Scripture to Read: Luke 19:45-48
Though Jesus was broken over the lost in Jerusalem, He was also angry with the religious leaders who had been a stumbling block since they did not walk with God either. God had Luke write this in Luke 19:45–48, “Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling, 46 saying to them, ‘It is written, ‘And My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a robbers’ den.’ 47 And He was teaching daily in the temple; but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people were trying to destroy Him, 48 and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said.” Jesus did not just show up in Jerusalem, but He went straight to the temple. Jesus was there to purify His house. The temple was supposed to represent God’s presence among His people. Therefore, Jesus quickly declared that the temple was built to serve God’s purposes and never to be used for human profit or power. Jesus’s rebuke was a judgment against man-made religion that had turned away from true worship of God alone. Then, Jesus stayed and taught publicly in the temple every day. Jesus knew His cross was coming, but He still took the time to seek to restore the community to prayer, God’s truth, and to have communion with God. Of course, the chief priests, scribes, and leading men sought to destroy Jesus, but that wouldn’t happen until God’s appointed time.
Challenge & Application
Why was Jesus angry with what was happening in God’s temple?
Since we are now God’s temple, how are you ensuring you live as His instrument of righteousness?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!