In the "Temple Cleansing and Temple Bank" by Neill Q. Hamilton, explains the "function of the Jerusalem temple as a bank.[1] A brief history of banking in temples in the ancient world will prepare us for an understanding of the Jerusalem temple bank."
Many of the temples of Rome functioned as financial institutions, investment brokers, social safety nets, or other government service providers from building roads, docks, bridges, or aqueducts and even the minting of coins or keeping public records of lands and family lineage like birth registration. The temple at Ephesus provided some services for 127 different countries
The Qumram of the Essenes, as well as Jesus and the early Church called for a temple made without hands but constructed of living stones. The Essenes called that community a "temple of men" or the miqdash adam. Ten elders of families gather together as an altar of 'adamah' in a free assembly and choose the living stones for their altars of sacrifice for the practice of Pure Religion which is the Corban of Christ, His Eucharist.
While the seven men in Acts 6 formed a sort of "bank" to handle funds as needed. They were a kind of nonprofit bank more like a decentralized credit union today than the common for profit bank.. Everything about the Kingdom of God is decentralized because it is delivering a power of choice or liberty to individuals rather than to a central power.[2]
- ↑ Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:48-49, Matthew 21:12,13
- ↑ Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal::21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.