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Jesus’ Last Visit to the Temple
This chapter is based on Matthew 23; Mark 12:41-44; Luke
20:45-47; 21:1-4.
It was the last day of Christ’s teaching in the temple. There stood
the young Galilean, with no earthly honor or royal badge. Surround-
ing Him were priests in rich clothing, rulers with robes and badges,
and scribes with scrolls in their hands, to which they frequently
referred. Jesus stood calmly, as one holding the authority of heaven.
He looked unflinchingly upon His adversaries who thirsted for His
life. Their schemes to trap Him had failed. He had met challenge
after challenge, presenting pure, bright truth in contrast to the dark-
ness and errors of the priests and Pharisees. He had faithfully given
the warning. Yet another work remained for Christ to do.
The people were charmed with His teaching, but they were
greatly perplexed. They had respected the priests and rabbis, yet
now they saw these men trying to discredit Jesus, whose virtue and
knowledge appeared brighter with every assault. They marveled that
the rulers would not believe on Jesus when His teachings were so
plain and simple. They themselves did not know what course to
take.
Christ’s purpose in the parables was to warn the rulers and
instruct the people. But He needed to speak even more plainly. The
people were enslaved through their blind faith in a corrupt priesthood.
These chains Christ must break. “The scribes and the Pharisees,”
He said, “sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to
observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works;
for they say, and do not do.”
The scribes and Pharisees claimed to take Moses’ place as ex-
pounders of the law, but they did not practice their own teaching.
And much of what they taught was contrary to the Scriptures: “They
bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders;
but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.”
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