Nigeria, April 10 -- According to Jewish temple traditions, Jews were not allowed to give offerings in the temple in Jerusalem using their coins that had the image of Caesar stamped on them. This was deemed idolatrous. Thus, when they arrived at Jerusalem from neighbouring towns to celebrate the Jewish annual festivals, they were mandated by temple officials to change their coins through the money changers who hung around the temple's premises. These money changers charged very exorbitant rates for their transactions.

Further, God specifically gave Moses the exact description of the types of animals that could be accepted for sacrifices in the temple for various annual festivals (Leviticus 22: 17-25). To be acceptable to God for sacrific...