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:

• Jesus says that the “house of me should be called a house of prayer”. That puns with “a house of usury should be disguised as a house of prayer”. Because “me” is “Christ” here, and Christos “Christ” puns with chrēstēs “usurer”. And klēthēsetai “called” puns with klephthēsetai “disguised”.
• Jesus accuses the authorities that they’ve made it a spēlaion lēstōn “den of robbers”. That puns with it all having become a spilon leiston “public disgrace”.
• The final phrase “out of the mouth of babes & sucklings you must prepare your praise” puns with “out of the mouth of the multitudes & sufferers you must restore your praise”. Because nēpios “baby” puns with nephos “multitude”, and thēlazontōn “suckling” puns with tallassatōn “suffering”.

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

• In the interlinear word-by-word translation, each word is shown as a little block; each verse is a paragraph of little blocks.
• Use the Pun Config to choose your level: Minimal for secret meaning only, Beginner for secret & official English texts, Intermediate for word-by-word vocabulary, Expert for original text & glyphs.
• Possible pun-encrypted meaning is marked with light red.
• Official meaning is marked with light green.
• Pun vocabulary is in red, whenever the meaning differs. All vocabulary is linked to online dictionaries.
• Please read the introduction, and judge yourself whether I got it right.
• Religious readers should proceed with care.

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
kai: and, also
kai: and, also
And

entered
eiserchomai: go in
eiserchomai: go in
entered

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

into
eis: to, into
eis: to, into
into

the
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
the

temple,
hieron: temple
hieron: temple
temple,

and
kai: and, also
kai: and, also
and

cast out
ekballō: cast out
ekballō: cast out
cast out

all
pas: all, every
pas: all, every
all

those
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
those

selling
pōleō: sell
pōleō: sell
selling

and
kai: and, also
kai: and, also
and

buying
agorazō: buy
agorazō: buy
buying

in
en: in, on
en: in, on
in

the
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
the

temple.
hierō: temple
hierō: temple
temple.

And
kai: and, also
kai: and, also
And

the
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
the

tables
trapeza: table
trapeza: table
tables

of the
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
of the

money changers
kollubistēs: moneychanger
kollubistēs: moneychanger
money changers

he overturned,
katastrephō: overturn
katastrephō: overturn
he overturned,

and
kai: and, also
kai: and, also
and

the
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
the

seats
kathedra: seat
kathedra: seat
seats

of those
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
of those

selling
pōleō: sell
pōleō: sell
selling

the
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
the

[indulgence certificates?!?].
peri: for; sōtēria: saving, deliverance
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
kai: and, also
kai: and, also
And

he said
legō: say
legō: say
he said

to them:
autos: self, he
autos: self, he
to them:

[It] has been written
graphō: write
graphō: write
[It] has been written

[that] a
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
[that] the

house
oikos / oikōn: house
oikos / oikōn: house
house

of usury
chrēstēs: creditor, usurer, dun; chreos: debt
egō: I; Christos: Christ, Anointed
of me

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

of prayer
proseuchē: prayer
proseuchē: prayer
of prayer

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

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

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

of it
autos: self, he
autos: self, he
of it

have made [it] poieō: make
poieō: make
have made [it]
a [public] disgrace
spilos / spilon: stain, blemish, disgrace
spēlaion: cave, den
a den

for the people!
leistos: for the people, public
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
kai: and, also
kai: and, also
And

came
proserchomai: approach
proserchomai: approach
came

to him
autos: self, he
autos: self, he
to him

the believers
theophilēs: loving God
tuphlos: blind
the blind

and
kai: and, also
kai: and, also
and

the bitter [people] cholos: gall, anger, bitterness
chōlos: lame, halt
the lame

in
en: in, on
en: in, on
in

the
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
the

temple,
hierō: temple
hierō: temple
temple,

and
kai: and, also
kai: and, also
and

he entertained
terpō: satisfy, please, entertain, entrance
therapeuō: serve, attend to, heal
he healed

them.
autos: self, he
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
horaō: see
horaō: see
[When] saw

now
de: but, and
de: but, and
now

the
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
the

[traditional] high priests
archiereus: high priest
archiereus: high priest
[traditional] high priests

and
kai: and, also
kai: and, also
and

the
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
the

scribes
grammateus: writer
grammateus: writer
scribes

this
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
these

admiration
thaumasios: admirable
thaumasios: wonderful, remarkable
wonders [things]
that
hos: usually rel. who, which
hos: usually rel. who, which
that

[he] created,
poieō: make, create, produce
poieō: make, create, produce
[he] did,

and
kai: and, also
kai: and, also
and

the
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
the

servants
pais: slave, servant
pais: child
children


ho: the, he
ho: the, he


shouting
krazō: shout
krazō: shout
shouting

in
en: in, on
en: in, on
in

the
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
the

temple,
hierō: temple
hierō: temple
temple,


kai: and, also
kai: and, also


saying:
legō: say
legō: say
saying:

[Like?] a slave [???] hēssōn: weaker, slave to
hōsanna: save I pray
Hosanna [to]
[is] this
ho: the, he
ho: the, he
the


huios: son
huios: son
son

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

[Then they] were displeased.
aganakteō: greatly displeased
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
kai: and, also
kai: and, also
And

[they] said
legō: say
legō: say
[they] said

to him:
autos: self, he
autos: self, he
to him:

[Do you] hear
akouō: hear
akouō: hear
[Do you] hear

what
tis: who? which? what?, -fore
tis: who? which? what?, -fore
what

these [people] houtos: this, here
houtos: this, here
these [people]
say?
legō: say
legō: say
say?


ho: the, he
ho: the, he


And
de: but, and
de: but, and
And

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

said
legō: say
legō: say
said

to them:
autos: self, he
autos: self, he
to them:

Yes,
nai: yes (indeed), certainly
nai: yes (indeed), certainly
Yes,

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

know
anaginōskō: know certainly
anaginōskō: know certainly
know

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

Out of [the] ek: from, from out of
ek: from, from out of
Out of [the]
mouth
stoma: the mouth, mouth
stoma: the mouth, mouth
mouth

of the crowds
nephos: cloud of men, dense multitude, throng
nēpios: an infant, infant
of babes

and
kai: and, also
kai: and, also
and

sufferers,
etlēn / tallassatōn: suffer, submit
thēlazō / thēlazontōn: suckle
sucklings,

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

[your official] story.
ainos: tale, story
ainos: praise
praise.

Matthew 21:16