01-29-2010, 01:08 PM
Quote:This is a great example for how translations are misinterpreted. It's not vessels, it's merchandise.He didn't allow any commercial activities, that's right. He wanted respect for his church, not fair prices for customers. The word 'thieves' has nothing to do with stealing here, but is instead a reference to the following passage.
"Donât be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer because the Temple is here. Itâs a lie! Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, 'We are safe!'âonly to go right back to all those evils again? Donât you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the Lord, have spoken!" (Jeremiah 7:8-11)