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A Series of Lessons in Mystic Christianity990
the Teachings of Jesus, the Master, will flow pure and clear, once more freed
from the corrupting dogmas which so long polluted the Fount.
As Jesus wandered silently through the courts and chambers of the
Temple, His indignation was aroused by a sight which seemed to Him to
portray more forcibly than aught else the degradation which had fallen
upon the Temple by reason of the corruption of the priesthood. Grouped
around the steps and outer courts of the Temple He saw the groups of
brokers, money-changers and merchants who were doing a thriving
business with the thousands of strangers attending the Feast. The moneychangers
were exchanging the coins of the realm for the inferior coins of the
outlying regions, charging a large commission for the exchange. The brokers
were buying articles, or loaning money on them, from the poor pilgrims,
who were sacrificing their personal belongings for cash with which they
might purchase the animals for the sacrifice. The merchants had droves of
cattle, flocks of sheep and cages of doves within the sacred precincts of
the Temple, which they were selling to the pilgrims who wished to offer
sacrifices. Tradition has it that the corrupt priesthood profited by the sale of
these “privileges” granted to this horde of traffickers in the Temple precincts.
The vile practice had gradually crept in and established a firm foothold in
the Temple, although contrary to the ancient practice.
To Jesus the horrible scenes of the Temple sacrificial rites seemed to focus
in this final exhibition of greed, materialism and lack of spirituality. It seemed
to be blasphemy and sacrilege of the most glaring type. And His very soul felt
nauseated and outraged by the sight. His fingers twitched, and laying hold
of a bundle of knotted cords which had been used by some cattle-driver
to urge forward his herd, He rushed forward upon the horde of traffickers,
whirling His instrument of chastisement over the shoulders and backs of the
offenders, driving them out in a frantic rout, upsetting their benches and
paraphernalia, crying in a voice of authority, “Out, ye wretches! This is the
House of the Lord, and ye have made it a den of thieves.” The “Meek and
lowly Nazarene” became an avenger of the prostitution of the Temple.