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.’ ” Matthew 21:13
As Jesus rebuked the money changers who were over charging for sacrifices that worshippers purchased as an offering to God. He let them know what was written in the holy scriptures, in contrast to their despicable behavior. A house of prayer is a dwelling place to commune with the Living God. The fact that they had no reverence for that sacred space, triggered righteous indignation by the Lord Jesus.
These individuals were so driven by greed that they could justify their behavior without a conscious towards God. The fear of the LORD should constrain our conduct when we enter His presence. When we enter the house of someone that we respect, even if we don’t know them personally, we are generally on our best behavior, out of respect for the one who invited us into the house.
God has extended an invitation to all people wherever they are in the world. God calls His house a house of prayer for all nations. Which means, everybody is welcome, so you would expect anyone who knows anything about Him, would come into His gates with thanksgiving, and enter His courts with praise. Simply because they are honored by the invitation of the creator of all things, both visible and invisible. Here is what the LORD says:
Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” [Isaiah 56:7]
If a dignitary invited a common person into their house, surely they would enter honorably, yet these covetous people made the house of God a den of thieves. They failed to respect the house of prayer, a place where sincere believers come to honor and adore the God who showed them grace and mercy. The creator of all the earth, has such regard for His creation that all are welcome to approach His throne and speak to him. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. [Hebrews 4:16]
May we never defile the house of prayer that God has made available to all nations. Let the nations of the earth bow down before Him and call upon the name of the LORD.
Maranatha
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