Jesus offers strong words against the temple once He has entered into Jerusalem. Let’s try to grasp what it means that there is a new temple arriving as Jesus comes to Jerusalem as king, from Luke 19:45-48.
SERMON OUTLINE
“It is written,” Jesus said to them, “’My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” (Luke 19:46)
The Final King (Luke 19:28-38)
- Mount of Olives and the end of the age
- The Messianic King
Time and Judgment (Luke 19:39-44)
- The religious leader’s loss of control
- The weeping of Jesus
- Judgment on a missed moment
The Temple: Deconstructed & Reconstructed (Luke 19:45-48; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:4-5)
- The significance of the Temple
- A prophetic drama about the Temple
- The sacrificial aims of the religious leaders
- The coming temple
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- We continue the “Crossroads” series this week by looking at Luke 19:28-48. Begin your study in prayer, asking God to speak to you from His Word, and then read that Scripture aloud.
- Background: Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem takes him from the hills east of the city to the Mount of Olives. You may want to look at a map to see where those locations are. One resource is jesus-story.net/map_index.htm.
- What do the first verses (19:28-34) tell us about Jesus’ power and authority?
- The disciples praise God as Jesus takes the road closer to the Mount of Olives, quoting from Psalm 118. What do these words about Jesus (19:35-38) tell us about how the disciples saw Him?
- The Mount of Olives had great significance for the Jews in relation to the appearance of the Messiah, based largely on Zechariah 14:4-5. How do those words inform the way you read Luke 19?
- What do you think is the significance of Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees in 19:39-40?
- In Luke 19:41-44, we gain insight into the difference between Jesus’ desire for Jerusalem and the coming reality. What is happening and why? (Also look at Luke 13:31-35.)
- When Jesus enters the Temple courts He cleanses the Temple. What reasons does He give for this and what are the consequences with the religious leaders?
- Now read both 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 1 Peter 2:4-5. What do you think this means in light of Jesus’ words and work in Luke 19?
- Identify one way that God is calling you to personally respond to Jesus. If you are on your own, write it down and share it with someone later. If you are with a small group, share it with one another to end your group time.