Jesus' feelings toward money changers and how He condemned their practices.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus made his first visit to the temple to see the money changers, and He drove them out with a whip made out of cords (John 2:14–16). Jesus made a second appearance at the temple to condemn the money changers right before His crucifixion (Matthew 21:12–17). He was not happy with their actions and proclaimed, "It is written that the Lord said, 'My house will be called a house where people can pray.' But you are making it 'a den for robbers'" (Matthew 21:13). In neither of these occurrences was Jesus happy with what He saw of the money changers.
Bible Truth
“Jesus entered the temple courtyard. He began to drive out all those who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the people who were exchanging money. He also turned over the benches of those who were selling doves” (Matthew 21:12).
“It stirs up trouble all the time among people whose minds are twisted by sin. The truth they once had has been taken away from them. They think they can get rich by being godly” (1 Timothy 6:5).
“These teachers are never satisfied. They want to get something out of you. So they make up stories to take advantage of you. They have been under a sentence of death for a long time. The God who will destroy them has not been sleeping” (2 Peter 2:3).
