Matthew 21:13 - He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called 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 "Matthew 21:13" mean?
This verse, found in Matthew 21:13, is Jesus quoting two Old Testament prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah, as he cleanses the Temple in Jerusalem. To understand its meaning, we need to break it down:
"He said to them, 'It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' Isaiah 56:7": Jesus is reminding those present, specifically the merchants and money changers, of the intended purpose of the Temple. Isaiah 56:7 describes God's house as a place where all nations can come to pray and worship Him. It emphasizes inclusivity and spiritual devotion. The Temple was meant to be a center for genuine connection with God.
"but you have made it a den of robbers!' Jeremiah 7:11": Jesus then sharply contrasts the ideal with the reality. He accuses them of turning the Temple into a "den of robbers." This refers to Jeremiah's prophecy where he condemns the people of Judah for their hypocrisy. They were performing religious rituals while simultaneously engaging in corrupt and unjust practices. Jeremiah prophesied that they were treating the Temple as a safe haven where they could commit crimes and then come to the Temple, claiming to be cleansed.
Overall Meaning:
Jesus is expressing outrage and condemnation over the commercialization and corruption that had overtaken the Temple. By combining these two quotes, Jesus emphasizes the following:
1. Profaning the Sacred: The merchants and money changers, through their business activities within the Temple grounds, were disrupting the sacred atmosphere intended for prayer and worship. They were prioritizing profit over piety.
2. Hypocrisy: Jesus is echoing Jeremiah's criticism of religious leaders who were outwardly observant but inwardly corrupt. They were using the Temple as a facade to conceal their wickedness. The merchants are more concerned with profit than with the sanctity of the Temple.
3. Missing the Point: The people were focusing on the external rituals of worship but ignoring the internal transformation and moral righteousness that God desired.
4. Judgment: Jesus's actions and words serve as a judgment against those who were exploiting the Temple for their own gain and turning it away from its intended purpose.
In essence, Matthew 21:13 highlights the importance of genuine faith, ethical conduct, and the true purpose of religious institutions: to facilitate a meaningful connection with God and promote justice and compassion. Jesus is calling for a return to the Temple's original purpose as a place of prayer and reverence.
Matthew 21:13 - He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ Isaiah 56:7 but you have made it a den of robbers!” Jeremiah 7:11
What does "Matthew 21:13" mean?
This verse, found in Matthew 21:13, is Jesus quoting two Old Testament prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah, as he cleanses the Temple in Jerusalem. To understand its meaning, we need to break it down:
"He said to them, 'It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' Isaiah 56:7": Jesus is reminding those present, specifically the merchants and money changers, of the intended purpose of the Temple. Isaiah 56:7 describes God's house as a place where all nations can come to pray and worship Him. It emphasizes inclusivity and spiritual devotion. The Temple was meant to be a center for genuine connection with God.
"but you have made it a den of robbers!' Jeremiah 7:11": Jesus then sharply contrasts the ideal with the reality. He accuses them of turning the Temple into a "den of robbers." This refers to Jeremiah's prophecy where he condemns the people of Judah for their hypocrisy. They were performing religious rituals while simultaneously engaging in corrupt and unjust practices. Jeremiah prophesied that they were treating the Temple as a safe haven where they could commit crimes and then come to the Temple, claiming to be cleansed.
Overall Meaning:
Jesus is expressing outrage and condemnation over the commercialization and corruption that had overtaken the Temple. By combining these two quotes, Jesus emphasizes the following:
1. Profaning the Sacred: The merchants and money changers, through their business activities within the Temple grounds, were disrupting the sacred atmosphere intended for prayer and worship. They were prioritizing profit over piety.
2. Hypocrisy: Jesus is echoing Jeremiah's criticism of religious leaders who were outwardly observant but inwardly corrupt. They were using the Temple as a facade to conceal their wickedness. The merchants are more concerned with profit than with the sanctity of the Temple.
3. Missing the Point: The people were focusing on the external rituals of worship but ignoring the internal transformation and moral righteousness that God desired.
4. Judgment: Jesus's actions and words serve as a judgment against those who were exploiting the Temple for their own gain and turning it away from its intended purpose.
In essence, Matthew 21:13 highlights the importance of genuine faith, ethical conduct, and the true purpose of religious institutions: to facilitate a meaningful connection with God and promote justice and compassion. Jesus is calling for a return to the Temple's original purpose as a place of prayer and reverence.