Mark 11:15-18 (NASB) says, “15Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves; 16and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. 17And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.” 18The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.”

On this very bad day for Jesus, after He cursed the fig tree, He went into the temple and began to overthrow the tables of the money changers and cast them out. He was very angry, and He was not afraid to show it. The first problem here is that they were trying to make a profit off of other people’s love and sacrifice, when Christ was to soon be the sacrificed for the sins of the whole world.

The second reason why Jesus expressed His frustration was that they were selling these things in the court area where the Gentiles entered in and worshiped. They lessened the value and importance of the Gentiles’ worship for God because they were not the original people of God, and the Jews exalted themselves in their own pride. Christ was angry because these moneychangers were getting in the way of other people’s worship and created racial barriers when God’s house was to be a house of prayer for ALL people. He ran out the sin of a commercialized and manufactured gospel, and He converted it back to a house of prayer, and the result was the healing of the blind and lame, which furthered the praise of His people. The Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees were more about making a profit than seeing lives change and receive miracles. When God’s house goes back to prayer, and people began to cry out Hosanna, which means “I pray now to the one who brings salvation,” then we would issue forth a perfected praise and see healings and miracles once again. We must get rid of this powerless, loveless salvation and get a hold of God that forever changes and brings forth fruit that remains, providing memorable, life changing encounters that are never forgotten! You can have the shout, song and message all you want to, but if you do not have the power and anointing, it means nothing! Sitting in the church does not save you just as much as sitting in a garage makes you a car. It is about living the lifestyle! It is about being a Christian! You cannot fake it till you make it in this kingdom!

Jeremiah 7:8-11 says, “8Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. 9Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; 10And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? 11Is 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.” The prophet of God discusses how Judah had sinned against God and how their sins resulted in the destruction of the original temple in Shiloh. He begins to describe their sins, such as believing in lies that the priests were teaching and committing the sins of adultery, lying, stealing and murder. They walked after Baal and burned incense to him. This was awful in itself, but they were doing what many in the church do today, which is why the churches are stationary and are not growing in faith or number. They would go before the altar and say, “We are delivered to do all of these sins,” and they would go right back into abiding in that bondage. They apologized for their sins and were ready to start sinning all over again. True deliverance only comes with repentance, not apologies! The first way God’s house becomes a den of thieves is when we allow sin to rob our righteousness and we shamelessly approve of those sins. If it is something that pollutes our Christian walk and church, then we need to repent and walk in His deliverance. He will deliver you from anything you are willing to let go of!

Another place in scripture concerning a den of thieves is in Isaiah, which is oftentimes quoted in the stories in the gospel about Jesus’ anger in the temple. Isaiah 56:4-8 says, “4For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; 5Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7Even 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. 8The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.” In context of the scripture, God through Isaiah is teaching the eunuch that if they respect the Sabbath day and obey God’s Word by keeping their covenant that they would have eternal life and an everlasting name. In other words, they would leave a legacy that will never be forgotten by their people or in eternity. Then, Isaiah shifts his perspective from God’s chosen people to the Gentiles, considered here as the Gentiles. If the Gentiles choose to join to the LORD, serve Him, be His servant, keep the Sabbath (meaning that they do not busy themselves out of resting and doing God’s will), and takes hold of His covenant that they too can obtain the very same destiny. The reason is because God is of no respecter of persons. He would allow them to go up and worship in Jerusalem and join the house of prayer. We can be part of that number that God gathers as His people when we join the house of prayer. God’s house is to always be a house of prayer for everyone, meaning that it was to break the racial barrier