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Luke 19:45-48 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019%3A45-48&version=NLT
This is another story that all four gospel writers record.  Clearly it left an impression.  Honestly, Luke’s account gives us the least detail.  But even this quick mention makes it clear that Jesus walked in like he owned the place (ironic nod to reality) and drove out people who were misusing the Temple.  

Here’s some quick background notes if you aren’t up to speed on how temple worship worked back then.  The system of worship described in Jewish law often called for the sacrifice of animals.  They ranged from small birds to sheep, goats and bulls.  Through these sacrifices God ensured that the people who worked in the Temple had all they needed so that they could dedicate themselves to serving there.  People would bring grain, wine, oil, even incense, and often animals depending on the purpose of the offering. Some parts would be burned up, but most was prepared in such a way that the Temple servants didn’t have to worry about making dinner.  Can we just take a minute to be incredibly grateful that our God is so good and kind that the worship he requires us to give him, is one of the ways he provides for his people.  Think about that.  God doesn’t need anything we have.  One of the reasons he decided sacrifices should be a part of worship was so that his people would have something to eat.  I firmly believe, and often tell people, God doesn’t waste pain.  He allows us to experience hard things.  We live in a broken world and bad things happen.  But he uses it.  He uses all of it.  He will grow us and teach us and use us to help others.  He will accomplish things that could never happen without it. I am convinced pain is precious to him because he knows what it costs us.  He is loath to waste a drop of it.  I even see it here.  God loves all of his creation.  The animals are part of his masterpiece.  He doesn’t take any death lightly.  If he is going to prescribe the death of an animal, it’s not just going up in smoke.  He will use even that pain.  

Sorry, that was a bit of a bunny trail but the more I study this God of the Bible, the more I love and admire him.  Is that weird to say? I stand by it. 

Back to our text.  As we know, this was Passover time.  People were travelling from all over Israel to make sacrifices at the Temple.  Carrying animals wasn’t super practical, so a bit of an industry had popped up that enabled travellers to buy what they needed for the sacrifices in Jerusalem.  Some people even set up shop in the Temple grounds.  The trouble is, a place designed for worship had basically turned into a mall, which isn’t a worshipful or respectful environment.  A little research will also dig up evidence that many of the vendors were taking advantage of the travellers.  Knowing that bringing animals long distances was really challenging, they opportunistically price gouged.  When Jesus walked into the Temple grounds and found people exploiting their fellow worshippers, he was not having it. Keep in mind, he is distraught because the people he loves are going to suffer even more because they refuse to honour God.  He was only just weeping for Jerusalem. Now he walks into God’s own house and finds people manipulating worship for personal gain.  Some of the other gospels paint his response more graphically.  Luke tells us he drove them away from the Temple.  We get the picture.  

Luke makes a point of mentioning that, although the religious leaders wanted to kill him, they were afraid to do anything publicly because people were flocking to him.  Jesus went to the Temple every day. They knew where to find him.  But they knew better than to get aggressive with such a large crowd surrounding him.