The money changers were making the average Jew PAY them to practice their faith...they were profiting from religion....
This is why Christ was so upset and why they defiled the temple according to Christ.
Spot on.
And by attacking the money changers, Jesus was in fact attacking the Priests of the Temple who profited from those money changers.
Why do we think they crucified the poor fellow?
Because of some religious dogma?
Not hardly.
He was a real threat to their lovely monopoly of the Levites who were the only tribe allowed to become Priests at the temple.
He was, quite obviously, a threat to the status quo.