Lukas 19:46

19:46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be a house of prayer,’ ¹  but you have turned it into a den ²  of robbers!” ³ 

Lukas 20:47

20:47 They ⁴  devour ⁵  widows’ property, ⁶  and as a show make long prayers. They will receive a more severe punishment.”

¹ sn A quotation from Isa 56:7.

² tn Or “a hideout” (see L&N 1.57).

³ sn A quotation from Jer 7:11. The meaning of Jesus’ statement about making the temple courts a den of robbers probably operates here at two levels. Not only were the religious leaders robbing the people financially, but because of this they had also robbed them spiritually by stealing from them the opportunity to come to know God genuinely. It is possible that these merchants had recently been moved to this location for convenience.

⁴ tn Grk “who,” continuing the sentence begun in v. 46.

⁵ sn How they were able to devour widows’ houses is debated. Did they seek too much for contributions, or take too high a commission for their work, or take homes after debts failed to be paid? There is too little said here to be sure.

⁶ tn Grk “houses,” “households”; however, the term can have the force of “property” or “possessions” as well (O. Michel, TDNT 5:131; BDAG 695 s.v. οἶκια 1.a).