Jesus is stated to have visited the Temple in Jerusalem, Herod's Temple, where the courtyard is described as being filled with livestock and the tables of the money changers, who changed the standard Greek and Roman money for Jewish and Tyrian money. Jerusalem was packed with Jews who had come for Passover, perhaps numbering 300,000 to 400,000 pilgrims.
"Filled with livestock" because not just any animal could be sacrificed in the Temple. Sacrificial animals had to be ritually purified according to Jewish law. Those were the animals for sale in the Temple courtyard. So it's not like they were running a damn cattle auction or something. ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN WONKY RELIGIOUS LAWS, those animals had to be in the courtyard and offered for sale to all the tourists in town for Passover.
And the money-changers "changed the standard Greek and Roman money" because it could not be used for Temple offerings. That money was decorated with Greek gods, Roman emperors, and other
Graven Images. All strictly forbidden inside the Temple. Again, the money HAD to be changed before their cranky god would accept it as a legit offering.
So those animal sellers and money-changers were operating strictly within Jewish law at the time. And providing absolutely vital services to worshippers making sacrifices inside the Temple.
Now this is the same Alleged Jesus who advised people to "render unto Caesar" and follow civil laws. And also said, more than once, that he had come to uphold the Old Testament laws, not to replace them. So the whole thing is just bizarre. Almost as bizarre as that fig tree story.
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