Luke 19:47Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is reported that they aimed to eliminate Him yet failed, as the crowds remained devoted to Him, eager to listen. This intensifies the severity of the punishment facing the scribes, Pharisees, and all Jewish leaders. The entire nation, filled with simple individuals, embraced the sacred teachings, soaking in the life-giving message as if it were rain, ready to bear the fruits of faith and willingly submit to His commandments. In contrast, those charged with guiding the people resisted violently, sinfully seeking chances to commit murder, and displayed extreme cruelty, refusing to accept the truth themselves while obstructing others from doing so. And how can I claim otherwise? For the Saviour directly admonished them, stating, “Woe to you also, O ye lawyers, for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye yourselves do not enter in, but hinder those who enter in.”

However, our Redeemer graciously did not withhold instruction even from those who were unworthy and ungrateful. Instead, He promptly revealed His gift of grace following a stern admonition, which was made evident through the removal of the corrupt. Consequently, it is written: "and taught every day in the temple." This can be traced by a brief consideration of history. Spiritually speaking, we are continually confronted with this corruption through the teachings of our Redeemer as presented in the Holy Scriptures. Even today, what was recorded as having occurred in the past is being fulfilled, as indicated by the phrase: "and taught every day in the temple." When He instructs the souls of believers to be vigilant against evil, the Truth is continually being imparted to the Church.

The observers of this occurrence anticipated a greater revelation of the Messiah's reign on that day. However, through this momentous entry, the Lord merely realized what the prophets had foretold regarding Him, departing from Jerusalem in the evening while maintaining His humble demeanor. This emboldened His adversaries, while others remained curious about the unfolding events. In the remaining days of His time on earth, the Son of Man returned to Jerusalem each morning to teach in the temple, while dedicating the rest of His hours to His disciples, often retreating to Bethany at night to be with His friends.

He refrained from commencing His customary preaching until the temple had been restored to an atmosphere of reverence and tranquility. This task was now undoubtedly simpler since it had already been accomplished once before. Once the disruptive clamor of commerce subsided, the temple regained its familiar sanctity. Afflicted individuals approached Christ, and He granted them healing. Meanwhile, the news of the merchants' expulsion from the Temple reached the Sanhedrin, whose members, having regained some composure from their prior disquiet, arrived at the Temple to demand of the Teacher, “By what authority do You do this?

Jesus Christ engaged in daily teaching within the temple during the final days of His presence in Jerusalem. “Every day” refers to the period of four or five days from His arrival in the city until His passion (see Luke 22:53). “They sought to destroy Him” highlights the growing hostility against Him, as noted in Mark 11:18 and other parallel accounts.