JESUS WEPT OVER JERUSALEM

Passage: Luke 19:41-48

Key verse: 41

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. You did not recognize God's coming (41-44)

Turning his attention to the city, Jesus wept over it. The Pharisees' rejection of Jesus as King was representative of the whole city. He had come to bring peace! But they did not recognize him. As a result, the entire city would be destroyed. This happened in 7

A.D. when Rome destroyed Jerusalem, leaving no stone unturned. Failing to see and welcome Jesus as King has grave consequences not only personally, but also societally. Jesus' heart is filled with tears for the suffering of the unbelieving world.

2. 'My house will be a house of prayer' (45-48).

But Jesus was not powerless. He took action. Coming to the temple, he cleared out all the money changers-evidence of the priests' greed-and restored the temple as a place to study God's word. Every day, he came to the temple and taught the people while the religious leaders plotted his death. We follow Jesus' example when we engage in prayer for the lost world and teach his words to all people.

Prayer: Father, Jesus' tears were also for me and my people. Open our eyes to recognize Jesus our King. Help us pray for our world and study Jesus' words daily.

One Word: Jesus brings peace