The Gospel of Luke (Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture)

Pablo T. Gadenz, Williamson, Peter S., Healy, Mary, Peter S. Williamson, Mary Healy

• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9780801037009
• eBook ISBN: 9781493415489
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Commentary

Examine the New Testament from within the living tradition of the Catholic Church

In this addition to the successful Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series, Fr. Pablo Gadenz examines the Gospel of Luke from within the living tradition of the Church.

Gadenz explains the biblical text clearly and concisely in light of recent scholarship and pays particular attention to the themes, theology, and Old Testament background of Luke's Gospel.

The CCSS relates Scripture to Christian life today, is faithfully Catholic, and is supplemented by features designed to help pastoral ministers, lay readers, and students better comprehend the Bible and use it more effectively.

Commentary features include:
● Biblical text from the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)
● References to the Catechism, the Lectionary, and related biblical texts
● Theological insights from Church fathers, saints, and popes
● Reflection and application sections for daily Christian living
● Suggested resources and an index of pastoral subjects

Attractively packaged and accessibly written, the CCSS aims to help readers understand their faith more deeply, nourish their spiritual life, and share the good news with others.

Ministry in the Temple

Luke 19:45–21:38

Jesus reaches the destination of his journey as he enters the courts of the Jerusalem temple (19:45). This new section about his Jerusalem ministry unfolds almost exclusively in the temple: Jesus cleanses the temple (19:45–46), daily teaches the people there (19:47–48; 20:1; 21:37–38), and speaks about its destruction (21:5–36).

Significant changes of characters mark the end of the travel narrative and the beginning of the Jerusalem ministry.1 Throughout the journey, Pharisees were frequently Jesus’ interlocutors and opponents.2 However, once Jesus reaches Jerusalem, the Pharisees appear for the last time (19:39). They are never explicitly mentioned in connection with Jesus’ temple ministry and subsequent passion.3 Instead, as soon as Jesus arrives in the temple, the chief priests together with other †Sanhedrin members—not mentioned since Jesus’ first passion prediction (9:22)—emerge as his adversaries.4 Their aim is to have Jesus arrested and put to death (19:47; 20:19–20), so they try to build a case against him by questioning him on various subjects (20:1–8, 20–40). In response, Jesus warns his disciples and the people about the authorities (20:9–19, 45–47) and indirectly reveals his identity as Son and Messiah (20:13, 41). The tense climate will quickly lead to the events of Jesus’ passion.

Prophetic Action: The Cleansing of the Temple (19:45–48)

45Then Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, 46saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.’” 47And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, 48but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

OT: Isa 56:7; Jer 7:11; Zech 14:21; Mal 3:1

NT: Luke 20:19; 21:37; 22:2, 53. // Matt 21:12–13; Mark 11:15–18; John 2:13–16

Catechism: cleansing the temple, 584

[19:45–46]

As Jesus entered the temple area, he also entered the city of Jerusalem, bringing the journey to an end (9:51–19:44). By “temple area” (hieron) is meant the whole complex consisting of a number of courts on the temple mount that surrounded the actual sanctuary or temple building (naos, 1:9, 21–22; 23:45). Pilgrims could purchase the animals needed for temple sacrifices once they reached the city. Animals had typically been sold at a market on the Mount of Olives. However, around this time, according to some scholars, the high priest Caiaphas permitted vendors to sell animals (see John 2:14) in the outer court of the temple itself, the Court of the Gentiles.5 Coming on the scene, Jesus proceeds to drive out those who were selling things. His action recalls a verse from the prophet Zechariah: “No longer will there be merchants in the house of the LORD of hosts on that day” (Zech 14:21). Jesus himself explains his action by referring to two other verses from Scripture. First, quoting Isaiah, he says: My house shall be called a house of prayer (Isa 56:7). In Jesus’ view, selling interferes with the purpose of the temple, and so should be done elsewhere. Second, Jesus quotes Jeremiah, revealing the deeper significance of his action: you have made it a den of thieves (see Jer 7:11). This verse is from the prophet’s temple sermon, where he foretold the destruction of the first temple (Jer 7:12–14). The corruption of which Jeremiah speaks was also a problem in Jesus’ day.6 Not surprisingly, Jesus will thus predict the second temple’s destruction (Luke 21:5–6).

Figure 17. Diagram of the temple. [© Baker Publishing Group]

[19:47–48]

After driving out the merchants, Jesus’ activity every day is teaching in the temple area (20:1; 21:37),7 which recalls his ministry in Galilee of teaching in the synagogues (4:15–16, 31–33; 6:6). His audience is not the undifferentiated “crowd” (Greek ochlos) that accompanied him during the journey. Here, it is rather all the people (laos),8 a term emphasizing the Jewish people who respond positively to Jesus: they are hanging on his words. Opposing Jesus now are not the Pharisees (mentioned explicitly for the last time in 19:39) but the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people. Though he has just arrived in the city, their minds are already made up: they are seeking to put him to death (see 22:2). Undoubtedly, they have heard about his being acclaimed as “king” (19:38), and they will use that as a charge against him when they bring him before Pilate (23:2). At present, there is no way for them to achieve their purpose, because of the people (20:6; 22:2), but they will not stop until they succeed.

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND

The Temple

In the first century, the Jerusalem temple was at the heart of Judaism.a It was the place of God’s dwelling among his people. The Jewish people would therefore go up to Jerusalem on pilgrimage to appear before the Lord, especially for the great feasts such as Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. The temple was also the place where animal sacrifices were offered in accord with the law of Moses, providing the people with the means to receive forgiveness of sins and ritual cleansing. The sacrificial system contributed to the temple’s economic importance—for example, with the purchase of animals. In addition, the temple had political and judicial significance, on account of the roles of the high priest and the †Sanhedrin.

In 19 BC, Herod the Great began his temple renovation project in order to consolidate his position as king of the Jews. Long after his death the work continued (see John 2:20), being completed only a few years before the Jewish revolt against Rome (AD 66). The project’s most ambitious aspect was the expansion of the temple mount, whose retaining walls—still largely visible today—surrounded the enormous platform.b It also involv...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Endorsements
• Series Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Illustrations
• Editors’ Preface
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• Outline of the Gospel of Luke
• Luke States His Purpose
• God Visits His People
• A Savior Is Born
• The Precursor and the Son of God
• Jesus’ Mission as Messiah
• Calling Disciples and Answering Pharisees
• The Twelve and the Sermon on the Plain
• Jesus the Great Prophet
• Jesus’ Parables and Power
• The Messiah and Suffering Son of Man
• The Journey to Jerusalem Begins
• Prayer and Almsgiving
• Genuine Disciples in a Growing Kingdom
• The Last Are First at God’s Kingdom Banquet
• Parables about Repentance and Riches
• The Son of Man and the Kingdom of God
• The King Goes Up to Jerusalem
• Ministry in the Temple
• The Passover of the Messiah
• Trial, Crucifixion, and Death
• Fulfillment in Jesus’ Resurrection
• Suggested Resources
• Glossary
• Index of Pastoral Topics
• Index of Sidebars
• Map
• Back Cover