JESUS RESTORES THE TEMPLE

Passage: Luke 19:41-48

Key verse: 46a

NIV

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it(A) 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.(B) 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls.(C) They will not leave one stone on another,(D) because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming(E) to you.”

Jesus at the Temple(F)

45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’[a];(G) but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’[b]”(H)

47 Every day he was teaching at the temple.(I) But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.(J) 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 19:46 Isaiah 56:7
  2. Luke 19:46 Jer. 7:11
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

41 (A)And when he drew near and saw the city, (B)he wept over it, 42 saying, (C)“Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now (D)they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For (E)the days will come upon you, when your enemies (F)will set up a barricade around you and (G)surround you and hem you in on every side 44 (H)and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And (I)they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know (J)the time of your (K)visitation.”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

45 (L)And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, (M)‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but (N)you have made it a den of robbers.”

47 (O)And he was teaching daily in the temple. (P)The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Why did Jesus weep? (41-44) Although the crowds enthusiastically shouted his praise, Jesus knew that the city would reject him as the promised Messiah. Jerusalem, of all cities, should have recognized his entrance as the coming of God to them. They could have known peace and salvation, but now it was too late. Their spiritual eyes were blinded and God's judgment would fall upon them in the years to come. This broke our Lord's heart. His desire is for all people to turn to him and be saved. Jesus continues to weep over the lost today and he longs to enter the hearts and lives of those who repent of their sins and accept the peace and forgiveness he offers. 2. Second, Jesus restores the temple (45-48) Jesus entered the temple courts and witnessed the rampant extortion and corruption. The Court of the Gentiles was filled with money changers and merchants who charged exorbitant prices for their services. Instead of being a place where foreigners could come and meet God in worship and prayer, the temple had become a den of robbers. Jesus drove out those who were selling and began to teach the word of God. The people hung on his words because his words are the words of life. Restoring the temple was our Lord's first priority.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, restore the temple of our hearts through your word and your presence.

One Word: God's house is a house of prayer