An Exposition

Luke 19:45-20:8: “Shaking Up the Service- Temple Edition”

“And He entered the temple and began to cast out those who were selling, saying to them, ‘It is written, and My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a robber’s den.’ And He was teaching daily in the Temple, but the chief priests and the leading men were trying to destroy Him, and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging upon His words.

“And it came about on one of the days while He was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes with the elders confronted Him, and they spoke, saying to Him, ‘Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave you this authority?’

“And he answered them and said to them, ‘I shall also ask you a question, and you tell Me. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?’ And they reasoned among themselves saying, ‘If we say, ‘from heaven,’ then He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ then the people will stone us to death, for they are all convinced that John was a prophet.’ And they said that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things’” (Luke 19:45-20:8, NASB).

What I love reading and teaching about the life and work of the Lord Jesus is that He never was one to waste time or excuse bad behavior from anyone; and when He spoke, He got directly to the point and made people think about what they heard and witnessed. He had no time or energy to waste on people who only wanted to argue, rebuke, resist, and mock Him when He taught the truth of Scripture and the consequences of disobeying the Word of God. He did not consult religious “experts” or “fact checkers” like we are bombarded with on social media and those who feel it is their sacred duty to tear everything apart online in order to give their egos a stroke. He never discussed the interpretation of traditions and Scripture with the Pharisees, nor did He tremble in fear of what people might say or think about Him.

No doubt He would be the biggest critic of “political correctness” and its aftermath of raw censorship and fear were He here in the flesh today. He certainly would not support the lame and godless issues and concerns with which the modern church seems to be infatuated, such as social justice, critical race theory, the acceptance of behaviors and lifestyles that are in direct conflict with the Scriptures, and the odd desire of some congregations to be friends with the world for the sake of looking relevant or with the trends of the day.

I am also of the persuasion that He would rebuke and condemn the frankly ungodly and self-centeredness of some so-called churches that use everything but the soundness of the Gospel and the doctrines of the faith to train, educate, and mature those who profess to follow Him. Instead, they substitute fake signs, emotional cacophony, gibberish, falling on the floor, maniacal laughter that sounds more demonic than mortal, barking, rolling around, gyrations and moves that resemble a pagan ceremony more than it does worship of the Sovereign, Holy, Almighty Lord God Who, in the Scriptures, never at any time condones, approves, blesses, or affirms such nonsense and vulgarity disguised as a church service.

The Holy Spirit Himself is mocked and ridiculed by the antics of jesters and fools that occupy pulpits around the world who claim that the chaos and debauchery within the place is a sign of approval from Him. None of this garbage glorifies or honors the LORD in any way, shape, or form; and you know it to be as such.

I am not letting anyone off the hook because there are some of you who have been members of congregations that are so dry and lifeless that the only “Fire” that would come from you was if the building went up in flames. I have been subject to services that were about as exciting and fruitful as participating in a grass-growing contest in the middle of winter. I have heard preaching that is about as dynamic and uplifting as a bag of rocks. I literally ran from the first church I was invited to preach at after I started seminary because the atmosphere was slightly above a deep freeze at the Arctic Circle, and the people left a lot to be desired in terms of friendliness and hospitality; and I will leave it at that.

Surely this is NOT what our Lord Jesus had in mind or expected when it came to the call to worship the LORD in Spirit and in truth, and it is also an effective tool of the devil to blind people to what authentic Christianity teaches.

When Jesus entered the Temple in Jerusalem, it was not the sight or sound of people praying before the LORD, or of reverence towards His Holiness, or of genuine worship, but what was a mix of an irreverent carnival, marketplace, animal sounds and stench, shouting, chaos, coins being dropped in coffers, confused looks on people who did not know really what to do or were hopelessly lost about everything for which the Temple allegedly represented. All that was needed was a coffee bar and a sandwich shop near the entrance for those in between service snacks. If you are getting upset and angry over what I have just described, and have confirmed in your soul that this is in no way any kind of acceptable or worthy type of reverence before the LORD, then stop and consider what Jesus was seeing and thinking at that moment.

He was in a state of righteous anger and indignation over what was a clear and unmistakable act of evil, wickedness, and treachery done in the name of religious activity. However, Jesus did not go “ballistic” and lose control in His display of godly wrath and rebuttal of these blatant displays of greed and borderline blasphemy. Here is where His true Holy nature and act of judgment on the wickedness of people is best demonstrated and should cause us to shudder in holy fear for what their foolish and irreverent actions have produced.

With nothing more than His Divine nature and authority, He chased the money lenders, animal breeders, hucksters, and the means by which the High Priest and his cronies made their living, primarily through high-interest money exchange, high-priced sacrificial animals, and other schemes that had become a racket of corruption and internal rot within the Temple structure over the years. This did not go over well with the authorities or religious leaders, to say the least. If they were determined beforehand to get rid of Jesus, this action fanned the flames of their hate for Him and the satanic desire to destroy Him.

I am convinced that men such as Annas and Caiaphas, the High Priests at that time, knew perfectly well Who Jesus was and what He came to do, yet due to their greed, evil minds and hearts, and desire to keep power in their hands, chose to reject Him, His salvation, and be content with the pittance of the world they held in their grubby hands until it was too late.

It is no different than the hucksters in the media who are making a profit off of the story of Jesus as an excuse to fill their pockets while promising phony blessings and rewards to those who are gullible, naïve, and easily swayed by pretty words and colorful tales of miracles, moves of God, signs and wonders, promises of reward for “sowing a seed” or “giving a vow” of set amounts of money, or are hypnotized by the sound of “prosperity,” “total healing,” “no problems,” and show some antics disguised as worship, prayer, and preaching to make it look legitimate. These well-dressed and well-off shysters would probably curse and reject the Lord Jesus were He to take a whip to their “ministries” and remove everything they have as a punishment for their wicked use of the Holy and Sacred Name of God.

I do not like these characters one bit, but at the same time, I pray that their eyes will be open to what they are doing and will genuinely repent of their sins and truly turn to Jesus as Lord and Savior. I pray that they have not crossed the line, given over to a depraved and irredeemable mind.

The officials could do nothing to Jesus at that time due to His enormous popularity among the people. They also had to undergo a question by Jesus when He was asked about the source of His authority (as if they did not already know). He asked them a question concerning John the Baptist’s credentials as a man of God, and for them to give Him a direct answer would have gotten them into trouble with the people, and force them to admit that they had sinned in not listening to John’s message of repentance and preparation for the arrival of God’s Messiah. He put them in a deliberate bind and crisis of response, and they had to go on the defensive to save their worthless hides.

Do not be so smug and sure that anything you ask or declare will be sufficient or successful when it comes to challenging the Lord Jesus Christ. He has all power and authority to twist your ego in the wind and put you on the defensive to explain your motives and assumptions. Nothing surprises or gets by Him.

He has put more than one smart-aleck in his place over history, and He always will have the final word, despite what you may say or think. He can and will humble you if need be. He does not bow to any ruler, despot, dictator, pope, prelate, theologian, or officials or their concepts and ideas. He does offer all who come to Him in repentance real peace, eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and the promise of a new heaven and earth free from the rot we see and experience. To ignore and mock this gift of mercy and grace is to run a fool’s errand, and receive nothing in the end but misery, terror, torment, hatred, unforgiveness, and the eternal thought of what might have been if you had just closed your yap and given your life to Him.

Take care of this NOW. You have no guarantee of tomorrow. I would rather see the Lord Jesus embrace you than condemn you. If you are smart, you will agree. Now get on it and go serve your King.

donaldwhitchard@gmail.com

www.donaldwhitchard.com

 

In these days of angst and confusion, we must hold fast to our faith that Yeshua has overcome the world, and we are to do the same. It may look like Satan and his minions are gaining the upper hand, but they will not prevail.

Matthew 16:13-18 – “When Yeshua and his disciples arrived at Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But who do you say that I am?’ he asked. Simon Peter replied, ‘You are Ha’Mashiach, the Son of the Living God.’ And Yeshua said to Peter, ‘Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the Gates of Hades will not prevail against it.’”

Many prophecies have a dual or multiple fulfillment. This statement of Yeshua’s, or prophecy if you will, is one of them. Let’s examine the possibilities and see if we can determine exactly who or what are the rocks Yeshua mentions:

The Three Common Expositions:

1. Simon Peter Is The Rock (According to the Roman Catholic Church)

According to their doctrines, Simon Peter as the rock is the position upon which the Catholic Church has established its authority. This is stated by several sources:

— Catechism of the Catholic Church, #552: “Because of the faith he confessed, Peter will remain the unshakeable rock of the Church.”

— Pope Leo I: “Our Lord Jesus Christ . . . has placed the principal charge on the blessed Peter, chief of all the apostles.”

— Council of Ephesus: “Philip, the presbyter and legate of the Apostolic See in Rome, said: ‘There is no doubt, and in fact it has been known in all ages, that the holy and most blessed Peter . . . both lives and judges in his successors.’”

This is the position upon which the Catholic Church has established its authority, but this position is not supported by the Greek text.

Simon is called Peter: Petros in the Greek. The masculine word Petros [G4074] means: a piece of rock; a pebble, a grain of sand, a detached stone or boulder, a stone that might be thrown or easily moved. And an easily moved pebble is exactly what we see with Peter who doubted when he walked on water (Matthew 14:27-31), who denied Yeshua (Matthew 16:23, Mark 8:33 and Luke 4:8, Luke 22:55-60), and who Paul rebuked when Peter acted hypocritically by eating differently when Jews from Jerusalem were present (Galatians 2:11-14).

2. The Confession Is The Rock (According to many)

Luke 8:13 – “But the ones on the rock [petra] are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy.”

This position may have warrant. The feminine word Petra [G4073] means: a mass of rock, a boulder, literally a living rock, a bedrock! A feminine petra occurs several other times in the Newer Covenant scriptures:

— the petra of soil upon which belief grows or withers (Romans 8:5-8);

— the petra of rock upon which a house is built (Matthew 7:24-25, Luke 6:46-49).

In essence, Yeshua may have been saying, Blessed are you Simon, son of Jonah, also called Rocky, (easily swayed pebble that you are) [Petros], for the confession you have made is the bedrock, [Petra] upon which I will build my church.

3. Yeshua Himself Is The Rock (According to the Scriptures)

1 Corinthians 3:11 – “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Yeshua Ha’Mashiach.”

Another common position taken by many is that Yeshua himself is the rock, and this has warrant and can be easily supported. There are several scriptures that call Yeshua the spiritual petra, the petra that is Yeshua and a petra of offense:

— 1 Corinthians10:4 – “They drank of that spiritual rock that followed them: and that rock was Yeshua.”

— Romans 9:33 – “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense…”

— 1 Peter 2:6-8 – “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone… a rock of offense.”

Yeshua referred to himself as the stone [Lithos G3037] “upon which many would fall and be broken” (Matthew 21:44, Luke 20:18). Isaiah 28:16 calls Yeshua a stone [‘eben H68]: “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation.” Daniel 2:35 also calls Yeshua the stone [‘eben H68] “that smote the image, became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” However, lithos and ‘eben are not the same Greek or Hebrew words as Petra, although the metaphors are appropriate.

A Fourth Exposition

4. The Ground At Caesarea Is The Rock (According to Yeshua)

Matthew 16:18 – “On this rock I will build my church, and the Gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”

The Gates of Hades is the term describing the entrance to the underworld. According to Jewish tradition, the underworld is a gloomy desolate place situated in the center of the earth, the place where the dead reside. Ray Vanderlaan and Rob Skiba both believe, as do I, that this is the rock upon which Yeshua will build his church. Do you agree?

Caesarea Philippi, which stood at the base of Mount Hermon, was perhaps one of the most evil cities of the day. Historically it is the place where Jeroboam built the golden calf. By the time of Yeshua, it had become the religious center for worship of the Greek god, Pan, and was known to the Greeks as the city Panias. The cliff walls above the city, called by scripture the “high place,” had been carved out and dotted with many shrines and temples to Pan, and the cave entrance formed what many considered the gate to the underworld where Pan and the fertility gods lived during the winter. At that time, water flowed out of the cave to form one of the main tributaries to the Jordan River.

For Yeshua to bring his disciples into this arena must have been appalling to their minds. But a lesson was in play – when Yeshua asks them who people said he was, Peter must have been taking in the sights of dozens of statues of Pan, who was thought to be the “god of the shepherds, the son of the living god” and the altar to Pan that stood in front of the cave. Off to the right of this cave was the Fortress of Nimrod. Just to the left was the location called The Gates of Hades!

Peter, perhaps for the first time in history, gets it! He boldly declares, “You, Yeshua, are the Son of the Living God!” To which Yeshua replies, “I will build my church on this petra, and the Gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Yeshua’s church would be built on the petra of Caesarea Philippi, facing the gates of Hades! At that time, gates were the main defensive structure for a city. The gates were meant to keep attackers out. So, when Yeshua tells his disciples he is going to build his church right in front of the literal Gate of Hades, he is declaring that they are to attack evil, to build his church as an offensive agency against the moral and evil corruption of the world – to keep it penned in and on the defense.

Conclusions

Many prophecies have a dual or multiple fulfillment. Yeshua’s prophecy of the rocks is one of them.

— Peter is not that rock, but Yeshua is the rock indeed, the foundation upon which all else stands.

— Abraham is not that rock, though Yeshua is indeed his promised seed.

— The confession is not that rock, though the confession that Yeshua is the rock is made by many.

— The rock soil of Caesarea, in front of the Gates of Hades, is that foundation upon which Yeshua would build his church that would prevail against any attack that Satan could bring against it. Hades will not prevent the righteous dead from rising when Yeshua calls them to resurrect. What do you say?

The Challenge

Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all… for I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Today Yeshua asks you and I the same question he posed to the disciples, Are you willing to confront the evils and corruption of your time? If so, stop hiding in homes, stop hiding in fancy mansions that you call churches, stop hiding in plain sight. Stop being politically correct, stop cringing at truth. For crying out loud, STOP acting as if you are on the defense – it is hell and Hades that are on the defense – you and I are on the offense!

We are on the assault, on the offense, and hell’s gates will not stand before us. Not the other way around, as many suppose. Hell’s defenses are unable to withstand the power of Yeshua’s blood, Yeshua’s name, Yeshua’s word of testimony.

Website: https://raptureparty.net/

Email: jeff@raptureparty.net