Tuesday Devo
Scripture:
Luke 19:45-48
45 Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. 46 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” 47 After that, he taught daily in the Temple, but the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders of the people began planning how to kill him. 48 But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said.
45 Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. 46 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” 47 After that, he taught daily in the Temple, but the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders of the people began planning how to kill him. 48 But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said.
Commentary:
19:45–48 Jesus Cleanses the Temple. Luke’s account of this incident is greatly abbreviated (cf. Matt. 21:12–16; Mark 11:15–18). he entered the temple. Jesus comes as Lord of the temple, and he comes to purify it (Mal. 3:1–4). On the Mount of Olives, as well as in the temple precincts, tables were set up to enable pilgrims to change their respective currencies into coins for the annual temple tax (half a shekel; Ex. 30:13–16), as well as to purchase pigeons, lambs, oil, salt, etc., for various sin and thanksgiving sacrifices (Lev. 1:14; 5:7, 11; 12:8; 14:22, 30). The business activity turns the house of prayer into a den of robbers (Jer. 7:11). Gentiles in particular were hindered by the temple commerce in the outer court. The goal of Jesus’ action is to restore the temple (temporarily) to its function, namely, to serve as a house of prayer for all the nations.
began to drive out those who sold. Within the temple was a sort of market where commercial activity enabled pilgrims from throughout the Diaspora (see note on John 7:35) to participate in temple activities, exchange their own currency for temple currency (Matt. 17:24–27; cf. Ex. 30:11–16), and purchase animals and other items for sacrifices. This probably occurred in the Royal Stoa, though it may have been in the Court of the Gentiles. den of robbers.
chief priests. Scribes are often associated with the Pharisees. were (continually) seeking to destroy him. Luke’s first explicit mention of a plot against Jesus’ life.
began to drive out those who sold. Within the temple was a sort of market where commercial activity enabled pilgrims from throughout the Diaspora (see note on John 7:35) to participate in temple activities, exchange their own currency for temple currency (Matt. 17:24–27; cf. Ex. 30:11–16), and purchase animals and other items for sacrifices. This probably occurred in the Royal Stoa, though it may have been in the Court of the Gentiles. den of robbers.
chief priests. Scribes are often associated with the Pharisees. were (continually) seeking to destroy him. Luke’s first explicit mention of a plot against Jesus’ life.
Questions:
- Our hearts are a temple. We can't hide what's in our temple forever. Eventually, whatever is in there is going to come out. What comes out is the fruit of your life. We all produce fruit. Some good and some not so good. What are some actions, habits, tendencies (fruit) in your life that you're not proud of that might be a sign of an inner table you've been protecting?
- Like Jesus, sometimes we need to go to extreme measures in our lives when it comes to protecting the temple. We can tend to tolerate things in our lives that are contrary to God's best for us, and before you know it, we've slipped further and further away from our relationship with Him. When it comes to our hearts, we need to protect them at all costs. We all have things that need to be weeded out and thrown away. We all have tables that need flipping. How can you go about taking the initiative to flip over and remove the tables yourself? What do you need to repent of?
Pray:
- That we would pay attention to the fruit our lives are producing.
- That we would be quick to repent and flip tables that aren't pleasing to God.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
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