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Bible: Jesus Cleanses the Temple

🏷  Bible text Greek text interlinear · text   —   by Gerry · Jan 2021 · 2495 words

The Bible scene where Jesus cleanses the temple of bankers & merchants has always encouraged people to tackle the financial corruption that’s been rampant throughout human history. But as usual, the story is encrypted. Secretly, the spook authors are just warning that the religious disguise of finance has been neglected, and has to be renewed.

Introduction

Bible readers who are concerned about real-world problems are often inspired by the story where Jesus kicks the bankers out of the temple, present in all 4 gospels. It’s one of only a few stories where Jesus confronts the authorities in other matters than religion. He’s even very violent about it: He overthrows the banker’s tables, pours their money on the floor and whips them! He also calls them “robbers”. After many verses where he just talks in riddles, that’s refreshingly straightforward.

But of course, rulers in both Roman & Christian times were descendants of the same Phoenician overlords, who had brought banking to Europe. They were bankster scum through & through. Why would they allow such a story to be widely published, together with a new religion they were rolling out in their domain? Probably precisely because people would love it, and would then accept the new religion much easier. It was likely why they chose to roll out Christianity in the first place: The old religions had become so obviously mired in financial corruption that the disguise was coming off, and had to be renewed.

You can see this motive showing through when you consider what Jesus does not do: He doesn’t say “usury is corruption”, or “usury is a scam by the rich & powerful”. He says nothing about usury in general. He doesn’t question or explain the relations between temple authorities & bankers, or their relations to the government. He only wants it out of the temple, not out of society. So the authors chose to include only a very vague, limited & symbolic statement about banking, on purpose.

This strategy becomes even clearer when we decrypt the puns: In the secret version, the Jesus character says explicitly that banking in the temple is bad because it has become public, and that faith must be restored by disguising it better again.

The main puns of the Matthew version I’ve decrypted here are these:

Overall, the story is of course still inspiring & laudable, for turning the rightful public anger against usury into a public monument. Ultimately, we can thank Christianity for the abolishment of debt-slavery, and for forcing usury behind the curtain for several millennia. The ongoing full-scale financialization of every aspect of society is likely one of the main reasons that the overlords are currently rolling Christianity back again.

How to read this

Cleansing of the Temple

The One Like a Servant throws all moneychangers out of the temple.

Matthew 21:12

Encrypted: And entered he who was Like a Servant into the temple, and cast out all those selling and buying in the temple. And the tables of the money changers he overturned, and the seats of those selling the indulgence certificates.

Official: And entered Jesus into the temple, and cast out all those selling and buying in the temple. And the tables of the money changers he overturned, and the seats of those selling the doves.

And
και kai: and, also
Και Kai
και kai: and, also
And

entered
εισερχομαι eiserchomai: go in
εισηλθεν eisēlthen
εισερχομαι eiserchomai: go in
entered

[he who was] Like a Servant
ισος isos: like, as if; χρηστος chrēstos: useful, serviceable, kind
Ιησους Iēsous
Ιησους Ιēsous: Jesus, Joshua; Χριστος Christos: Christ, Anointed
Jesus

into
εις eis: to, into
εις eis
εις eis: to, into
into

the
ὁ ho: the, he
το to
ὁ ho: the, he
the

temple,
ἱερον hieron: temple
ἱερον hieron
ἱερον hieron: temple
temple,

and
και kai: and, also
και kai
και kai: and, also
and

cast out
εκβαλλω ekballō: cast out
εξεβαλεν exebalen
εκβαλλω ekballō: cast out
cast out

all
πας pas: all, every
παντας pantas
πας pas: all, every
all

those
ὁ ho: the, he
τους tous
ὁ ho: the, he
those

selling
πωλεω pōleō: sell
πωλουντας pōlountas
πωλεω pōleō: sell
selling

and
και kai: and, also
και kai
και kai: and, also
and

buying
αγοραζω agorazō: buy
αγοραζοντας agorazontas
αγοραζω agorazō: buy
buying

in
εν en: in, on
εν en
εν en: in, on
in

the
ὁ ho: the, he
τω tō
ὁ ho: the, he
the

temple.
ἱερω hierō: temple
ἱερω hierō
ἱερω hierō: temple
temple.

And
και kai: and, also
και kai
και kai: and, also
And

the
ὁ ho: the, he
τας tas
ὁ ho: the, he
the

tables
τραπεζα trapeza: table
τραπεζας trapezas
τραπεζα trapeza: table
tables

of the
ὁ ho: the, he
των tōn
ὁ ho: the, he
of the

money changers
κολλυβιστης kollubistēs: moneychanger
κολλυβιστων kollybistōn
κολλυβιστης kollubistēs: moneychanger
money changers

he overturned,
καταστρεφω katastrephō: overturn
κατεστρεψεν katestrepsen
καταστρεφω katastrephō: overturn
he overturned,

and
και kai: and, also
και kai
και kai: and, also
and

the
ὁ ho: the, he
τας tas
ὁ ho: the, he
the

seats
καθεδρα kathedra: seat
καθεδρας kathedras
καθεδρα kathedra: seat
seats

of those
ὁ ho: the, he
των tōn
ὁ ho: the, he
of those

selling
πωλεω pōleō: sell
πωλουντων pōlountōn
πωλεω pōleō: sell
selling

the
ὁ ho: the, he
τας tas
ὁ ho: the, he
the

[indulgence certificates?!?].
περι peri: for; σωτηρια sōtēria: saving, deliverance
περιστερας peristeras
περιστερα peristera: dove
doves.

Matthew 21:12

A house of usury shouldn’t be public, but disguised as a house of prayer.

Matthew 21:13

Encrypted: And he said to them: It has been written that a house of usury as a house of prayer should be disguised. You, however, of it have made it a public disgrace for the people!

Official: And he said to them: It has been written that the house of me a house of prayer will be called. You, however, of it have made it a den of robbers!

And
και kai: and, also
και kai
και kai: and, also
And

he said
λεγω legō: say
λεγει legei
λεγω legō: say
he said

to them:
αυτος autos: self, he
αυτοις autois
αυτος autos: self, he
to them:

[It] has been written
γραφω graphō: write
Γεγραπται Gegraptai
γραφω graphō: write
[It] has been written

[that] a
ὁ ho: the, he
Ὁ Ho
ὁ ho: the, he
[that] the

house
οικος / οικων oikos / oikōn: house
οικος oikos
οικος / οικων oikos / oikōn: house
house

of usury
χρηστης chrēstēs: creditor, usurer, dun; χρεος chreos: debt
μου mou
εγω egō: I; Χριστος Christos: Christ, Anointed
of me

[as?] a house
οικος oikos: house
οικος oikos
οικος oikos: house
a house

of prayer
προσευχη proseuchē: prayer
προσευχης proseuchēs
προσευχη proseuchē: prayer
of prayer

[should] be disguised.
κλεπτω / κλεφθησεται kleptō / klephthēsetai: cheat, disguise, keep secret
κληθησεται klēthēsetai
καλεω / κληθησεται kaleō / klēthēsetai: call
[will] be called.

You,
συ su: you (early mod. Eng. thou), number
ὑμεις hymeis
συ su: you (early mod. Eng. thou), number
You,

however,
δε de: but, and
δε de
δε de: but, and
however,

of it
αυτος autos: self, he
αυτον auton
αυτος autos: self, he
of it

have made [it]
ποιεω poieō: make
ποιειτε poieite
ποιεω poieō: make
have made [it]

a [public] disgrace
σπιλος / σπιλον spilos / spilon: stain, blemish, disgrace
Σπηλαιον Spēlaion
σπηλαιον spēlaion: cave, den
a den

for the people!
λειστος leistos: for the people, public
ληστων lēstōn
ληστης lēstēs: robber
of robbers!

Matthew 21:13

Faith must be restored with the multitudes.

Matthew 21:14

Encrypted: And came to him the believers and the bitter people in the temple, and he entertained them.

Official: And came to him the blind and the lame in the temple, and he healed them.

And
και kai: and, also
Και Kai
και kai: and, also
And

came
προσερχομαι proserchomai: approach
προσηλθον prosēlthon
προσερχομαι proserchomai: approach
came

to him
αυτος autos: self, he
αυτω autō
αυτος autos: self, he
to him

the believers
θεοφιλης theophilēs: loving God
τυφλοι typhloi
τυφλος tuphlos: blind
the blind

and
και kai: and, also
και kai
και kai: and, also
and

the bitter [people]
χολος cholos: gall, anger, bitterness
χωλοι chōloi
χωλος chōlos: lame, halt
the lame

in
εν en: in, on
εν en
εν en: in, on
in

the
ὁ ho: the, he
τω tō
ὁ ho: the, he
the

temple,
ἱερω hierō: temple
ἱερω hierō
ἱερω hierō: temple
temple,

and
και kai: and, also
και kai
και kai: and, also
and

he entertained
τερπω terpō: satisfy, please, entertain, entrance
εθεραπευσεν etherapeusen
θεραπευω therapeuō: serve, attend to, heal
he healed

them.
αυτος autos: self, he
αυτους autous
αυτος autos: self, he
them.

Matthew 21:14

Matthew 21:15

Encrypted: When saw now the traditional high priests and the scribes this admiration that he created, and the servants shouting in the temple, saying: Like a slave is this distinguished one! Then they were displeased.

Official: When saw now the traditional high priests and the scribes these wonders things that he did, and the children shouting in the temple, saying: Hosanna to the son of David! Then they were displeased.

[When] saw
ὁραω horaō: see
ιδοντες idontes
ὁραω horaō: see
[When] saw

now
δε de: but, and
δε de
δε de: but, and
now

the
ὁ ho: the, he
οἱ hoi
ὁ ho: the, he
the

[traditional] high priests
αρχιερευς archiereus: high priest
αρχιερεις archiereis
αρχιερευς archiereus: high priest
[traditional] high priests

and
και kai: and, also
και kai
και kai: and, also
and

the
ὁ ho: the, he
οἱ hoi
ὁ ho: the, he
the

scribes
γραμματευς grammateus: writer
γραμματεις grammateis
γραμματευς grammateus: writer
scribes

this
ὁ ho: the, he
τα ta
ὁ ho: the, he
these

admiration
θαυμασιος thaumasios: admirable
θαυμασια thaumasia
θαυμασιος thaumasios: wonderful, remarkable
wonders [things]

that
ὁς hos: usually rel. who, which
ἁ ha
ὁς hos: usually rel. who, which
that

[he] created,
ποιεω poieō: make, create, produce
εποιησεν epoiēsen
ποιεω poieō: make, create, produce
[he] did,

and
και kai: and, also
και kai
και kai: and, also
and

the
ὁ ho: the, he
τους tous
ὁ ho: the, he
the

servants
παις pais: slave, servant
παιδας paidas
παις pais: child
children

 
ὁ ho: the, he
τους tous
ὁ ho: the, he
 

shouting
κραζω krazō: shout
κραζοντας krazontas
κραζω krazō: shout
shouting

in
εν en: in, on
εν en
εν en: in, on
in

the
ὁ ho: the, he
τω tō
ὁ ho: the, he
the

temple,
ἱερω hierō: temple
ἱερω hierō
ἱερω hierō: temple
temple,

 
και kai: and, also
και kai
και kai: and, also
 

saying:
λεγω legō: say
λεγοντας legontas
λεγω legō: say
saying:

[Like?] a slave [???]
ἡσσων hēssōn: weaker, slave to
Ὡσαννα Hōsanna
ὡσαννα hōsanna: save I pray
Hosanna [to]

[is] this
ὁ ho: the, he
τω tō
ὁ ho: the, he
the

 
υιος huios: son
υἱω huiō
υιος huios: son
son

distinguished [one???]!
διαειδω diaeidō: discern, distinguish
Δαυιδ Dauid
Δαυιδ Dauid: David
of David!

[Then they] were displeased.
αγανακτεω aganakteō: greatly displeased
ηγανακτησαν ēganaktēsan
αγανακτεω aganakteō: greatly displeased
[Then they] were displeased.

Matthew 21:15

Matthew 21:16

Encrypted: And they said to him: Do you hear what these people say? And he who was Like a Servant said to them: Yes, but did you never know this: Out of the mouth of the crowds and sufferers, you must restore your official story.

Official: And they said to him: Do you hear what these people say? And Jesus said to them: Yes, but did you never know this: Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, you have prepared praise.

And
και kai: and, also
και kai
και kai: and, also
And

[they] said
λεγω legō: say
ειπαν eipan
λεγω legō: say
[they] said

to him:
αυτος autos: self, he
αυτω autō
αυτος autos: self, he
to him:

[Do you] hear
ακουω akouō: hear
Ακουεις Akoueis
ακουω akouō: hear
[Do you] hear

what
τις tis: who? which? what?, -fore
τι ti
τις tis: who? which? what?, -fore
what

these [people]
ουτος houtos: this, here
οὑτοι houtoi
ουτος houtos: this, here
these [people]

say?
λεγω legō: say
λεγουσιν legousin
λεγω legō: say
say?

 
ὁ ho: the, he
Ὁ Ho
ὁ ho: the, he
 

And
δε de: but, and
δε de
δε de: but, and
And

[he who was] Like a Servant
ισος isos: like, as if; χρηστος chrēstos: useful, serviceable, kind
Ιησους Iēsous
Ιησους Ιēsous: Jesus, Joshua; Χριστος Christos: Christ, Anointed
Jesus

said
λεγω legō: say
λεγει legei
λεγω legō: say
said

to them:
αυτος autos: self, he
αυτοις autois
αυτος autos: self, he
to them:

Yes,
ναι nai: yes (indeed), certainly
Ναι Nai
ναι nai: yes (indeed), certainly
Yes,

[but did you] never
ουδεποτε oudepote: never, ever
ουδεποτε oudepote
ουδεποτε oudepote: never, ever
[but did you] never

know
αναγινωσκω anaginōskō: know certainly
ανεγνωτε anegnōte
αναγινωσκω anaginōskō: know certainly
know

this:
ὁτι hoti: that, because
ὁτι hoti
ὁτι hoti: that, because
this:

Out of [the]
εκ ek: from, from out of
Εκ Ek
εκ ek: from, from out of
Out of [the]

mouth
στομα stoma: the mouth, mouth
στοματος stomatos
στομα stoma: the mouth, mouth
mouth

of the crowds
νεφος nephos: cloud of men, dense multitude, throng
νηπιων nēpiōn
νηπιος nēpios: an infant, infant
of babes

and
και kai: and, also
και kai
και kai: and, also
and

sufferers,
ετλην / ταλλασσατων etlēn / tallassatōn: suffer, submit
θηλαζοντων thēlazontōn
θηλαζω / θηλαζοντων thēlazō / thēlazontōn: suckle
sucklings,

[you must] restore
καταρτιζω katartizō: adjust, put in order, restore
Κατηρτισω Katērtisō
καταρτιζω katartizō: prepare, make ready
[you] have prepared

[your official] story.
αινος ainos: tale, story
αινον ainon
αινος ainos: praise
praise.

Matthew 21:16

🏷  Bible text Greek text interlinear · text