The Meaning of Matthew 21:13 Explained

Matthew 21:13

KJV: 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.

YLT: 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.'

Darby: And he says to them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of robbers.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Matthew 21:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus explained why He was doing what He did to the authorities. He quoted Scripture here similarly to the way He did in replying to Satan ( Matthew 4:1-10). First, He referred to Isaiah 56:7, a passage in which Isaiah looked forward to a time when the temple would be a house of prayer. Significantly Matthew omitted "for all the peoples" from Isaiah"s statement focusing his readers" attention on Israel as the target of Jesus" ministry still. Second, Jesus referred to Jeremiah 7:11, a condemnation of superstitious reverence for the temple while the people dishonored it.
"No matter what they do even by violating the sanctity of their Temple, they imagine that their adherence to this Temple will protect and shield them from any penalty." [1]
In the context of Jeremiah"s prophecy, the "robbers" in view were nationalist rebels. That is also the meaning of the Greek word lestai that Jesus used here. Rather than being a house for prayer, Israel"s leaders had turned it into a stronghold of Jewish nationalism that dishonored the temple while they maintained a superstitious respect for it. [2]
". . . for Jesus to raise the claim through his cleansing of the temple that the temple has, under the custody of the religious leaders, become a "den of robbers" and that his purification of it from the desecration of merchants is its restoration to rightful use as Israel"s house of prayer and worship, is for him to mount a massive assault on the authority and integrity of the religious leaders ( Matthew 21:12-13)." [2]5
By coming to the temple and purifying it, Jesus was making another messianic claim (cf. Malachi 3:1-4). However the nation"s rejection of her Messiah frustrated the cleansing of the temple and precluded the fulfillment of the blessing following purification ( Malachi 3:5-6). This prophecy will finally find fulfillment when Messiah comes the second time.

Context Summary

Matthew 21:8-17 - The Lord Of The Temple
It was only a crowd of poor people who escorted Jesus on Palm Sunday to the Holy City; but they sent their hosannas upward to the highest, and their shouts of acclamation and praise are ever ringing down the ages. Let us take them up and pass them on. Hosanna means Save now, Psalms 118:25, which formed part of the Great Hallel, or Passover Psalms. Thus, one day, His Church, and probably the literal Israel of the future, will hail Him with transports of joy. See Zechariah 2:10. Where Jesus comes, He cleanses. At His word the heart that was filled with the din of worldly care becomes the home of prayer, and children-the emblems of humility, simplicity, and faith-gather. While the needy and the childlike are attracted by our Lord's gentleness, wrongdoers are driven out before the "terror of the Lord." [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 21

1  Jesus rides into Jerusalem upon a donkey
12  drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple;
17  curses the fig tree;
23  puts to silence the priests and elders,
28  and rebukes them by the parable of the two sons,
33  and the husbandmen who slew such as were sent to them

Greek Commentary for Matthew 21:13

A den of robbers [σπηλαιον ληιστων]
By charging exorbitant prices. [source]
Thieves [λῃστῶν]
Rev., correctly, robbers. See on Matthew 26:55; and Luke 10:30. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 21:13

Mark 11:17 Of all nations []
Which rendering implies, shall be called by all nations. But render with Rev., a house of prayer for all the nations ( πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν )Thieves ( λῃστῶν )Rev., correctly, robbers. See on Matthew 21:13; and Matthew 26:55; and John 10:1, John 10:8. From ληίς or λεία , booty. In classical usage mostly of cattle. The robber, conducting his operations on a large and systematic scale, and with the aid of bands, is thus to be distinguished from the κλέπτης , or thief who purloins or pilfers whatever comes to hand. A den would be appropriate to a band of robbers, not to thieves. Thus the traveller to Jericho, in Christ's parable (Luke 10:30), fell among robbers, not thieves. [source]
Mark 11:17 Which rendering implies, shall be called by all nations. But render with Rev., a house of prayer for all the nations [λῃστῶν]
Rev., correctly, robbers. See on Matthew 21:13; and Matthew 26:55; and John 10:1, John 10:8. From ληίς or λεία , booty. In classical usage mostly of cattle. The robber, conducting his operations on a large and systematic scale, and with the aid of bands, is thus to be distinguished from the κλέπτης , or thief who purloins or pilfers whatever comes to hand. A den would be appropriate to a band of robbers, not to thieves. Thus the traveller to Jericho, in Christ's parable (Luke 10:30), fell among robbers, not thieves. [source]
John 2:14 Changers of money [κερματιστὰς]
Only here in the New Testament. The kindred noun κέρμα , money, which occurs only in John 2:15, is from κείρω , to cut into bits, and means therefore small coin; “small change,” of which the money-changers would require a large supply. Hence changers of money means, strictly, dealers in small change. Matthew and Mark use λυβιστής (see John 2:15), of which the meaning is substantially the same so far as regards the dealing in small coin; but with the difference that κόλλυβος , the noun from which it is derived, and meaning a small coin, is also used to denote the rate of exchange. This latter word therefore gives a hint of the premium on exchange, which John's word here does not convey. The money-changers opened their stalls in the country towns a month before the feast. By the time of the first arrivals of passover-pilgrims at Jerusalem, the country stalls were closed, and the money-changers sat in the temple (see on Matthew 17:24; see on Matthew 21:12; see on Mark 11:15). John's picture of this incident is more graphic and detailed than those of the Synoptists, who merely state summarily the driving out of the traders and the overthrow of the tables. Compare Matthew 21:12, Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45, Luke 19:46. [source]
John 11:38 Again groaning in himself [παλιν εμβριμωμενος εν εαυτωι]
Direct reference to the use of this same word (present middle participle here) in John 11:33, only with εν εαυτωι — en heautōi (in himself) rather than τωι πνευματι — tōi pneumati (in his spirit), practically the same idea. The speculation concerning his power stirred the depths of his nature again. Cometh to the tomb Vivid historical present. A cave Old word (from σπεος — speos cavern). Cf. Matthew 21:13. Lay against it Imperfect middle of επικειμαι — epikeimai old verb to lie upon as in John 21:9 and figuratively (1 Corinthians 9:16). Note repetition of επι — epi with locative case. The use of a cave for burial was common (Genesis 23:19). Either the body was let down through a horizontal opening (hardly so here) or put in a tomb cut in the face of the rock (if so, επι — epi can mean “against”). The stones were used to keep away wild animals from the bodies. [source]
Hebrews 11:38 Of whom the world was not worthy [ων ουκ ην αχιος ο κοσμος]
Graphic picture in a short parenthetical relative clause Present middle participle of πλαναω — planaō like lost sheep, hunted by wolves. Caves Old word from σπεος — speos (cavern) as in Matthew 21:13. Holes Old word, perhaps from οπς — ops (root of οραω — horaō to see), opening, in N.T. only here and James 3:11. Cf. 1 Kings 18:4; 2Macc 5:27; 10:6 (about Judas Maccabeus and others). [source]
1 John 3:1 We should be called [κληθῶμεν]
Or, named. As Matthew 2:23; Matthew 21:13; Luke 1:13, Luke 1:31, etc. The verb is never used by John of the divine call. In John 10:3, for καλεῖ callethread φωνεῖ . [source]
Revelation 6:15 The chief captains [οι χιλιαρχοι]
The commanders of thousands, the military tribunes (Mark 6:21; Revelation 19:18).The rich (οι πλουσιοι — hoi plousioi). Not merely those in civil and military authority will be terror-stricken, but the self-satisfied and complacent rich (James 5:4.).The strong Who usually scoff at fear. See the list in Revelation 13:16; Revelation 19:18. Cf. Luke 21:26.Every bondman (πας δουλος — pās doulos) and freeman (και ελευτερος — kai eleutheros). The two extremes of society.Hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains Based on Isaiah 2:10, Isaiah 2:18. First aorist active indicative of κρυπτω — kruptō with the reflexive pronoun. For the old word σπηλαιον — spēlaion see Matthew 21:13; Hebrews 11:38. Ορεων — Oreōn is the uncontracted Ionic form (for ορων — orōn) of the genitive plural of ορος — oros (mountain). [source]
Revelation 6:15 The strong [οι ισχυροι]
Who usually scoff at fear. See the list in Revelation 13:16; Revelation 19:18. Cf. Luke 21:26.Every bondman (πας δουλος — pās doulos) and freeman (και ελευτερος — kai eleutheros). The two extremes of society.Hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains Based on Isaiah 2:10, Isaiah 2:18. First aorist active indicative of κρυπτω — kruptō with the reflexive pronoun. For the old word σπηλαιον — spēlaion see Matthew 21:13; Hebrews 11:38. Ορεων — Oreōn is the uncontracted Ionic form (for ορων — orōn) of the genitive plural of ορος — oros (mountain). [source]
Revelation 6:15 Hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains [εκρυπσαν εαυτους εις τα σπηλαια και εις τας πετρας των ορεων]
Based on Isaiah 2:10, Isaiah 2:18. First aorist active indicative of κρυπτω — kruptō with the reflexive pronoun. For the old word σπηλαιον — spēlaion see Matthew 21:13; Hebrews 11:38. Ορεων — Oreōn is the uncontracted Ionic form (for ορων — orōn) of the genitive plural of ορος — oros (mountain). [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 21:13 mean?

And He says to them It has been written The house of Me a house of prayer will be called You however it have made a den of robbers
καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς Γέγραπται οἶκός μου οἶκος προσευχῆς κληθήσεται ὑμεῖς δὲ αὐτὸν ποιεῖτε Σπήλαιον λῃστῶν

λέγει  He  says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Γέγραπται  It  has  been  written 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γράφω 
Sense: to write, with reference to the form of the letters.
οἶκός  house 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οἶκος  
Sense: a house.
μου  of  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
οἶκος  a  house 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οἶκος  
Sense: a house.
προσευχῆς  of  prayer 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: προσευχή  
Sense: prayer addressed to God.
κληθήσεται  will  be  called 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: καλέω  
Sense: to call.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ποιεῖτε  have  made 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
Σπήλαιον  a  den 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: σπήλαιον  
Sense: a cave, den.
λῃστῶν  of  robbers 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἀρχιλῃστής 
Sense: a robber, plunderer, freebooter, brigand.