Chapter 19
I’ve been to a lot of churches over the years. Some were very formal and traditional, others casual and laid back. And it’s always interesting to watch how people respond when they enter the building. In the foyer, people tend to chat, laugh, and move about freely. But as soon as they step through the sanctuary doors, there’s often a noticeable shift—people become quieter, more reserved. Even in contemporary churches, kids often settle down a bit once they’re in the sanctuary.
I think that has a lot to do with respect for what the sanctuary represents.
But here’s the thing—it’s just a room. Yes, it’s set apart for worship. Yes, it deserves our respect. But in truth, it’s no more or less holy than the foyer, or even the sidewalk outside. I know that may feel uncomfortable or even a little sacrilegious to say. But stay with me.
The sanctuary is a man-made space—ideally one that’s been dedicated to God’s glory. But so are we—and according to Scripture, we are actually where God’s Spirit lives.
Paul puts it plainly in 1 Corinthians 6:19:“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?”
That brings us to Luke 19, and something unusual Jesus does at the end of that chapter. He walks into the temple, drives out the merchants, and says: “My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers.”
For a long time, I thought this passage was all about whether churches should sell books or T-shirts in the lobby. What’s fair pricing? What crosses the line? But now, I think that misses the point entirely.
Look at the whole chapter:
- Zacchaeus, a notorious sinner, is sought out and redeemed.
- Jesus tells a parable that teaches how His followers should live faithfully while waiting for His return.
- He enters Jerusalem as the prophesied King, but weeps over the city because it failed to recognize what was right in front of it.
- And then He clears the temple.
When you take it all together, the message becomes clear—it’s not about church buildings.
It’s about our hearts. Jesus seeks and redeems the lost, teaches the redeemed how to live, promises to return, and warns us all to stay spiritually awake—guarding our hearts against complacency and the pull of the world.
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. [ironically, this despised man’s name meant: “Pure one.” It was a role he did not live up to, but perhaps one he would grow into with this meeting. Our Father has the ability to make us into something the world could never think possible.] 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. [his desire to see and connect with Truth out weighted his desire to appear “proper” and “distinguished.”]
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” [Jesus still today connects with those who have the right posture of heart that spurns themselves to act in faith, without considering the “world’s” opinion.] 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people [literally: everyone, the whole, collectively. Not just the religious leaders, but everyone, including those who supported Jesus. How quickly we can fall into this group when we see something that looks contrary to us. How quickly can we find the stones in our pocket.] saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” [This was not Zacchaeus claiming to be right in his past ways, this is him repenting for the wrong he had done.] 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Parable of the Stewards
11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. [This is Jesus telling them that he would depart and return. He is the “man of noble birth”] 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. [one mina each] ‘Put this money to work,’ [literally: occupy] he said, ‘until I come back.’
14 “But his subjects [these are not the servants he just spoke about, rather the citizens that lived in the area the servants worked in – namely the “world”] hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ 15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. 16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ 17 ” ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ 18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ 19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’
20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’
24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ 25 ” ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ [This helps us to understand the plan of Our Heavenly Father. It is to build character in us. God does not need us to make Him rich. But He does want us to develop the good character of using the gifts and talents He gives us to be productive. This servant was merely lazy and selfish.]
26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. [The servant that had everything taken from him was still his servant. This is not about losing your salvation. It is about not having any fruits or rewards outside of salvation. If we fail to put forth any effort, then we cannot expect God to give us much to manage. God doesn’t call us to be self-consumers only.] 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them–bring them here and kill them in front of me.’ ” [The sad ultimate consequence of those who fight against God.]
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” [fulfilling Genesis 49:10-11, and Zechariah 9:9 both written 1500 years, and 550 years prior to this event.]
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” [Nothing can reveal one’s heart quicker than praises lifted to God. It will show you where your heart truly lies. If you can joyfully join in, or if you want to bind up your ears. True praise draws the line in the sand of ones heart.] 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it [literally: of those who mourn and cry for the dead, bewail, a deep hurt of loss.] 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. [Even when God’s judgement is perfectly just, it brings Him no joy. His heart weeps at the loss of this judgment. Therefore, we too, should not celebrate the destruction of the wicked, but rejoice that we are saved by His grace and mercy.] They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” [This was fulfilled in AD 70 (about 40 years later) when the temple was set on fire and the gold melted between the cracks. Rome literally removed every stone in place to scrap off the melted gold.]
Jesus at the Temple
45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, ” ‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.'”
47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
