The SBJT Sermon: Sovereign in His Temple Luke 19:45-48 Kent Hughes Kent Hughes is pastor of The Col- The evidence indicates that the Triumphal erchomenos) in the name of the Lord,’” ech- lege Church in Wheaton, Wheaton, Illi- Entry and the cleansing of the temple re- oes the question which messengers from nois, where this message was first corded in Luke 19 are of one premeditated John the Baptist had earlier asked Jesus, preached. He is the author of numer- fabric. Jesus orchestrated both with an eye “Are You the Expected One? (ho ous volumes, including Disciplines of a to Old Testament Scripture. This is illus- erchomenos)” (Lk 7:19, NASB). This question Godly Man, Disciplines of Grace, and trated in the Triumphal Entry by his pre- about his coming was generated from their the extremely popular Preaching the scient knowledge of an unridden colt of a knowledge of the famous prophecy of Word series. All quoted Scriptures are donkey in the next town, his regal assur- Malachi 3:1: “’See, I will send my messen- from the New International Version un- ance that its loan would be granted sim- ger, who will prepare the way before me. less otherwise noted. ply by saying “The Lord needs it” (v. 34), Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking and in his royal ride into Jerusalem. All of will come to his temple; the messenger of these acts were a conscious demonstration the covenant, whom you desire, will come,’ that he was the Messiah-King prophesied says the LORD Almighty.” So we under- in Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, O stand that the chant repeated by the joyous Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of crowds “’Blessed is the king who comes in Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, the name of the Lord,’” is really an answer righteous and having salvation, gentle to the Messianic expectation of Malachi 3:1, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal which emphasizes that the Lord will sud- of a donkey.” At his entrance into the city, denly come to his temple.1 This is why Jesus, the crowds understood this messianic act in conscious prophetic fulfillment, ulti- and began to chant lines from the Hallel mately ends up in the Temple. Psalms, principally: “‘Blessed is the king Even at the age of twelve, when Jesus’ who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (v. searching parents found him in the 38, cf. Ps 118:26). temple, Jesus referred to it as his Father’s Every act that Scripture records during house, saying, “Didn’t you know I had to Jesus’ final days was purposeful; nothing be in my Father’s house?” (Lk 2:49). Now was wasted. The tears he shed over Jerusa- Jesus establishes himself as sovereign in lem were part of the Father’s plan to re- his Father’s house. As Godet observes, veal the heart of the soon-to-be king of all “These are the days of the Messiah’s sov- the world. Even the timing of these events ereignty in his temple.”2 What is it that was significant, for Passover was the cho- the King of the temple does in the first sen time for the Lamb to die. minutes of his announced reign? He We see the same divine control in the purges it of worship abuse. In doing so, subsequent temple cleansing. The verse that he prepares it for his own ministry of the throngs had been chanting to Jesus, preaching. Later, Jesus will take its place “’Blessed is the king who comes (ho when he himself becomes the temple of 68 his people. It is evident that he is in con- and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the trol of his every action and word. benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry Jesus Cleanses the Temple (19:45-46) merchandise through the temple courts. (Mk 11:15-16) Action. Luke describes Jesus’ famous actions in a notably shortened sentence, Have you ever seen a table flipped “Then he entered the temple area and be- over? This is a violent act. In addition, we gan driving out those who were selling” see Jesus halting the traffic of those who (v. 45). The commercial abuse of God’s were using the Court of Gentiles as a house had grown out of the worshipers’ shortcut—he “would not allow anyone to need to obtain unblemished animals for carry merchandise through the temple sacrifice (cf. Lev 1:3) and the annual re- courts.” So much for the one-sided “gentle quirement that every male Israelite pay a Jesus, meek and mild.” half-shekel temple tax (cf. Ex 30:11-14), Now, Jesus is the meekest, gentlest per- which necessitated changing money into son who ever lived. He said, “…for I am the proper currency. gentle and humble in heart” (Mt 11:29), Thus, we implicitly understand that and “Blessed are the meek, for they will there were exorbitant charges made by inherit the earth” (Mt 5:5). Meekness is not money changers and a large traffic in live- weakness, though. It is, rather, strength stock to feed the altars, all at the worship- under control. Meekness has the strength ers’ expense (cf. Jn 2:14). Documents not to defend oneself, which Jesus exem- record transactions in which three thou- plified when he went to the Cross. Yet, a sand livestock were brought to the temple person of meekness will boldly defend hill to be sold for offerings.3 In Jesus’ day, others. Here Jesus stood up in defense of the middlemen were under the control of the holiness of God the Father. the high priest Ananias, whom Josephus cynically called “the great procurer of Words. Jesus’ mighty actions were money” (Antiquities 20.205).4 paired with mighty prophetic words in A huge religious scam had been going verse 46, where he offers two brief quota- on for years in the temple area, specifi- tions from the Old Testament. The first is cally in the Court of the Gentiles, the only from Isaiah 56:7: “It is written,” he said to place in the temple where a non-Jew could them, “My house will be a house of go to pray and meditate. The only place prayer” (v. 46a). In the context of Isaiah designated for gentile worship had de- 56, the meaning is, “My house will be a volved into virtually an open air market house of prayer for the gentiles.” and banking establishment. This harks back to Solomon’s dedication Into this scene walks the Lion of the of the Temple, as recorded in 1 Kings 8. On tribe of Judah. Malachi’s prophetic state- that day, amid great celebrating, the empty ment “’suddenly the Lord . will come Temple received the Ark of the Covenant to his temple’” was fulfilled. Mark is more into the Most Holy Place and “when the graphic than Luke: priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. And On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus en- tered the temple area and began the priests could not perform their service driving out those who were buying because of the cloud, for the glory of the 69 LORD filled his temple” (vv. 10-11). After blessing the people, Solomon spread out Foreigners who bind themselves to the his hands toward heaven and offered his Lord by personal decision (cf. Ru 1:16-18, great dedicatory prayer, in which he prays 2:11-12; 2 Sa 15:19-22) are received into the for the gentiles: spiritual community. Note the progression towards intimacy with God: to the place As for the foreigner who does not where God is found (“my holy moun- belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of tain”); to his presence (“my house of your name—for men will hear of prayer”); and to acceptance (“my altar”).5 your great name and your mighty This great welcome to foreigners was not hand and your outstretched arm— when he comes and prays toward a concession, but a fulfillment of this temple, then hear from heaven, Solomon’s prayer and a picture of what your dwelling place, and do what- the Lord’s house was always meant to be. ever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may When Jesus drove the corrupted clerics know your name and fear you, as do from the Court of Gentiles, his actions made your own people Israel, and may a powerful statement. His declaration, “My know that this house I have built bears your Name. (vv. 41-43) house will be a house of prayer,” reminded his hearers that gentiles were not excluded Solomon urges God to hear when gen- from the grace of God. Later, his crucifixion tiles are magnetized by God’s great works and resurrection unified Jews and gentiles. and pray toward the temple. From its be- Thus, Paul accurately summarized Jesus’ ginning, the temple was to be used for life and work when he wrote: gentile evangelism. Hear what God says about foreigners Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and and the temple in Isaiah 56: “Let no for- called “uncircumcised” by those eigner who has bound himself to the who call themselves “the circumci- LORD say, ‘The LORD will surely exclude sion” (that done in the body by the hands of men)—remember that at me from his people.’ And let not any eu- that time you were separate from nuch complain, ‘I am only a dry tree’” Christ, excluded from citizenship in (56:3).