45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; 46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. 47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, 48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him. (Luke 19:45-48 KJV)
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Christ also showed zeal for the temple’s present purification. Though the temple would soon be destroyed, he did not neglect it.
He cleared it of those who profaned it. He went directly to the temple and began driving out the buyers and sellers (Luke 19:45). Though accused of being against the temple, Christ showed his true devotion to it. He valued its purity more than its wealth. He said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of thieves” (Luke 19:46). The temple was meant for communion with God, but the merchants had turned it into a place of dishonest business, which distracted sincere worshipers.
He then used the temple for its best purpose—he taught daily in it (Luke 19:47). It is not enough to remove corruption from the church; the gospel must be preached in it.
The religious leaders were hostile toward him. The chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people tried to find a way to destroy him (Luke 19:47). They should have supported his ministry, but they plotted against him.
Meanwhile, the people respected him. They listened intently and eagerly. They took every opportunity to hear him. Some interpret this as meaning the people supported him when they heard him, which explains why the leaders couldn’t immediately act against him. Until his appointed hour came, the loyalty of the people protected him. But when the hour came, the influence of the leaders persuaded the people to betray him.