Luke 19:46 - saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ Isaiah 56:7 but you have made it a ‘den of robbers’!” Jeremiah 7:11
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What does "Luke 19:46" mean?
This verse, found in Luke 19:46 (and similar accounts in Matthew 21:13 and Mark 11:17), is Jesus quoting scripture to condemn the practices he observed in the Temple in Jerusalem. Let's break down what it means:
"It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' Isaiah 56:7": This refers to a passage in Isaiah where God declares that His Temple should be a place of prayer for all nations, welcoming everyone to seek Him. It emphasizes the Temple's intended purpose as a sanctuary for spiritual connection and worship.
"but you have made it a 'den of robbers'! Jeremiah 7:11": This quotes Jeremiah, who condemned the hypocrisy of the people of Judah who outwardly worshipped in the Temple but continued to engage in corrupt and unjust practices in their daily lives. A "den of robbers" suggests a place where exploitation, dishonesty, and greed are rampant.
Together, these two quotes highlight the stark contrast between what the Temple should be and what it had become:
Hypocrisy: Jesus is accusing the Temple authorities (priests, money changers, etc.) of turning a holy place dedicated to prayer and worship into a center for commercial exploitation and potentially corrupt practices.
Distortion of Purpose: The Temple, meant to be a place where people could connect with God, was instead being used for profit and potentially excluding or taking advantage of worshippers.
Condemnation of Injustice: The "den of robbers" imagery suggests that the practices within the Temple were unjust, preying on people's needs and perhaps hindering their ability to truly worship. This would have been particularly true for those who came from afar to offer sacrifices. The money changers exploited the necessity of having the proper currency for Temple offerings.
In essence, Jesus is saying:
"The Temple is supposed to be a place of welcome and prayer for everyone, but you have corrupted it by turning it into a place of greed and exploitation."
Wider Significance:
Authority: Jesus is asserting his authority to judge and cleanse the Temple, demonstrating his Messianic role.
Priorities: The passage emphasizes the importance of genuine worship and righteous living over mere outward religious practices.
New Covenant: Some interpret this cleansing as a symbolic foreshadowing of the coming destruction of the Temple and the establishment of a new covenant based on grace through faith, not on ritualistic sacrifices. In the new covenant, believers themselves become the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, Luke 19:46 is a powerful condemnation of hypocrisy and a call for a return to genuine worship and ethical conduct. It highlights the tension between outward religious practice and inward spiritual reality.
Luke 19:46 - saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ Isaiah 56:7 but you have made it a ‘den of robbers’!” Jeremiah 7:11
What does "Luke 19:46" mean?
This verse, found in Luke 19:46 (and similar accounts in Matthew 21:13 and Mark 11:17), is Jesus quoting scripture to condemn the practices he observed in the Temple in Jerusalem. Let's break down what it means:
"It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' Isaiah 56:7": This refers to a passage in Isaiah where God declares that His Temple should be a place of prayer for all nations, welcoming everyone to seek Him. It emphasizes the Temple's intended purpose as a sanctuary for spiritual connection and worship.
"but you have made it a 'den of robbers'! Jeremiah 7:11": This quotes Jeremiah, who condemned the hypocrisy of the people of Judah who outwardly worshipped in the Temple but continued to engage in corrupt and unjust practices in their daily lives. A "den of robbers" suggests a place where exploitation, dishonesty, and greed are rampant.
Together, these two quotes highlight the stark contrast between what the Temple should be and what it had become:
Hypocrisy: Jesus is accusing the Temple authorities (priests, money changers, etc.) of turning a holy place dedicated to prayer and worship into a center for commercial exploitation and potentially corrupt practices.
Distortion of Purpose: The Temple, meant to be a place where people could connect with God, was instead being used for profit and potentially excluding or taking advantage of worshippers.
Condemnation of Injustice: The "den of robbers" imagery suggests that the practices within the Temple were unjust, preying on people's needs and perhaps hindering their ability to truly worship. This would have been particularly true for those who came from afar to offer sacrifices. The money changers exploited the necessity of having the proper currency for Temple offerings.
In essence, Jesus is saying:
"The Temple is supposed to be a place of welcome and prayer for everyone, but you have corrupted it by turning it into a place of greed and exploitation."
Wider Significance:
Authority: Jesus is asserting his authority to judge and cleanse the Temple, demonstrating his Messianic role.
Priorities: The passage emphasizes the importance of genuine worship and righteous living over mere outward religious practices.
New Covenant: Some interpret this cleansing as a symbolic foreshadowing of the coming destruction of the Temple and the establishment of a new covenant based on grace through faith, not on ritualistic sacrifices. In the new covenant, believers themselves become the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, Luke 19:46 is a powerful condemnation of hypocrisy and a call for a return to genuine worship and ethical conduct. It highlights the tension between outward religious practice and inward spiritual reality.