House of the Proud

Proverbs 15:25 warns that “Yahweh will tear down the house of the proud” and promises “He will establish the boundary of the widow.” Though this proverb does apply to any proud man’s house and posterity, it has, coming from the pen of Solomon the temple-builder, specific reference to the Lord’s house in Jerusalem. When Israel turns the house into a den of brigands and it becomes a house of the arrogant, the Lord tears it down and sends the pieces into exile.

In Luke 21, Jesus’ condemnation of the temple immediately follows the story of the widow’s mite – Yahweh is tearing down the house of the proud, those who oppress widows and orphans, and establishing the widow’s house.