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But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" <a href="/kjv/matthew/21.htm">King James Bible</a> And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. <a href="/nkjv/matthew/21.htm">New King James Version</a> And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” <a href="/nasb_/matthew/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> And He said to them, “It is written: ‘MY HOUSE WILL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a DEN OF ROBBERS.” <a href="/nasb/matthew/21.htm">NASB 1995</a> And He said to them, &#8220It is written, &#8216MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’ but you are making it a ROBBERS&#8217 DEN.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/matthew/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And He said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” <a href="/lsb/matthew/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And He said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” <a href="/amp/matthew/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Jesus said to them, “It is written [in Scripture], ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” <a href="/csb/matthew/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> He said to them, “It is written, my house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves! ” <a href="/hcsb/matthew/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> And He said to them, &#8220It is written, My house will be called a house of prayer. But you are making it a den of thieves!&#8221 <a href="/asv/matthew/21.htm">American Standard Version</a> and he saith unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers. <a href="/cev/matthew/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> He told them, "The Scriptures say, 'My house should be called a place of worship.' But you have turned it into a place where robbers hide." <a href="/erv/matthew/21.htm">English Revised Version</a> and he saith unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers. <a href="/gwt/matthew/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> He told them, "Scripture says, 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you're turning it into a gathering place for thieves!" <a href="/gnt/matthew/21.htm">Good News Translation</a> and said to them, "It is written in the Scriptures that God said, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer.' But you are making it a hideout for thieves!" <a href="/isv/matthew/21.htm">International Standard Version</a> He told them, "It is written, 'My house is to be called a house of prayer,' but you are turning it into a hideout for bandits!" <a href="/msb/matthew/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> And He declared to them, ?It is written: ?My house will be called a house of prayer.? But you have made it ?a den of robbers.?? <a href="/net/matthew/21.htm">NET Bible</a> And he said to them, "It is written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are turning it into a den of robbers!" <a href="/nheb/matthew/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> He said to them, "It is written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den of robbers." <a href="/wbt/matthew/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And said to them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves. <a href="/wey/matthew/21.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "It is written," He said, "'My House shall be called the House of Prayer', but you are making it a robbers' cave." <a href="/web/matthew/21.htm">World English Bible</a> He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers!” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/matthew/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and He says to them, “It has been written: My house will be called a house of prayer; but you made it a den of robbers.” <a href="/blb/matthew/21.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And He says to them, "It has been written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer.' But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" <a href="/ylt/matthew/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and he saith to them, 'It hath been written, My house a house of prayer shall be called, but ye did make it a den of robbers.' <a href="/slt/matthew/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And he says to them, It was written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; and ye have made it a den of robbers.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/matthew/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And he saith to them: It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves. <a href="/cpdv/matthew/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And he said to them: “It is written: ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer. But you have made it into a den of robbers.’ ” <a href="/nabre/matthew/21.htm">New American Bible</a> And he said to them, “It is written: ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of thieves.” <a href="/nrsvce/matthew/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/matthew/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And he said to them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a bandits’ cave. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/21.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And he said to them, “It is written: 'My house will be called the House of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers.' “<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/matthew/21.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> and said to them: It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers. <a href="/godbey/matthew/21.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> and He says to them, <FR>It has been written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but you make it a den of thieves.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/matthew/21.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> and said unto them, It is written, ?My house shall be called a house of prayer,? but ye have made it a den of robbers.<CM> <a href="/mace/matthew/21.htm">Mace New Testament</a> and said to them, it is written, " my house shall be the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves." <a href="/wey/matthew/21.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "It is written," He said, "'My House shall be called the House of Prayer', but you are making it a robbers' cave." <a href="/worrell/matthew/21.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> And He saith to them, <FR>"It has been written, 'My house, shall be called a house of prayer; but ye are making it a den of robbers!'"<Fr> <a href="/worsley/matthew/21.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> and said to them, <FR>It is written, "My house shall be called the house of prayer," but ye have made it a den of thieves.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/matthew/21-13.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=6027" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/matthew/21.htm">Jesus Cleanses the Temple</a> 12Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. 13<a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">And</a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: legei (V-PIA-3S) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ">He declared</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autois (PPro-DM3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">to them,</a> <a href="/greek/1125.htm" title="1125: Gegraptai (V-RIM/P-3S) -- A primary verb; to grave, especially to write; figuratively, to describe.">“It is written:</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: mou (PPro-G1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">‘My</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: Ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3624.htm" title="3624: oikos (N-NMS) -- A dwelling; by implication, a family.">house</a> <a href="/greek/2564.htm" title="2564: klēthēsetai (V-FIP-3S) -- (a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name. Akin to the base of keleuo; to call.">will be called</a> <a href="/greek/3624.htm" title="3624: oikos (N-NMS) -- A dwelling; by implication, a family.">a house</a> <a href="/greek/4335.htm" title="4335: proseuchēs (N-GFS) -- From proseuchomai; prayer; by implication, an oratory.">of prayer.’</a> <a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">But</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymeis (PPro-N2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">you</a> <a href="/greek/4160.htm" title="4160: poieite (V-PIA-2P) -- (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.">are making</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: auton (PPro-AM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">it</a> <a href="/greek/4693.htm" title="4693: Spēlaion (N-ANS) -- A cave, den, hideout. Neuter of a presumed derivative of speos; a cavern; by implication, a hiding-place or resort.">‘a den</a> <a href="/greek/3027.htm" title="3027: lēstōn (N-GMP) -- A robber, brigand, bandit. From leizomai; a brigand.">of robbers.’” </a> 14The blind and the lame came to Him at the temple, and He healed them.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/isaiah/56-7.htm">Isaiah 56:7</a> I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” <a href="/jeremiah/7-11.htm">Jeremiah 7:11</a> Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Yes, I too have seen it, declares the LORD. <a href="/mark/11-17.htm">Mark 11:17</a> Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” <a href="/luke/19-46.htm">Luke 19:46</a> He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be a house of prayer.’ But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” <a href="/john/2-16.htm">John 2:16</a> To those selling doves He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a marketplace!” <a href="/malachi/3-1.htm">Malachi 3:1</a> “Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts. <a href="/psalms/69-9.htm">Psalm 69:9</a> because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me. <a href="/zechariah/14-21.htm">Zechariah 14:21</a> Indeed, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD of Hosts, and all who sacrifice will come and take some pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of Hosts. <a href="/1_kings/8-29.htm">1 Kings 8:29-30</a> May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. / Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive. <a href="/2_chronicles/6-20.htm">2 Chronicles 6:20-21</a> May Your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your Name, so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. / Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive. <a href="/acts/7-48.htm">Acts 7:48-49</a> However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: / ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be? <a href="/hebrews/10-19.htm">Hebrews 10:19-22</a> Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, / by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, / and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ... <a href="/1_corinthians/3-16.htm">1 Corinthians 3:16-17</a> Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? / If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. <a href="/1_peter/2-5.htm">1 Peter 2:5</a> you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. <a href="/revelation/3-12.htm">Revelation 3:12</a> The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And said to them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves.It is.<a href="/matthew/2-5.htm">Matthew 2:5</a> And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,<a href="/john/15-25.htm">John 15:25</a> But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.My.<a href="/psalms/93-5.htm">Psalm 93:5</a> Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.<a href="/isaiah/56-7.htm">Isaiah 56:7</a> Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.ye.<a href="/jeremiah/7-11.htm">Jeremiah 7:11</a> Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.<a href="/mark/11-17.htm">Mark 11:17</a> And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.<a href="/luke/19-46.htm">Luke 19:46</a> Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/nahum/2-11.htm">Cave</a> <a href="/nahum/2-11.htm">Den</a> <a href="/matthew/15-14.htm">Hole</a> <a href="/matthew/20-15.htm">House</a> <a href="/matthew/20-20.htm">Making</a> <a href="/matthew/17-21.htm">Prayer</a> <a href="/obadiah/1-5.htm">Robbers</a> <a href="/matthew/6-20.htm">Thieves</a> <a href="/matthew/19-4.htm">Writings</a> <a href="/matthew/19-7.htm">Written</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/mark/11-17.htm">Cave</a> <a href="/mark/11-17.htm">Den</a> <a href="/matthew/25-18.htm">Hole</a> <a href="/matthew/23-21.htm">House</a> <a href="/matthew/25-24.htm">Making</a> <a href="/matthew/21-22.htm">Prayer</a> <a href="/matthew/27-38.htm">Robbers</a> <a href="/matthew/27-38.htm">Thieves</a> <a href="/matthew/21-42.htm">Writings</a> <a href="/matthew/26-24.htm">Written</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 21</div>1. <a href="/matthew/21-1.htm">Jesus rides into Jerusalem upon a donkey</a> 12. <a href="/matthew/21-12.htm">drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple;</a> 17. <a href="/matthew/21-17.htm">curses the fig tree;</a> 23. <a href="/matthew/21-23.htm">puts to silence the priests and elders,</a> 28. <a href="/matthew/21-28.htm">and rebukes them by the parable of the two sons,</a> 33. <a href="/matthew/21-33.htm">and the husbandmen who slew such as were sent to them.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/21.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/21.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>And He declared to them This phrase indicates Jesus' authoritative stance as He addresses those in the temple. His declaration is not merely a suggestion but a pronouncement with divine authority. Jesus often spoke with authority, as seen in <a href="/matthew/7-29.htm">Matthew 7:29</a>, where it is noted that He taught as one having authority, unlike the scribes.It is written Jesus frequently used this phrase to reference the Hebrew Scriptures, affirming their divine inspiration and authority. By saying "It is written," He underscores the importance of Scripture as the foundation for His actions and teachings. This phrase is a common introduction to Old Testament quotations, emphasizing the continuity between Jesus' ministry and the Jewish Scriptures.‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ This is a direct quotation from <a href="/isaiah/56-7.htm">Isaiah 56:7</a>, where God speaks of His temple as a place for all nations to pray. The temple in Jerusalem was intended to be a sacred space for worship and communion with God. Jesus' use of this phrase highlights the intended purpose of the temple as a place of spiritual connection, not commercial activity. The phrase also points to the inclusivity of God's plan, as Isaiah's prophecy speaks of a house of prayer for all peoples.But you are making it Here, Jesus contrasts the divine intention for the temple with the current actions of the people. The use of "you are making it" indicates a direct accusation against those who have corrupted the temple's purpose. This phrase suggests a deliberate and ongoing action that deviates from God's original design.‘a den of robbers.’” This phrase is a reference to <a href="/jeremiah/7-11.htm">Jeremiah 7:11</a>, where God condemns the people for turning His house into a den of thieves. In the context of <a href="/matthew/21-13.htm">Matthew 21:13</a>, Jesus accuses the temple authorities and merchants of exploiting worshippers through dishonest practices, such as overcharging for sacrificial animals and currency exchange. The term "den of robbers" implies a place where thieves retreat after committing their crimes, suggesting that the temple had become a refuge for corrupt practices rather than a place of worship. This accusation is a powerful indictment of the religious leaders' failure to uphold the sanctity of the temple.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a> The central figure in this passage, Jesus is asserting His authority and fulfilling His role as the Messiah by cleansing the temple. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_temple_in_jerusalem.htm">The Temple in Jerusalem</a> The sacred place where Jews gathered to worship God. It was meant to be a place of prayer and communion with God. 3. <a href="/topical/m/money_changers_and_merchants.htm">Money Changers and Merchants</a> Individuals conducting business in the temple courts, turning a place of worship into a marketplace. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_chief_priests_and_scribes.htm">The Chief Priests and Scribes</a> Religious leaders who were responsible for maintaining the sanctity of the temple but were complicit in its misuse. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_crowd.htm">The Crowd</a> Witnesses to Jesus' actions and teachings, representing the general populace who were affected by the temple's corruption.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_sanctity_of_worship.htm">The Sanctity of Worship</a> The temple was meant to be a sacred space dedicated to prayer and worship. We must ensure that our places of worship remain focused on God and not on worldly pursuits. <a href="/topical/r/righteous_anger.htm">Righteous Anger</a> Jesus' actions demonstrate that there is a place for righteous anger when God's holiness is compromised. We should be zealous for God's honor and integrity. <a href="/topical/p/personal_reflection.htm">Personal Reflection</a> Just as Jesus cleansed the temple, we should examine our own lives and remove anything that hinders our relationship with God. <a href="/topical/c/community_accountability.htm">Community Accountability</a> The religious leaders failed in their duty to maintain the temple's sanctity. As a community, we must hold each other accountable to uphold God's standards. <a href="/topical/p/prayer_as_a_priority.htm">Prayer as a Priority</a> Jesus emphasizes the importance of prayer. We should prioritize prayer in our personal lives and communal worship.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_21.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 21</a> <a href="/q/what_is_a_generalist's_knowledge.htm">What did Jesus do to the money changers?</a> <a href="/q/what's_the_international_house_of_prayer.htm">What is the International House of Prayer?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_jeremiah_7_4_deny_temple_protection.htm">Jeremiah 7:4: How can this passage imply the temple offers no protection despite other texts suggesting God’s presence there protects His people?</a> <a href="/q/did_the_temple_cleansing_occur_twice.htm">Could the cleansing of the temple (John 2:13-17) have happened twice, or does it conflict with the Synoptic accounts?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/21.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(13) It is written.--The words which our Lord quotes are a free combination of two prophetic utterances: one from Isaiah's vision of the future glory of the Temple, as visited both by Jew and Gentile (<a href="/isaiah/56-7.htm" title="Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.">Isaiah 56:7</a>); one from Jeremiah's condemnation of evils like in nature, if not in form, to those against which our Lord protested (<a href="/jeremiah/7-11.htm" title="Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, said the LORD.">Jeremiah 7:11</a>).A den of thieves.--The pictorial vividness of the words must not be passed over. Palestine was then swarming with bands of outlaw brigands, who, as David of old in Adullam (<a href="/1_samuel/22-1.htm" title="David therefore departed there, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.">1Samuel 22:1</a>), haunted the lime-stone caverns of Judaea. The wranglings of such a company over the booty they had carried off were reproduced in the Temple, and mingled with the Hallelujahs of the Levites and the Hosannas of the crowds. We ask, as we read the narrative, how it was that the work of expulsion was done so effectively, and with so little resistance. The answer is found (1) in the personal greatness and intensity of will that showed itself in our Lord's look and word and tone; (2) in the presence of the crowd that had followed Him from the Mount of Olives, and had probably filled the courts of the Temple; and (3) in the secret consciousness of the offenders that they were desecrating the Temple, and that the Prophet of Nazareth, in His zeal for His Father's house, was the witness of a divine truth.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/21.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 13. - It is written. Jesus confirms his action by the word of Scripture. He combines in one severe sentence a passage from <a href="/isaiah/56-7.htm">Isaiah 56:7</a> ("Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all peoples"), and one from <a href="/jeremiah/7-11.htm">Jeremiah 7:11</a> ("Is this house, which is called by my Name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?"). He brings out in strong contrast the high design and use of the house of God (an allusion specially appropriate at the coming festival), and the vile and profane purposes to which the greed and impiety of men had subjected it. Ye have made it; Revised Version, ye make it; and so many modern editors on good manuscript authority. These base traffickers had turned the hallowed courts into a cavern where robbers stored their ill-gotten plunder. It may also be said that to make the place of prayer for all the nations a market for boasts was a robbery of the rights of the Gentiles (Lange). And Christ here vindicated the sanctity of the house of God: the Lord, according to the prophecy of Malachi (<a href="/malachi/3-1.htm">Malachi 3:1-3</a>), had suddenly come to his temple to refine and purify, to show that none can profane what is dedicated to the service of God without most certain loss and punishment. <a href="/commentaries/matthew/21-13.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>And καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. He declared λέγει (legei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3004.htm">Strong's 3004: </a> (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. to them, αὐτοῖς (autois) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. “It is written: Γέγραπται (Gegraptai) Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1125.htm">Strong's 1125: </a> A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe. ‘My μου (mou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. house οἶκός (oikos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3624.htm">Strong's 3624: </a> A dwelling; by implication, a family. will be called κληθήσεται (klēthēsetai) Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2564.htm">Strong's 2564: </a> (a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name. Akin to the base of keleuo; to 'call'. a house οἶκος (oikos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3624.htm">Strong's 3624: </a> A dwelling; by implication, a family. of prayer.’ προσευχῆς (proseuchēs) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4335.htm">Strong's 4335: </a> From proseuchomai; prayer; by implication, an oratory. But δὲ (de) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> A primary particle; but, and, etc. you ὑμεῖς (hymeis) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. are making ποιεῖτε (poieite) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4160.htm">Strong's 4160: </a> (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. it αὐτὸν (auton) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. ‘a den Σπήλαιον (Spēlaion) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4693.htm">Strong's 4693: </a> A cave, den, hideout. Neuter of a presumed derivative of speos; a cavern; by implication, a hiding-place or resort. of robbers.’” λῃστῶν (lēstōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3027.htm">Strong's 3027: </a> A robber, brigand, bandit. From leizomai; a brigand. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/21-13.htm">Matthew 21:13 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/matthew/21-13.htm">Matthew 21:13 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/matthew/21-13.htm">Matthew 21:13 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/matthew/21-13.htm">Matthew 21:13 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/matthew/21-13.htm">Matthew 21:13 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/21-13.htm">Matthew 21:13 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/21-13.htm">Matthew 21:13 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/21-13.htm">Matthew 21:13 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/21-13.htm">Matthew 21:13 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/matthew/21-13.htm">Matthew 21:13 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/matthew/21-13.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 21:13 He said to them It is written (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/21-12.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 21:12"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 21:12" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/21-14.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 21:14"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 21:14" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>