In addition to the miracles He did, Jesus drew attention to Himself when He overturned the money changers’ tables in the temple. Why did He do that?
Bleating sheep, bawling oxen, haggling merchants, and indignant pilgrims all raised their voices together amid the miasma of manure from all those animals. The temple was a hive of noise, dissonance, filth, and pandemonium. It was certainly no atmosphere for worship. It was carnal chaos, the first sight to greet every pilgrim arriving on the temple mount. Jesus’ response actually reflects an amazing degree of patience and deliberation. He carefully, painstakingly braided some cords together to make a whip or a scourge. Small cords would be lying around in abundance—cheap strands used to tether the animals. He thus used the tools of the sinners’ unjust trade to measure out justice against them.