A Den of Thieves?

Jesus's action in the Jerusalem Temple has provoked extensive debate concerning its meaning. In recent years scholars have increasingly disputed the notion that Jesus's indignation was directed at economic exploitation. Tyler Hallstrom evaluates the economic exploitation thesis by considering the textual, historical, and socio-economic evidence germane to the discussion. He concludes that, although Jesus may have been motivated by multiple purposes, a close examination of the available evidence supports the view that economic exploitation was a central raison d'être of Jesus's demonstration.