And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.
I refer the Reader for my observations on those verses to the similar passage, Matthew 21:12-14
REFLECTIONS
BLESSED LORD JESUS! do I behold thee, mine honored Lord, entering and passing through Jericho, the cursed city? Yes! I do. And is it, my soul, to be wondered at, when I know that that Holy Lord, who knew no sin, was yet content to be made both sin and a curse, that his redeemed might be made the righteousness of God in Him? And was there a poor Zacchaeus near Jericho, one of Christ's, a son of Abraham, that Jesus went purposely to seek? And will not Jesus still seek his own, wherever they are scattered, in the present cloudy and dark day? Oh! yes! Jesus will call them down from every lofty imagination, or raise them up from every fallen state; for the Son of Man is come to seek and save that which was lost.
Almighty King! thou art indeed a nobleman gone to receive to thyself a kingdom, and to return. Lord! give me grace to occupy till thou shalt come. The truest occupation, my honored Lord, is to live on thee, and to be everlastingly receiving of thy fulness, and grace for grace. And when my Lord shall come, shall I not, as those babes of Israel, hail thee with Hosannas; yea, with shouts and acclamations of praise? Blessed, forever blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
And, oh! thou tender compassionate Lord! May my soul often call to remembrance thy tears over Jerusalem. Jesus wept! Oh! the largeness of mercies in the heart of the God-Man Christ Jesus! What shall ever keep my soul from going to Him who knoweth my frame by his own; and whose mercies are the mercies of both God and man in one. Oh! the privilege of a throne of grace! Oh! the blessedness of such an High Priest!