Amaziah justifies silencing Amos by calling Bethel "the king's sanctuary." Commentators explain this is a blasphemous claim, as a sanctuary belongs to God, not a king. This reveals the core problem: the worship at Bethel was a man-made, state-sponsored religion, deriving its authority from political power, not from God. This serves as a timeless warning against prioritizing human institutions or government approval over God's clear commands.