In chapter 19.28-48, Luke brings together three incidents, the triumphal entry, Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem, and the cleansing of the temple) which highlight Jesus’ strong emotions of joy and lament and anger. These few verses also link to other parts of the ‘big story’ of the Bible. I will highlight some of these later.
Our Bibles already have chapter and verse divisions, and publishers often add paragraph titles. This has many benefits. But one down-side is that we look, especially in the gospels, at the various events in a granular way. We can then miss the broader context and the flow of the larger story.
Under the Holy Spirit, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are telling a story, the story of Jesus Christ. They gather material, ordering it to serve their story. Incidents are drawn together to make particular points. Chronology is not the writers’ primary concern. Frequently, therefore, one part sheds light on the preceding or succeeding event. And so it is in this part of Luke 19.
Jesus Christ was and is the perfect man, totally full of the Holy Spirit, perfectly manifesting the fruit of the Spirit. In this instance, self-control, such that His emotions, like His words and actions, are perfect, utterly under godly control.
Luke is painting the picture of Jesus Christ the man, the perfect man. So Luke, Doctor Luke, tells of His birth, of sacrificial offerings made at the birth of a male child; he makes reference to His childhood, and twice writes, ‘He grew,’ perhaps the archetypal human trait. And, emotions are a key element of humans.
In all His interactions with fallible and imperfect humans, Jesus’ perfect character shines through. We rightly adore and worship Him. But we also admire and seek to follow His example.
Jesus is drawing near to Jerusalem (19.28); this is His final conflict with the nation of Israel, represented by its leaders, Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Sanhedrin. Significantly, these later chapters include much Old Testament imagery and allusions. Observers, whether the religion leaders or ‘lay’ people, going up the temple to the Passover festival, would recognize these allusions. Jews, whether born Jews, or proselytes, were generally very familiar with their own scriptures.
An aside, following the story beyond chapter 19…
This final conflict is very strong. There is much discussion between Christ and the religious leaders concerning authority, with an implied final call to repentance. This is later echoed by Stephen, ‘you stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your father did, so do you.’ (Acts 7.51)
Luke 20.1-8: the chief priests and scribes challenged Jesus’ authority; He brilliantly answered them; ‘was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? … Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.’
Luke 20.9-18: the parable of the wicked wine dressers. See Matt 21.45, where the chief priests and Pharisees thought Jesus was speaking about them. They were right! He was!
Luke 20.19-26: Jesus entered the discussion about whether it was right to pay taxes to Caesar, a major issue of the day. ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s’
Luke 20.27-39: The Sadducees joined the fray, with their foolish question about seven brothers. Jesus answered them clearly from the OT, such that some responded; ‘Teacher, you have spoken well.’
Luke 20.40: the conclusion of the matter; they no longer dared ask Him any questions, leaving Jesus the opportunity to put His own question. Quoting Psalm 110, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool,” He asked ‘David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?’ The response? Silence!
He adds a warning, of ‘greater condemnation’’ for those whose religion was empty, a performance, law without mercy; lacking compassion and integrity.
Luke 21.1-4: and, to make His point, Jesus commended the poor widow, who gives two tiny coins into the offering. She put in ‘more than all of them.’ Here is righteousness more than that of the Pharisees. This is religion that is, ‘pure and undefiled.’