Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” – Luke 20:17b-18

Jesus had taught at Temple before. He was welcomed as a learned Rabbi (teacher) in synagogues throughout Judea, a Godly teacher with power. He works miracles. No other man did that.

Prior to this entry into Jerusalem, Jesus had even raised a man from the dead! Lazarus, who walked out of a tomb, would also likely come to Jerusalem for the Passover with this powerful Teacher of the Law.

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

Luke 21:5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

 Even so, the multitudes following Jesus hoped for the power of David over God’s enemies and the power of Moses over the rule of God’s Holy Place. 

32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Watch Yourselves

34 “But watch yourselves your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.

Matthew 21:15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant…

Matthew 21:26 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

What had happened, after Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, with the multitudes of people shouting, ‘Hosanna,’ with the Temple officials standing in their ‘thousand dollar suits’ of religious symbolism among them?

This ‘Prophet of Nazareth’ went into the marketplace of the Temple, among the tourists and the businessmen in the courtyards of the Holy place where all were doing very well (as at the time of every religious festival). In fact, business was booming and the economy of the rich Jerusalem merchants was never better. They were ready for the huge crowds coming for the BIG EASTER SALE… (that is, Passover sale).

Matthew 21:

12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.

This peaceful Prophet, who had entered Jerusalem on a colt, entered the Temple. The multitudes were ready to hear His teaching once more. But this time, Jesus showed righteous indignation against the merchants. He was a mad man in the mall!

13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

The Place were the Lord IS Present must be made HOLY! Worship presupposes the preparation of the cleansing of the place of worship and most of all, the worshipers.

REPENT! had been the message of preparation. TURN BACK to the LORD your God!

Three years of teaching and miracles has brought Jesus to Jerusalem only to find a Temple in need of cleansing. The very priests and officials responsible for preparation of the Holy Place, have defiled the House of the Lord.