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Matthew 21:13

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 21:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
Matthew 21:13 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
10And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, Who is this?
11And the multitudes said, This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.
12And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of he money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves;
13and he saith unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers.
14And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
15But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were moved with indignation,
16and said unto him, Hearest thou what these are saying? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea: did ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou has perfected praise?
← Matthew 21:12Matthew 21:14 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And said unto them, it is written, etc.] In (<235607>Isaiah 56:7). My house shall be called the house of prayer. These are the, words of God, calling the temple his house, which was built according to the plan he gave; and was the place of his worship, and where he dwelt, and vouchsafed his presence to his people; and signifying, that in time to come, it should be an house of prayer; not for the Jews only, but for the Gentiles also: “for all people”, as it is expressed by the prophet, and cited by Mark; and particularly this part of it, in which were the money changers and sellers of doves; for that was the court of the Gentiles, where they were admitted to pray, and perform other parts of…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“This paragraph contains the account of the barren fig-tree, and of the cleansing of the temple. See also Mark 11:12-19; Luke 19:45-48. Matthew 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God ... - From Mark 11:11-15, it is probable that this cleansing of the temple did not take place on the day that he entered Jerusalem in triumph, but on the day following. He came and looked round upon all things, Mark says, and went out to Bethany with the twelve. On the day following, returning from Bethany, he saw the fig-tree. Entering into the temple, he purified it “on that day;” or perhaps he “finished” the work of purifying it on that day, which he commenced the day before. Matthew has mentioned the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“A den of thieves - A proverbial expression, for a harbour of wicked men. Isa 56:7; Jer 7:11. Matthew 21:16”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“21:13 Jesus’ actions were justified, because God’s glory was being desecrated through financial exploitation.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“It is: Mat 2:5; Joh 15:25 My: Psa 93:5; Isa 56:7 ye: Jer 7:11; Mar 11:17; Luk 19:46 Matthew 21:14”
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Related study paths

Read Matthew 21 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification