Luke 21:37-38 37And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night after leavine, he spent the niht on the mount called Olivet. 38And all the people were getting up early in the morning to listen to him in the temple.
Luke ends his account of this long teaching section with a note about Jesus’ pattern for the week of Passover. These verses also provide a conclusion to the events that began with 19:28. Three background insights are given in these verses that also prepare for the upcoming stories. The notes follow an ABA pattern, with an emphasis on Jesus’ teaching.
The first is the note of Jesus teaching. The grammatical construction of this note is an imperfect periphrastic, which emphasizes the continual nature of this activity. The Passover was one of the primary Jewish holidays, and so many pilgrims from all over the Mediterranean region had come to Jerusalem. Jesus’ popularity threatened the authority and control of the Sanhedrin, chief priests, and elders who refused to listen and believe. Luke recorded the opposition of the religious leaders to Jesus in 19:47 and 20:1. This opposition will reach the breaking point in the next chapter.
The second background note is that Jesus and his disciples camped on the Mount of Olives. The temple was right across from the Mount of Olives and an easy walk. The Mount was famous as a burial place and where pilgrims could camp out. The mention of this location prepares for Jesus’ prayer and arrest in the next chapter.
The third brief note is how popular Jesus had become with the people. All throughout Luke’s account, Jesus is described as a teacher. People came to him for what and how he taught. His words were full of authority and truth. Truth is attractive. For those who seek it, finding it is refreshing. For those who oppose it, it causes discomfort leading to rejection. The rejection Jesus was experiencing would reach a boiling point in the next chapter.
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