Mark 11:17-18 (NASB)
17 And 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.”
18 The 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.

Isaiah 56:7 (NASB)
7 Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”

I was reading these verses the other day and it occurred to me that I had often just used a portion of it when thinking about it and quoting it to others. I would say “My house shall be a house of prayer” and leave off the rest of it. In reading the reaction of the chief priests and scribes to Jesus’ teaching, you could understand how they might react to Jesus telling them that the synagogue had been turned into a robber’s den by them.

It’s possible, even though they likely would not have admitted it, that some of the priests and scribes knew that they had distorted how the temple was being used. The temple handed down by God to Moses was quite different from the synagogue of that day.

I wonder though… if what REALLY got to them was being told that God’s house was to be a place of prayer for “all the nations”. For generations, the Jews had been told that Israel was God’s chosen people. God had given them the Promised Land and had destroyed many other nations in the process. How could it be that God’s House now was for everyone?

It’s now a couple of thousand years later.  When we think of God’s church today, is that the first thing that comes to mind? Do we immediately think of the church as a house of prayer for all the nations? When new people come into your church, do you describe it is a house of prayer for all the nations? It seemed to be very important to Jesus. What do you think?

Heavenly Father, Praise God that the bride of Christ, Your church is a house of prayer for all the nations. Show us how to honor you by worshiping you in spirit and in truth. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,