* The Events of The Passion Week. Not all activities are listed.
Friday (Six days before Passover meal.)
-Jesus arrives in Bethany, just east of Jerusalem (John 11:54-12:1).
-Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, anoints Jesus' feet at a banquet (John 12:2-11).
Saturday (Sabbath. Started at dusk on Friday.)
-Though it is not recorded, Jesus left Bethany and returned to Ephraim near the Jordan River. (John 11:54-57)
Sunday (Now called Palm Sunday. 1st day of the Passion Week.)
-Jesus heals blind men while approaching Jericho (Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:34-43).
-Jesus eats at Zacchaeus house in Jericho (Luke 19:1-10).
-Jesus continues onto Jerusalem (Mark 10:52; Luke 19:28).
-Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19).
-Jesus's weeps for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44).
-Jesus looked at the Temple at dusk. Then, left to spend the night at Bethany (Mark 11:11).
Monday (10th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-Jesus curses the fig tree (Matthew 21:18-19; Mark 11:12-14).
-Jesus cleanses the Temple courts (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17).
-Jesus healed and taught until dusk. Then, left to spend the night at Bethany (Matthew 21:14-17; Mark 11:18-19).
Tuesday (11th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-Jesus explains the withered fig tree to his disciples (Matthew 21:20-22; Mark 11:20-26).
-Jesus's authority questioned (Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8).
-Jesus teaches in the temple (Matthew 21:28-22:46; Mark 12:1-44; Luke 20:9-21:4; John 12:20-50).
-Jesus wept over Jerusalem's leader's unbelief and rejecting him as their King (Matthew 23:1-39).
-Jesus anointed at Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 13:3-9; John 12:2-11).
Wednesday (12th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-No details about what Jesus did except Luke 21:37-38 which says he taught every day in the Temple.
-The Jews plot to kill Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6).
Thursday (13th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-The Passover meal begins at dusk, the start of the 14th of the month Abib (see below notes).
-Jesus and the disciples eat Passover meal, now known as the Last Supper. (Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-18).
-Jesus comforts the disciples and prays in the upper room. Then they leave Jerusalem (John 14:1-16:33).
-Jesus prays at Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:26-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46).
Friday (14th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk. Now known as Good Friday.)
-According Hebrew time Jesus is arrested and tried during the night to daylight. (Matthew 26:47-27:26; Mark 14:43-15:15; Luke 22:47-23:25; John 18:2-19:16)
-The Jewish leaders turn Jesus over to Pilate at dawn. Pilate questions Jesus then sends him to Herod, who sends Jesus back to Pilate (Matthew 27:11-31; Mark 15:1-20; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:28-19:15).
-Jesus's crucifixion starts at 3:00pm. He dies just before sunset. (Matthew 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30)
-Jesus is quickly buried at dusk just before Hebrew day end. (Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42)
Saturday (Sabbath. 15th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk. The seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread begins).
-Jesus' body is in the tomb. He appears in Sheol and accompanies the saints previously dead to heaven.
Sunday (Abib 16; day of First Fruits Sheaf Wave) See Resurrection chart below.
-Jesus's morning resurrection and appearing to the women. (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18)
-Jesus appeared to the two on the road. (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-35)
-Jesus appeared to ten apostles (no Thomas or Judas) in the evening. (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25)
Saturday (Sabbath)
-Jesus appears to Thomas and the rest of the apostles. (John 20:26-31)
A week later
-Jesus talks and eats with seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee. (John 21:1-25)
Forty days since his resurrection.
-Jesus ascends to his Father in heaven from the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 28:15-20; Mark 18:19-20; Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-11)
* Hebrew days start at sunset/twilight and goes thru the night till the next day's sunset.
* Passover always starts at twilight on the 14th day of the month (Leviticus 23:5), not the same day of the week every year. Therefore, Passover starting on Thursday is rare. Passover usually starts on another day of the week. Passover starting on a Thursday the year Jesus was crucified. This timing made it possible for Jesus to fulfill the feasts associated with the Passover.
1st) Jesus was crucified on Friday (still Passover).
2nd) Jesus was in the tomb during the Sabbath (Saturday) rest. The Sabbath that Jesus was buried was also the beginning of the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:15-20, 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:16). The Feast of Unleavened Bread is always on the first Sabbath after Passover.
3rd) Jesus rose on Sunday, the third day since his death. That Sunday was also the day of the First Fruit Sheaf Wave (Leviticus 23:9-15; Exodus 23:16, 19, 34:22). The first fruit (barley harvest) of the land was waved before the Lord. Jesus' resurrected as the first fruit (Acts 26:23; 1 Corinthians 15:4, 20, 23).
All three feasts were thus fulfilled by Jesus and this could have only happened that particular year, the year Passover started Thursday night.
* The Hebrew calendar considered an event lasting for an entire day even though it was only a few hours or even minutes long. Therefore, Jesus died and was buried at the end of the Hebrew day (twilight) on Friday and he is considered to have been buried that day too. The same can be stated for Sunday, the day he rose from the dead. Even though he was in the grave for a few moments after dawn before he rose, he is considered to be in grave Sunday and rise from it on Sunday.
I. The Lord Needs It (19:28-34)
>1. Where was Jesus going? (28)
* Luke 19:28 "After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem."
* All four gospels have Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. So this is very important. (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11: John 12:12-19)
* John 12:12 "The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem." The triumphal entry as recorded in this chapter.
* Jesus' final entry into Jerusalem was his official announcement to Israel that he would be their king if they would accept him as such.
* "he went on ahead" -Jesus lead the way.
* "going up" -Jerusalem, elevation 2,474 feet (754 meters) is at a higher elevation than Jericho, elevation -906 feet (-276 meters).
* "Jerusalem" -Jerusalem from antiquity has been occupied by people. Jerusalem's original name was Salem. Genesis chapter 14 states that Melchizedek, the high priest of the Lord, was from Salem. Abraham gave him a tenth of his possesions and Melchizedek blessed Abraham. Later, Abraham was told to offer Isaac on Mount Moriah, where David would eventually build the temple.
>What had Jesus been saying as he approached Jerusalem? (9:22, 44, 17:22, 18:31-33)
* Luke 9:22 "And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
* Luke 9:44 "Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men."
* Luke 17:22 "Then he said to his disciples, "The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it."
* Luke 18:31-33 "Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again."
* If the disciples had been listening carefully they would have known by now that Jesus' Passion (as church history calls it) would be fulfilled in lass than a week. The Triumphal entry was Sunday. He would be crucified Friday. See chart on notes above.
>2. What did Jesus do to prepare to enter the city? (29-31)
* Luke 19:29-31 "As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.'"
* John does not include Jesus telling his disciples to get the colt or their adventure to find it. Mathew and Mark include it.
* "Bethphage" -Bethphage means "house of unripe figs." A street went down and east out of the temple and Jerusalem and passed through the Kidron Valley and back up to the Mount of Olives where it split in two streets. The street past the split was lined with buildings and houses which went by the name of Bethphage. After the split on the Mount of Olives, one road went south-east to Bethany and the other went north-east to Jericho. Bethphage was the limit of a Sabbath-day's journey from Jerusalem (i.e. 2,000 cubits). Bethphage has been identified with the modern Kefr-et-Tur.
* "Bethany" -Bethany means "house of unripe dates." It derived its name from the number of palm-trees which grew there. It was the residence of Lazarus and his sisters. Near Bethphage, Bethany is two miles southeast of Jerusalem and on the eastern slop of the Mount of Olives. (John 11:18) Bethany was on a different road into Jerusalem than Jericho (see note above). Perhaps Jesus went past the road to Jerusalem, not entering Jerusalem at first and went out to these two villages or his entry was on a different day than the previous event. Jesus came into Jerusalem from Galilee and Perea on the Jericho road one day and then left at the end of the day to Bethany where Lazarus' house was and then entered Jerusalem again on a different day (this account). John 10:40, 11:1-2, 6, 54, and 12:1, 12 agree.
* "at the hill called the Mount of Olives" -During this week when evening approached Jesus would leave the temple in Jerusalem, travel down into and through the Kidron Valley, and go up onto the Mount of Olives. From there he could easily see the Temple Mount. He would pray while on the Mount.
* These towns were a place of lodging during the holy days for many pilgrims going to worship at Jerusalem.
* Jesus lodged at Martha's, Mary's and Lazarus' house which was in Bethany. (John 11:1-2, 18; Luke 10:38-42)
* Jesus deliberately made all Jerusalem know that he was the Messiah, the son of David, their king.
>Why? (Zechariah 9:8)
* Zechariah 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
* To fulfill prophecy.
>Was Jesus notification to Jerusalem that he was their king sincere?
* The Sunday before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus and his disciples arrived in Jerusalem, traveling from Jericho and passing through Bethaphage and Bethany, two small towns less than two miles east of Jerusalem. (28-29; John 12:1, 12) When he arrived at the Mount of Olive in Bethphage, he stopped at a crossroads where one street went to the temple, a distance of less than two miles (3.2 km).
Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead to borrow a donkey with her colt so he could ride it into Jerusalem (30; Matthew 21:2). A donkey then is like an old junk car today. Whereas a horse was like a tank today. Why did he do this? Jesus was making a significant announcement by fulfilling Zechariah 9:9, "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey". (Matthew 21:5; John 12:5)
No wonder the disciples began joyfully praising God loudly for all the miracles they had seen (37; John 12:17-18). Hosanna means save now. The disciples were reciting the words of Psalm 118:25-26, which were understood at that time and before to refer to the Messiah.
Jesus and his disciples make the greatest claim yet that he is the Messiah, the king of Israel and Judea, to the people. Everyone knew what he was saying, for kings, including David, rode into the capital city either on a horse (as conqueror) or a donkey (in peace). They joyfully welcomed him into Jerusalem. Will you allow the King to enter your heat?
Listen to the above comments on Luke 19:28-40.
>3. Why might the command he gave his disciples be difficult for them to obey?
* They were not the owner of the colts. They weren't to ask permission when taking it.
* Common sense told them this was silly because how did Jesus knew the donkey was there.
* Jesus teaching seemed contradictory to this act.
* Humanly and morally it was wrong.
* It took faith in Jesus' goodness and wisdom.
>How did they respond? (32-34)
* Luke 19:32-34 "Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They replied, "The Lord needs it."
* "Those who were sent ahead went" -No questions. No doubt. No talk-back.
* As they were untying the colt" -They did not ask just as he told them.
* They replied the owner as Jesus told them. They obeyed.
>What do the words, "the Lord needs it", suggest about Jesus?
* "the Lord needs it" -This implies that the owner knew that they were talking about Jesus. Jesus must have made contact with this man before, or he just knew. The owner had to make a quick decision. This also implies that the disciples probably did not recognize the owner.
>About his disciples' faith?
* They believed that what Jesus said would happen. They also knew that Jesus was fulfilling prophecy, at least in regards to the customer that Israel's kings rode donkeys as symbols of peace.
* A Donkey's Errand.
God sometimes gives instructions and wants his people to do something that doesn't make sense or seems unethical. When Jesus and his disciples left Jericho and trekked the approximately five-hour uphill walk to Jerusalem, two disciples would experience such a directive.
When they arrived at the Mount of Olives, Jesus instructed them to go into a village and take a tied-up colt. He did not tell them to hunt for the owner and asked him for permission. They were to simply untie it and bring it to where Jesus and the other disciples had stopped. He also told them what to do when they were confronted. They were to simply say, "The Lord needs it." (Matthew 21:1-7; Mark 11:1-6) Obedience took trust, faith, and courage.
The disciples' unusual experience is not uncommon. Abraham was told to do several things that took similar faith and courage. The Lord told him to go to a country, but he was not told its location. He was also told to offer his son Isaac to the Lord God. Both were not only odd, but one was even horrible to the Lord.
The Lord wants me to step out of my comfort zone. He tells us to "Go," without telling how I am to personally apply the Great Commission. In Jericho, Jesus told "The Parable of the Ten Minas", a general outline of the Great Commission. I am to apply it with faith and courage, even though I have many questions, including "How?"
Listen to the above comments on Luke 19:28-34.
II. Blessed is the King! (19:35-44)
>4. What is the significance of people's spreading their cloaks on the road before Jesus?
* Luke 19:35-36 "They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road."
* "threw their cloaks on the colt" -For comfort.
* "put Jesus on it" -Mounting a donkey that has never been riden would be hard.
* "people spread their cloaks on the road." -Respect.
>5. As they went down the Mount of Olives, why did the crowd shout so joyfully?
* Luke 19:37 "When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:"
* "When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives" -This was a four way junction. A small path (not shown on the map on this page) probably went to the press at the top, now called Gethsemane where Jesus would pray on the night he was betrayed.
* "the whole crowd of disciples" -This indicates that there were more than the twelve, perhaps more than the seventy-two Jesus sent out earlier when they started the trip.
* "began joyfully to praise God in loud voices" -Jerusalem and the temple area would have heard them because the mount of Olives was a little higher than the Temple Mount.
* The Roman guard who were housed in an attachment to the temple wall to the north might have heard them too. Roman guards would have been put at each of Jerusalem's gates to make sure weapons were not brought in.
>Which of his miracles might they have been remembering?
* John 12:17-18 "Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him."
>What did they shout?
* Luke 19:38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
* Matthew 21:9 "The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!"
* Mark 11:9-10 "Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!"
* John 12:13 "They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!"
* "Blessed" -The original Greek has "eulogeo".
* Psalm 118:24-29 note especially verses 25-26, "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."
>What did they believe about Jesus?
* Considering they were citing Psalm 118:25-26 they were saying, "Here comes the Messiah".
* The First Rock Band.
The Sunday before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus and his disciples arrived in Jerusalem, traveling from Jericho and passing through Bethphage and Bethany, two small towns less than two miles east of Jerusalem. (28-29; John 12:1, 12) When he arrived at the Mount of Olives in Bethphage, he stopped at a crossroads where one street went to the temple, a distance of less than two miles (3.2 km).
Jesus had sent two of his disciples ahead to borrow a donkey with her colt so he could ride it into Jerusalem (30; Matthew 21:2). A donkey then is like an old junk car today. Whereas a horse was like today's tank. Why did he do this? Jesus was making a significant announcement by fulfilling Zechariah 9:9, "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey". (Matthew 21:5; John 12:5)
No wonder the disciples began joyfully praising God loudly for all the miracles they had seen (37; John 12:17-18). Hosanna means save now. Using loud voices, the disciples were singing the words of Psalm 118:25-26, which were understood at that time and before to refer to the Messiah. Jesus seems to hint they were the first rock band (40).
Jesus and his disciples made the greatest claim yet that he is the Messiah, the king of Israel and Judea, to the people. Everyone knew what he was saying, for kings, including David, rode into the capital city, either on a horse (as conqueror) or a donkey (in peace). They joyfully welcomed him into Jerusalem. Will you allow the King to enter your heart?
Listen to the above comments on Luke 19:35-40.
>6. How did the Pharisees respond to the shouts of the crowd?
* Luke 19:39 "Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
* "Some of the Pharisees in the crowd" -They joined the procession.
* "Teacher"
* "rebuke your disciples!"
>Why?
* Matthew 21:10-11 "When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
* John 12:17-19 "Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"
* They were jealous. They also were afraid of Rome's response. Mostly because they did not believe Jesus was the Messiah.
>What did Jesus mean by his statement in verse 40?
* Luke 19:40 "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
* "I tell you," -Jesus used this phrase often.
* "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
>7. Why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem?
* Luke 19:41-44 "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 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.'"
* "As he approached Jerusalem" -Jesus was still riding the donkey.
* "he wept over it" -Tears of dread for what would happen to the city who crucified him. Jesus had taught his disciples to pray for their enemies. Here he is living it.
* "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace but now it is hidden from your eyes... because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.'"
* Hosea 4:6-8 "...my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. The more the priests increased, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful. They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness."
>What would happen to her in the future?
* Luke 19:43-44 "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. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another,
* Jesus is prophesying the Roman conquest of Judea and Jerusalem in 70 A.D. by general Titus, who later became Caesar.
* Luke 21:20-24 "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
>8. What was hidden from her eyes?
* Luke 19:42 "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace..."
* "If you, even you" -The original Greek is "Hoti ginosko kai sy" (a transliteration).
* Jesus was saying that he was coming in peace to bring peace; hense the donkey is a symbol of that. Jesus was offering it, but they did not know because they held onto the wrong idea of the Messiah's first coming.
* Bible study is very important. But without the Holy Spirit and applying it to my life I will miss out.
* Hidden Peace.
Jesus shed tears as he fulfilled the Messianic prophecy in the sight of Jerusalem's citizens by riding a colt into Jerusalem (41). He cried because they had blinders of pride, greed, and false interpretation on their eyes. God had come (44). They could have peace. They rejected it. They believed they could rule themselves. Jerusalem's destruction was sure to come.
Jesus and John the Baptist had tried to remove the blinders by teaching the truth. Yet, selfish and sinful desires kept them from accepting and understanding (41-42, 8:9-10, 10:21). "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him." (John 1:10-11)
How often have I turned away when God came to me in signs, wonders, dreams, words, and movements of the Holy Spirit? Has my stubborn heart blinded me? The past is done and cannot be changed. However, I can change my heart now. In the future, I can humble myself and accept Jesus' rule.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 19:41-44.
>Why did he say that it was now hidden?
* They did not either accept or know the prophecies.
* They did not either accept or know him.
* They did not either accept or know Jesus' Father.
* They refused to accept what Jesus had been teaching them.
>In what respect did she not recognize the time of God's coming to her?
* Right now as he rode in they though about the Messiah defeating Rome and establishing the nation of Israel as it had been in David and Solomon's time. Israel's problem concerning having a king to do everything for them started in the time of judges to the time of Samuel. They rejected the Lord, their king and wanted a human king like all the other nations. Here in Jesus time they were doing just as their forefathers had done.
III. King Jesus Who Judges (19:45-48)
* A stone block found at the temple mount that was part of Herod's Temple rebuilding period.
>9. Where did Jesus go and what did he do after entering Jerusalem?
* Luke 19:45 "When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling."
* The temple and its courts were only open to the public between dawn and twilight. The gates were kept secure by the temple guards.
* Mark 11:11 says that after Jesus Triumphal entry into Jerusalem and looked around. However, the sun was setting and the temple is always closed at night. The gates are closed and guarded. So Jesus and his disciples had to leave. Matthew, Luke, and John do not record this. The next thing they record is Jesus' actions the next morning when they entered to temple when the gates opened.
* Matthew 21:12-17 and Mark 11:12-19 record this event too. John records when Jesus did this at the start of his public ministry (John 2:12-25). John does not record Jesus doing this a second time at the close of his public ministry.
* "When Jesus entered the temple courts"
* "he began to drive out those who were selling."
>Why was he so angry?
* Luke 19:46 "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
* The day before as he approach Jerusalem (the Triumphal Entry) he wept over it (42-44). This indicates why he was so angry when he returned first thing in the morning.
* Isaiah 56:6-7 "And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant-- these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."
* Jeremiah 7:11 "Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD." Read verses 9-20 for more prophecy about this event.
* Correct Contact Disconnect.
Jesus highly valued familiar contact with God, otherwise known as prayer. Jesus' communion with God was more than words and emotions. Prayer is primarily spiritual. When the Lord Jesus formed Adam from the dust of the ground, he looked normal (Genesis 2:7a). Yet, Adam was not made in the image of God until the Lord God breathed into Adam's nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7b; John 3:5-6). The Hebrew word for "breathed into" in Genesis 1:27, "naphach", is similar to the Hebrew word for "Spirit" in Genesis 1:2 ("...the Spirit of God was hovering..."). Prayer is spiritual breathing.
Breathing is difficult with the stench and noise of animal commerce present (45; Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15-17). God ordered the tabernacle and later the temple to be built so the human race (Israelites and Gentiles) could commune with God. The Jewish religious leadership instituted the buying and selling of animals for sacrifice in the large Gentile Temple court, the one area where Gentiles were permitted. Jesus was furious when he saw this. Three years earlier, he had expelled the sellers and animals from this area. Now, they returned.
Jesus drove out all who were buying and selling there once again. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. Jesus quoted Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11. Then he taught at the temple. The Gentiles could breathe the Spirit's breath once again. Whatever is keeping me from God's breath is keeping my temple from being born again (John 2:21).
Listen to the above comments on Luke 19:45-48.
>What does this event teach us about Jesus?
* John 2:17 quotes Psalm 69:8-12. "I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons; for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me. When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn; when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me. Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards."
* On Monday morning at dawn, when the temple gates opened to the public, the day after the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (41; Matthew 21:10; Mark 11:11-12, 15), Jesus entered the temple courts (45). This was a large open area, 35 acres (0.14 sq. km), where the Gentiles who converted to Judaism were allowed to pray and worship the Lord God. He had noticed something the evening before that he wanted to take care of first thing in the morning.
Jesus began driving out those who were selling (45). Matthew and Mark record more details, writing, "He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. (Mark 11:15; Matthew 21:12).
Jesus rebuked those doing these things by quoting Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11: "'It is written,' he said to them, 'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" Prayer is a personal, intimate communion with God. How can that be done with animal noises and smells and price haggling? Jesus had taught, "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you". (Matthew 6:6) The priests, who controlled the temple and its courts, let greed and convenience get in the way of someone else's prayer.
According to Apostle John, Jesus had done this before, at the very beginning of his public ministry, when he had only a few disciples (John 2:12-25). At that time, his disciples remembered Psalm 69:9: "Zeal for your house will consume me". How important is my personal time with God, both prayer and meditation? And what happens when I worship in song? Do I have zeal? Sadly, my head and heart, which are the temple of God in this age, are often filled with noise and smelly things. I find it hard to concentrate.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 19:45-48.
>10. Why did the Jewish leaders try to kill Jesus?
* Luke 19:47 "Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him."
* "Every day he was teaching at the temple." -Jesus remained public even though he had high level opposition and persecution.
* " But the chief priests" -Descendant of Levi were the only priest. There was only one high priest and he for life. However, the Romans would not let him serve as high priest nor his son. Rather, they put the son-in-law, Caiaphas of the true high priest, Annas in his place (Matthew 26:3, 57; John 11:51, 18:13-14, 24; Acts 4:6, 5:17). This is why many priests left Jerusalem, calling themselves the Essene and moved to the Dead Sea area.
* "the teachers of the law" -They were also priest, but not part of the priest's family.
* "the leaders among the people" -Most notably the Pharisees and elders who could have also been Sadducees.
* "were trying to kill him." -Roman law did not allow this. However, the Jewish leaders were permitted to execute someone within the Temple and its courts, but only if they broke Jewish laws. With Roman control outside the temple area, killing Jesus would be a hard act to accomplish without getting in trouble with the Romans. Also, as the authors of the Gospels record most Jews loved Jesus and many believed he was the Messiah. If they killed Jesus publically, the people might riot, thus upsetting the Romans and Pilate who was known for many mass crucifixions.
* The Jews were jealous of Jesus' authority and popularity. Selling and money changing in the temple was a great source of profit for them.
>Why didn't they succeed at the time?
* Luke 19:48 "Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words."
* Mark 11:18 "The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching."
* John 12:42-43 4"Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God."
* Jesus was popular was Luke's biggest reason for the inability to kill Jesus.
