The Moneychangers

Matthew 21:12-13 - "And Jesus went into the temple of God and 'CAST OUT' all of them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, MY HOUSE shall be called 'the house of prayer; but you (moneychangers) have made it into a den of thieves."

Now when most christians today read this scripture and may well think to themselves - "Good for you Jesus" you sure showed them what you thought about that!!!

Should you find yourself asking whether or not this scripture has any application to 'THE CHURCH' of today - your very next thought may well be 'well that temple has been torn down so it would be impossible in our day. It will prove helpful if you consider that he also refers to the temple of that day, as MY HOUSE. Right about now would be an excellent time for another Word from God. Hebrews 3:6 "But Christ as a son over his own house; WHOSE HOUSE ARE WE". (PARTIAL) 1st Cor. 3:16 "Know you not that 'YOU' ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you"? If we are to take the 2 previous scriptures literally (and I do) could it still be possible that there would still be moneychangers in THE CHURCH in the earth today and that they are still committing these same abominations in HIS HOUSE? (Whose house we are)

In Acts 8:20 we read - "But Peter said unto him (Simon an ex-sorcerer) Thy money perish with thee, because thou has thought that the gift of God may be purchased with MONEY." Now it is true that this scripture speaks specifically of the gift of the Holy Spirit, but ALL would do well to ask themselves the question - 'what has any man (person - and this includes females) EVER received from God that was not a gift?' Does the word 'gift' not mean FREE - and if it does - then how much does that gift cost? Satan can not comprehend the meaning of the word 'gift' and apparently neither can a MONEYCHANGER.

Ask and answer for yourself the following questions. When God sent his Word into the earth, was there a price on it, or was it also a 'FREE GIFT'? When in the fullness of time and God sent Jesus into the earth, what was the cost necessary to receive him? On the day of Pentecost what was the price of admission into that upper room? When Jesus made the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk, how much did he charge? I pray you know the correct answer to all those questions. In Matthew Chapter 10:5-10 when Jesus sent out the 12 to do these same works, how much money did he instruct them to take? How much did he tell those same disciples to charge for the mighty works they would do in his name? Again I trust you know the right answer. Quite to the contrary, did he not say, "freely you have received, FREELY give." There's that word 'GIVE' that apparently neither Satan nor his disciples understand. This is your most certain way of distinguishing between someone God sends and those sent by another 'god'.

Should you still have any doubts that there are STILL MONEYCHANGERS in the CHURCH today, just turn on your TV and it will NOT take long to find one. I should have said "you'll find MANY". Need a blessing from God? Send money! Need healing from God? Sow your seed here! Need a better job? Send money! Need a loved one to be saved? Send MONEY! Need to learn more about God? Send money! If you still can't see the tale-tale signs of THE MONEYCHANGERS - that they still prowl the earth today - if you hear these words as condemnation - you may do well to consider the following scriptures. 2nd Peter 2:1-3 - "But (just as) there were false prophets also among the people, EVEN AS there shall be - shall be - SHALL BE - (not might be) false teachers among you, who privily SHALL BRING in damnable heresies, ( and in so doing) even denying the Lord that bought (purchased) them ( not with money but with blood) and (in so doing) bring upon themselves swift destruction." "MANY will follow their EVIL teachings and shameful immorality." (words in parenthesis for emphasis) - Because of them, Christ and his TRUE WAY will be slandered. In their GREED they will make up clever lies to get hold of YOUR MONEY. Those two words 'clever lies' are just another way of saying what God's Word calls doctrines of devils. The term 'DOCTRINES OF DEVILS' will always refer to God's Word (THE TRUTH) twisted or perverted into a lie. To believe and recieve God's Word always brings LIFE, the believing and receiving of 'A DOCTRINE OF DEVILS' will always bring hurt, destruction, and DEATH. You need always remember that those 'CLEVER LIES' are always presented on the platform of being God's Word when in reality nothing could be further from THE TRUTH.

During my lifetime, I have often heard people 'of the world' make the statement, "you can take the bible and make it say anything you want it to say." That use to make me so angry but after many years of observation I can NOW see much truth in those words. How strange it seems that people without God, who do not even KNOW God, can often see so much BETTER than most christians.

Those referred to in this article as MONEYCHANGERS, as it turns out, are the very same ones called by other names such as, FALSE PROPHETS, FALSE TEACHERS, and also the simple term, MANY. You need to understand that these different names are describing the very same group of people.

The answer to the question of WHY these (people) commit these things which God considers to be abominations can be found in Romans 16:18 - this verse not only tells the WHY but also identifies their intended victims. "For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their OWN BELLY; and by good (smooth) words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." This term 'the simple' is not referring to those of diminished mental capacity, but rather those who are simple concerning 'EVIL' because they would never dream of deceiving anyone. These God refers to as 'the simple' make the mistake of believing that everyone's hearts are PURE. It would indeed be wonderful if that were so but God has already warned us that that is (sad to say) not the case. If all men's hearts were PURE it would have been unnecessary for these warnings.

You may rest assured that if Jesus said that these MONEYCHANGERS did and would exist, that they most assuredly do. That possibility should no longer be in question but should be taken for the WARNING it was intended to be. BEWARE of these moneychangers and become NOT a partaker of their evil deeds.

The most important ingredient in their making these 'CLEVER LIES' acceptable to those who LOVE GOD, is to quote both chapter and verse thus confirming that these are indeed God's Words. One of the best examples I can think of is their attempt to prove that Jesus was a rich man during his earthly ministry. If Jesus owned many fine homes, then surely he would want believers to have the same. Their proof of this is not only based on men's assumptions but also makes it necessary to explain away other scriptures which would seem to prove otherwise. Case in point - Matthew 8:20 - Jesus himself said - "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man (speaking of himself) hath NOT, NOT, NOT, where to lay his head." Now if that means he owned many, Many, MANY fine homes - I CANNOT SEE HOW - can you??? Let me see - Who should I believe? The very one who gave his life for me - or - those who are seeking to devour me for the purpose of their OWN BELLIES? Do what you choose - I myself have chosen to TRUST and BELIEVE the ONLY ONE who is able to save me. For some strange reason I don't feel led to believe a MONEYCHANGER could do that. What do YOU choose to believe? Your choice - your decision. No man can make that decision for you.

In Luke 18:18-23 we find the story of a VERY RICH young ruler and he was told by Jesus to sell all that he had, and GIVE to the poor. There's that word 'GIVE' again. Again some more questions - Why did Jesus not tell him to sell ALL that he had and give the proceeds for the 'preaching of the gospel'? Why did Jesus NOT say - "take all these proceeds and give it at the 'temple'?" Why did Jesus NOT say "give it to my disciples so that they may live in the lap of luxury and dress in FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLAR SUITS in a manner befitting my prophets?" Why indeed! I do know what HE DID SAY. He did say "give it to the poor".

In John 12:6 - (speaking of Judas) "This said he (Judas) not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein." The MONEYCHANGERS would have you to believe that Jesus had bags and bags of money. If this were true, why then did Jesus have Peter get their tax money from the mouth of a fish instead of just taking it out of one of their MANY bags of money? The MONEYCHANGERS would have you believe that it is ALWAYS God's will for all believers to be RICH in this world's wealth. Does this seems strange then that God, by his Spirit, had Paul to write in 1st Timothy 6:8 "And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."

Shortly after the day of Pentecost, in Acts 3:1-6 we read the story of a lame man who ask an alm of Peter - and in verse 6 Peter's reply was - "Silver and Gold have I NONE;" (partial) - this leaves us with 2 choices - 1 - either Peter lied, - or - 2 - Peter and Jesus' other disciples had gone broke since the crucifixion of Jesus. Again, only you can decide for yourself which or what is THE TRUTH.

In Matthew 10:9 when Jesus sent out the twelve he gave them instructions to 'take neither gold, nor silver, nor brass (coins) in your purses.' Apparently, Jesus did not KNOW, as is so widely quoted today, "that the gospel can NOT be preached without money."

You will NEVER hear a MONEYCHANGER saying that you CAN go into all the world and preach the gospel without money. I said NEVER!!!! You will never hear a TRUE prophet of God say that God is unable to do anything without ANYTHING. In Luke 10:1-4 Jesus sent out another 70 with the same instructions. So much for the MONEYCHANGERS' theory. I might as well just go on and say it. MONEYCHANGERS, as described in this article, ARE prophets of a sort - but it is spelled 'PROFITS'.

The MONEYCHANGERS of today will be none to happy at these words. The MONEYCHANGERS of Jesus' day were also not happy when he overturned their tables and drove them out of the temple.

I can promise you one thing here. 'All' things equal out in time and in this case it will be no different.

Just as Jesus cleansed 'the temple' in the days of his earthly ministry - so will he also do in our days. The MONEYCHANGERS back then did NOT offer their services out of a LOVE for God but for GAIN and PROFIT. All those who do this very same thing today, are in every way as much MONEYCHANGERS as they were in those days - there is no difference. God's Word never changes. The same things he hated then He still hates. JESUS drove them out then and He will drive them out again.

God's temples today are the hearts of those who LOVE HIM.

The sacrifice God requires today is our obedience out of our LOVE for him - He never intended that believers pay someone else to perform their obedience to God in exchange for money. 1st Peter 4:17 warns that judgment will come and when it begins, it WILL begin at the house of God. The MONEYCHANGERS spoken of in this article will be among the very FIRST to receive their just rewards.

Pray that the Spirit of God will always warn and protect you from being deceived by any and all lies regardless of how 'cleverly they have been disguised'.

Our prayer for all who read the words written here is simply that God can and will make you able to discern between the REAL and the Counterfeit - between a PROPHET and a PROFIT.

May God by his Spirit lead and guide you into ALL the TRUTH. God bless all who "who hear what the Spirit says to the churches".

AMEN and God Bless all who love him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH.