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Why did Jesus call the people 'a den of theives'?

He was pretty angry! Was he just spouting off, or was there a parable here?

21 Answers

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  • 2 decades ago
    Favorite Answer

    There usually IS a "parable-in-the-making" where Jesus' ministry is concerned: You probably know the circumstances of his little diatribe, so we needn't go into that. However, think on the age-old practice within the Catholic Church of purchasing "indulgences." The Holy Temple was NOT a place for collecting undue profits from pilgrims trying to pay homage to their Lord. This also extends to the very hearts, souls, and minds of people... as you probably well know. In fact, it speaks to the essence of the God-Human relationship.

    Source(s): BIBLE & prayer & an in-formed sensibility.
  • 2 decades ago

    I have to imagine he was claiming that those selling items in the court of the temple were stealing from God. Somewhere back I read a piece about this that said those exchanging money and selling animals for sacrifice were essentially ripping off the Jews that were there to worship. The system was such that you could only sacrifice animals purchased at the temple with specific currency provided by the temple. This created a system that allowed those in control to mark up both the animals and the currency. Think of modern day snack prices at the movie theater combined with food tickets you have to buy at some carnivals/fairs. Jesus was saying that these people had taken something that was supposed to be an act of obediance and worship to God and crafted it into something to make a quick profit.

  • 2 decades ago

    The comment was made against the people who were acting as money changers in the temple. Because Roman money had images of Caesar on it, it was considered unclean (even though there was no law that said so), so the people were not allowed to use it when giving offerings. So people had set up stands where they would exchange Roman money or older Jewish currency. To do such, they charge a fee, often in the 50% range. That was forbidden by the law, and considered to be stealing. So Jesus called it exactly what it was, a den of theives.

  • Anonymous
    2 decades ago

    He wasn't just spouting off. The sellers in the Temple Mount were price gouging the people. Animals used in sacrifices were not only substandard in quality, but were being sold at a high rate to travelers. In addition, when money was exchanged, it was theft in that the people were charged a high rate. Jesus was justified to call them thieves. Another point to consider, my friend. Jesus is God and cannot lie. Therefore, the people were thieves.

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  • 2 decades ago

    because the people were in the temple courts

    with the OK of the priests exchanging money

    they said that the money given to the temple had to be local so they took Greek & Egyptian

    money etc. and exchanged it for a lower value ,same for amimals used for sacrifice

    the priest would say the one that was brought had a blemish and was not acceptable and

    so forced the person to buy one "that passed the test" That is when Jesus chased them out of the Temple and said "My Fathers house is for

    prayer and worship and you are turning it into a den of thieves"

  • CHAEI
    Lv 6
    2 decades ago

    I am not exactly sure but is that where Jesus call those men who were in the temple selling animals for sacrifice. for an outrageous price. They were robbing the people. And they were making Gods temple a den of thieves. That was horrible that they were doing that to Gods people in his Temple.

  • 2 decades ago

    Jesus cleansed the temple the second time by driving out the religious racketeers who had made his Father’s house a den of thieves. (Matt. 21:1-16)

    The temple was a holy place, not a place for business dealings.

  • 2 decades ago

    Jesus told the people they had made Father's House a den of thieves, because they were buying and selling in the temple. The temple is made to worship God

  • 2 decades ago

    The people he said this to were selling substandard sacrificial animals to innocent and well meaning people. That is the same as stealing. Worse still, they were doing in God's house and in God's name. I'd be p*ssed too. What Jesus displayed was the wrath of God.

  • Anonymous
    2 decades ago

    because THD is the ONE on the THRONE and its pronouced TODD and He was the LambSLAIN as Larri b SL A I IV and the money many beleive they give to god never gets to his physical body.

    wouldn't it be nice to be with both god and satan if they were still freinds.

    switch Jesus for the Lamb SLAIN who is LarribSL A I IV put together like iamisabaddon's photo.

    all things commanded to praise HIM thus

    EMPEROR=E IVI PERIOD= if you read between the lines

    I AM = iam = iarri= I A IVI stitched together

    and replace GWB with Me. So worship no god but Me as M=IVI stitched together and e is arm. Thus jesus christ takes worship away from HIM.

    sum up god=7154=17=8=h thus god is first in heaven.

    sum up god jehovah=...=e thus second in heaven

    sum up jesus christ=...=g thus not in heaven at all

    find h in your english calendar for a descrition of the h who is god.

    the Lamb with the seven seals five on arm one on torso and ?

    and those L=IL if cut in halve.

    the arm seals appear IIII I . as the answer to Rev.19.12.

    satan=...=a so he's in heaven.

    why is that?

    cause the god who is first in heaven put a 1000 year seal on satan as M=IVI stitched together

    even TOP PROSPECT praises TODD and his wench ROSE

    and until angels stop harrasing me may the USA get hurricanes cause god can pray for weather help too.

    so the longer you kept what you call TODD from being richer than J.keRRY the worse your world should get. so give to god what is gods. and apparently thats god who is first in heaven and also satan but only called that cause he tried to kill god. and biblically all souls are said to belong to god or satan.

    so bow in respect when you meet HIM like you would an emperor.

    or just go f yourself.

    yes i support the war in iraq cause my enemies get hurt their.

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