The Eiffel Tower of Paris, the Big Ben of London, and the Petronas Twin Towers of Kuala Lumpur are examples of iconic symbols of cities today.

In the first century, the magnificent temple of Jerusalem was the icon of the city. Every pilgrim to Jerusalem was deeply impressed by it. However, Jesus was not. On the day after He entered Jerusalem, Jesus cleansed the temple by driving out the traders and moneychangers (Mark 11:15–16).

The temple had an area called the Court of Gentiles where Gentiles could go to worship God. Visible signs prohibiting them from entering the inner sanctuary were placed at strategic places in the temple precinct. When He visited the temple, Jesus discovered that this area was full of traders and moneychangers (Mark 11:15). Their activities took up the only place where Gentiles could possibly come to seek and worship God.

The presence of the moneychangers and dove sellers targeting the poor also angered Jesus. The law of Moses allowed the poor to offer two doves as sacrifices. But they were forced to purchase the birds from traders approved by the temple authorities, often at inflated prices. They also needed to exchange their Roman currency (with the face of Caesar on it) at an unfair exchange rate for temple shekels approved by the religious authorities. The poor were robbed, not once but twice: when they changed money, and when they purchased the two doves.

True worship had given way to corruption and robbery in the temple. By cleansing the temple, Jesus was declaring God’s judgment and giving warning that the temple’s days were numbered. What about our church today? Have our church culture and practices hindered non-believers from knowing God?