“And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, when thine enemies shall cast up a bank about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall dash thee to the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. And he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold, saying unto them, It is written, And my house shall be a house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of robbers.” (St. Luke 19:41-46, ASV)
The scene before us is one of deep sorrow, divine forewarning, and righteous indignation. It is a moment full of significance, not only for the city of Jerusalem but for all who would hear the words of our Lord and take them to heart.
“And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.”
Here we witness Jesus, the Prince of Peace, approaching the holy city of Jerusalem. His heart is heavy with sorrow, and tears stream down His face. Why does the Lord of Glory weep? What profound grief compels the Saviour to shed tears over this city? It is the blindness of Jerusalem, its inability to recognise the things that make for peace, that moves Jesus to weep. The city is unaware of the time of its visitation, unaware that the very source of peace and salvation stands in its midst.
“If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.”
These words are laden with lamentation. They echo the heartache of a loving parent for a wayward child. Jesus mourns because Jerusalem, the city of David, the city that should have welcomed its Messiah with open arms, remains oblivious to the peace that He brings. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, is within their reach, yet they fail to grasp it. Their eyes are blinded, their hearts are hardened, and they cannot see the salvation that God has provided.
“For the days shall come upon thee, when thine enemies shall cast up a bank about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall dash thee to the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”
The prophetic words of Jesus spell out the tragic consequences of this spiritual blindness. A day of reckoning is foretold, a day when the enemies of Jerusalem will surround the city, lay siege to it, and destroy it utterly. This prophecy would come to pass in A.D. 70, when the Roman armies besieged and destroyed Jerusalem, leaving not one stone upon another, just as Jesus had foretold. The destruction was not only a physical calamity but a divine judgement upon a city that did not recognise the time of its visitation.
“And he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold, saying unto them, It is written, And my house shall be a house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of robbers.”
Following this lamentation, we see Jesus entering the Temple, the very heart of Jewish worship. What He finds there fills Him with righteous indignation. The Temple, which should be a house of prayer for all nations, has been turned into a marketplace, a den of thieves. The sacred space is profaned by commercial activity, and the purity of worship is marred by greed and corruption. Jesus, with divine authority, drives out those who buy and sell, cleansing the Temple of its impurities.
This act of cleansing is symbolic. It signifies the need for spiritual renewal and purity in the hearts of God’s people—back then and today! The Temple, the dwelling place of God, must be kept holy. Likewise, our hearts, which are temples of the Holy Spirit, must be cleansed of all that defiles. We are called to a life of holiness, a life that honours God in thought, word, and deed.
“And he was teaching daily in the temple…” (vs 47)
After cleansing the Temple, Jesus remains there, teaching daily. Not only did He remove the impurities; He filled the sacred space with the truth of God’s Word. His teachings are a light that dispels the darkness, a truth that sets people free. He calls all who hear Him to repentance, faith, and a renewed relationship with God.
As we reflect on this passage, let’s consider its relevance to our lives today. We, too, live in a world that is blind to the things that make for peace. We are surrounded by distractions and temptations that can lead us away from the path of righteousness. Satan the enemy and his servants in this world have a hold on the political systems and all things worldly, and we must stand back. We must heed the warning of Jesus and recognise the time of our visitation. God is always near, offering us His peace, His salvation, and His love. Let’s not be blind to His presence.
Let’s constantly examine the temple of our hearts. Are there impurities that need to be cleansed? Are there areas of our lives where we have allowed worldly concerns to overshadow our devotion to God? May we invite Jesus to cleanse us, to drive out all that defiles, and to fill us with His Holy Spirit.
Let’s commit ourselves to be earnest students of His Word, eager to learn from Him daily. Jesus taught in the Temple every day, and we, too, must immerse ourselves in His teachings, allowing His truth to guide our lives. In doing so, we will experience the peace that only He can give, a peace that the world can never take away.
May the Lord, who wept over Jerusalem, open our eyes to see His presence, our hearts to receive His peace, and our lives to reflect His holiness.