Luke 19

“He went into the temple complex and began to throw out those who were selling, and He said, ‘It is written, My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!’” Luke 19:45 (HCSB)

The day Jesus cleared the Temple was a day that was announced hundreds of years earlier.  Even in the days of prophets like Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Zephaniah, the nation of Israel took the “patience” of the Lord to mean He was either disengaged or impotent to judge their sin.  Even though the prophets would announce God’s judgment, the people kept on sinning.

“On that day, I will punish all who skip over the threshold, who fill their master’s house with violence and deceit.  On that day – this is the Lord’s declaration – there will be an outcry from the Fish Gate, a wailing from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills.  Wail, you residents of the Hollow, for all the merchants will be silenced; all those loaded with silver will be cut off.  And at that time, I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men who settle down comfortably, who say to themselves: The Lord will not do good or evil.” Zephaniah 1:19-12 (HCSB)

As is the case with many in the Church today, the people of Israel had abandoned God’s Word to the point that they felt more at home in the world than with the Lord.

“Do you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known?  Then, do you come and stand before Me in this house that bears my name and say, ‘We are rescued, so we can continue doing all these detestable acts’?  Has this house, which bears my name, become a den of robbers in your view?  Yes, I too have seen it.” Jeremiah 7:9-11 (CSB)

Some people wrongly believe that Israel’s rejection of Jesus triggered God’s rejection of Israel and signaled His favor of the Gentiles.  This is not so.  Read Romans 11.  

Contrary to popular Christian understanding, it has always been God’s desire for men of all nations to worship Him.  The death and resurrection of Jesus brought understanding to the apostles, namely Paul, of what God’s intent and desire for the nations had always been.  

“Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants— Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant— Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer.  Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.  The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, ‘Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him.’” Isaiah 56:6-8 (NKJV)