Luke 19:45-48
Today's Passage: Luke 19:45-48
In this passage we see Jesus cleansing the temple in Jerusalem right after His Triumphal Entry and subsequent weeping over the superficial hearts of the citizens.
There are several reasons why Jesus was upset upon seeing the temple turned into a marketplace. For the first time I noticed that He wasn’t just upset with the people that were selling, but probably also those who were buying. The only way sellers would set up there is if it was actually working to make money. Some scholars believe that the sale of sacrificial animals on temple grounds was lucrative because they were selling it for as much as twenty times more than they could outside the temple.
It wasn’t just that they were turning the temple into a “den of robbers”, but also that the location of the activity would have barred any Gentiles from coming to pray. The merchants were selling in the outer courts of the temple, the only place that Gentiles would have been allowed to be. If we look at the parallel passage in Mark 11:17, it says, “And he was teaching them and saying to them, ‘Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.’”
Jesus demanded that the temple be a place for all nations to pray. Gentiles who were seeking God were being prevented by the sin of God’s own people.
How do we prevent those seeking God from coming in our doors?
Written By: Kaitlin White
In this passage we see Jesus cleansing the temple in Jerusalem right after His Triumphal Entry and subsequent weeping over the superficial hearts of the citizens.
There are several reasons why Jesus was upset upon seeing the temple turned into a marketplace. For the first time I noticed that He wasn’t just upset with the people that were selling, but probably also those who were buying. The only way sellers would set up there is if it was actually working to make money. Some scholars believe that the sale of sacrificial animals on temple grounds was lucrative because they were selling it for as much as twenty times more than they could outside the temple.
It wasn’t just that they were turning the temple into a “den of robbers”, but also that the location of the activity would have barred any Gentiles from coming to pray. The merchants were selling in the outer courts of the temple, the only place that Gentiles would have been allowed to be. If we look at the parallel passage in Mark 11:17, it says, “And he was teaching them and saying to them, ‘Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.’”
Jesus demanded that the temple be a place for all nations to pray. Gentiles who were seeking God were being prevented by the sin of God’s own people.
How do we prevent those seeking God from coming in our doors?
Written By: Kaitlin White
1 Comment
Such a good point today, Kaitlin. Never thought about the way you explained it. Thanks!