B. The beginning of Jesus' ministry in Jerusalem 19:41-48

This is a transitional section that bridges Jesus' approach to the city and His teaching in it. Luke first recorded Jesus' weeping over the city from outside its walls because He knew what lay before its people. Then the writer wrote of Jesus cleansing the temple and teaching there.

 1. Jesus' sorrow over Jerusalem 19:41-44

This material occurs in no other Gospel. The destruction of Jerusalem that Jesus predicted here was an important event for Luke. It showed God's judgment on Israel for rejecting His Son and provided evidence that God had turned from working with the Jews primarily and was now working with Gentiles equally. It constitutes an argument for the distinctively new dispensation that resulted from the Jews' rejection of their Messiah. It also gives a reason for the Christian mission on which Jesus later sent His disciples.

19:41 Luke continued to describe Jesus as approaching Jerusalem, His city of destiny. Jesus saw the city in the light of its rejection of His gracious offer of salvation. He foresaw it visited in judgment later since it had rejected His peaceful visit. This is the only place in the Gospels beside John 11:35 where we read that Jesus wept. His compassion is something Luke pointed out frequently. The fate of sinners who reject God's grace broke Jesus' heart. Jeremiah also wept over the fate of Jerusalem (Jer. 8:18-22; 15:5; Lam.; cf. 2 Kings 8:11-12).

19:42 Jesus meant that if the people of Jerusalem had only known then, that day (cf. 4:21; 19:5, 9), what would result in peace for them, they could experience peace. Acceptance of Him and the inauguration of the kingdom would bring peace (i.e., salvation) to the city of peace, Jerusalem. However they did not realize the consequences of their decision. God had withheld that insight from them because they were bent on rejecting Jesus (11:49-51; 13:34).

19:43-44 The enemies in view proved to be the Roman soldiers under Titus who besieged Jerusalem as Jesus described, breached its walls, and finally leveled it in 70 A.D. (cf. 21:20-24). The reason for its destruction was its failure to realize Messiah's visit and His offer of salvation. Consequently His visit would result in judgment.

 2. Jesus' cleansing of the temple 19:45-46 (cf. Matt. 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17)

Judgment began when Jesus threw the merchants out of the temple courtyard. Jesus did this twice, once at the beginning of His ministry (John 2:13-22) and here at the end. Luke stressed the temple as a place of prayer. Jesus purified it quoting from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11. Luke's interest in this incident, which he related briefly, was primarily as the introduction to Jesus' teaching that followed. It also explains the religious leaders' great antagonism toward Jesus (v. 47).

Perhaps Luke omitted Jesus calling the temple a house of prayer for the Gentiles because he thought this might confuse his Gentile readers. The temple had not become a house of prayer for the Gentiles. Was Jesus therefore wrong? The explanation that Luke did not want to digress to explain was that it will become such in the millennial kingdom.

Some interpreters have identified this incident as the fulfillment of Malachi 3:1, but none of the evangelists connected the event with that prophecy. Malachi 3:1 is a prediction of Jesus' coming to the Tribulation temple at His second coming (cf. Zech. 14:21).

 3. A synopsis of Jesus' teaching in the temple 19:47-48 (cf. Mark 11:18)

Luke stressed the rejection and hostility of the Jewish leaders toward Jesus as He taught daily in the temple precincts. The common people, however, were very receptive to His instruction. This contrast between popular acceptance and official opposition has characterized Luke's narrative. The writer evidently included it to show his readers that average people with no vested interests at stake have always been open to the gospel (cf. 1:68, 77; 2:10, 31-32).

This paragraph is also introductory to what follows. It introduces Jesus' teaching ministry to His disciples in Jerusalem, as 4:14-15 introduced His ministry in Galilee.