Why Did Jesus Flip Tables?

“In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” - John 2:14-15

Why Did Jesus Flip the Tables?

Understood within the prophetic tradition, Jesus overturning the tables of the moneychangers was a bold action against any authority, including religion, that exploits people. It exposed how authorities were taking advantage of the poor, turning religion into a business where forgiveness came with a price. As a man who preached love and grace, Jesus could no longer tolerate this abuse. In a dramatic, prophetic act, he disrupted the profitable system of religious exploitation and exposed it for what it was: inhumane.

Immediately, though, I need to remind us that we can detect a lot of resentment towards the Jews in the New Testament. Even antisemitism. It is possible that stories such as this one is an attempt to criticize the Jewish people and their religion. Many do interpret such stories as an indictment against Judaism and Jesus’ and Christianity’s supremacy over it.

This is why these stories need to be held in suspicion. Did this really happen? Or is it an invented story that perfectly condemns Judaism and elevates Christianity and the Church? 

My guess is that something like this did happen. If he existed, the man we call Jesus was a Jew who I suggest lived in the tradition of the prophets. I would therefore understand this story, as with most of his teachings and actions, in the context of the Jewish prophets. To me, this is very much something that Amos or Jeremiah would have done.

Many scholars claim that this event in the temple led to the eventual arrest of Jesus because the Romans did not tolerate a disturbance of the peace. How the religious authorities participated in his arrest is up for speculation. But, in light of our understanding of the antisemitic undertones in the New Testament, I think this participation needs to be considered cautiously.

Religion can be dangerous to humanity. Politics can be dangerous too. But when they join forces, they can be deadly.

Jesus Overturning The Tables Drawing

I drew this cartoon to dramatically depict Jesus overturning the tables of the moneychangers in the temple. This is one of my most popular cartoons of all time. 

I think so many people are resonating with this image because we are living in a time, like all other times, when people are being exploited and abused by religion and by authorities everywhere, and we are tired of it. People are resisting, revolting, and protesting on behalf of the exploited, the abused, and the needy, because everyone everywhere deserves equality and justice. Good people know this.

What Can We Learn from Jesus Cleansing the Temple?

In the gospel story, Jesus criticizes the religious leaders for turning something that was supposed to be a house of prayers into a den of thieves. That is, they've turned something that was supposed to be for all people into a profitable business for a few.

What we can take from this is that we also should be speaking truth to power and standing up to the powers that would take advantage of people, neglect them, marginalize them, and rob from them. 

We are seeing it today with wider gaps between the rich and the poor. What can we do about it? Revolt! Flip some tables.

Would Jesus Turn Over Tables in Today's Church?

I think we are hearing the voice of Jesus in those who criticize religion and the church, and expose its immoral, corrupt and greedy leaders. Simply drawing attention to the fact that corruption and abuse and greed is going on in the church is enough to flip tables. 

Even though there is a lot of effort to silence criticism and dissent, we are courageous to raise our voices and expose wrong when we see it. Relentlessly.

Do You Feel Like Flipping Tables? 

My Overturning cartoon is available for download or as a print, T-shirt, sticker, or coffee cup! I even have a version where Jesus teaches a woman to take flipping action. It's called Flip It Like This.