By Who’s Authority?

The issue that underlies this entire section of Scripture is that of authority. Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem demonstrated two landmark displays of His authority. First, Jesus declared Himself to be Israel’s Messiah by His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, as recorded in Luke 19. A second demonstration of Jesus’ authority is given in Luke 19:45.

“And He went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. (Luke 19:45-46)

“A den of thieves is where thieves run to hide after committing wicked deeds. The only place given to Gentiles to worship the one true God was an animal market. The one place God specifically assigned to Gentile evangelism was rendered ineffective.” - G. Campbell Morgan

Luke tells us the response of the Jerusalem Jewish leaders to His possession of the temple and His teaching there in the remainder of verse 47,“But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.” (Luke 19:47-48)

Why were some so attentive to hearing Him and ready to accept Him while others were not? This is an excellent question because the same is true of our day. Let’s look at three realities about their rejection of Jesus.