Matthew 21:12-14 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Temple Cleansed

Matthew 21:12-14 – Temple Cleansed

|| Mark 11:11, 15-17; Luke 19:45, 46

MT21:12 Now Jesus entered the temple grounds[1] and drove out all those selling and buying[2] on the temple grounds. He upset the tables and benches of the moneychangers and those selling the doves. MT21:13 Jesus told them all, “It was written: ‘My House will be called “A house of prayer”’[3] but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”[4] [Isaiah 56:7] MT21:14 And the blind and lame approached Jesus on the temple grounds and he cured them.

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[1] The temple grounds: The Greek is HIERO and is the word that refers to the whole temple compound. The Greek word NAOS is limited to the Temple proper with its two holy compartments. See Thayer’s.

[2] Those selling and buying: NOR: tipped over the tables of the cashiers; KNX: tables of the bankers. The pilgrims by the hundreds of thousands came to buy animals and birds for sacrifice so considerable money changed hands. The chief priests had the concession for this and one can imagine the reaction to Jesus’ actions.

[3] My House will be called “a house of prayer”: The quote is from Isaiah 56:7.

[4] But you have turned it into a den of thieves: Jesus includes Jeremiah 7:11. Or, RIEU: a robbers’ den; LAM: a bandits’ cave; NW: cave of robbers. Essentially Jesus calls the concessionaires, the priests, a bunch of thieves. This will not sit well.

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Preceding

Matthew 21:1-3 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Sent Ahead for a Donkey

Matthew 21:4-5 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Your King Is Coming upon a Donkey

Matthew 21:6-9 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Blessed the One Coming in God’s Name!

Matthew 21:10-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Who Is This?

Matthew 21:10-11 Who Is This? – a Question still posed today #1

Matthew 21:10-11 Who Is This? – a Question still posed today #2

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Further reading

1. The Book of Isaiah-Is.57-“Heritage of the Righteous”
2. The Book of Isaiah-Is.61- “For All People…”
3. The Book of Isaiah-Is.61- Trees of Righteousness
4. Clean Out Your Closets
5. Third week of advent – Friday – first reading (Isaiah 56:1-3.6-8)
6. My house shall be called a house of prayer
7. From a den of thieves to a house of prayer – are you a business or a ministry
8. The House of Prayer
9. This is a House of Prayer
10. 33rd Friday of Ordinary Time
11. Easter Week: House of Prayer
12. a house of prayer for all nations
13. The Battle Lines Are Drawn.
14. Your temple
15. House of prayer/ Rumah doa