And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,
taught.
Luke 21:37,38 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives…
Matthew 21:23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
Mark 11:27 And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,
the chief priests.
Matthew 26:3,4 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, …
Mark 11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
Mark 12:12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
but the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people
The chief priests were part of the religious elite, responsible for temple rituals and maintaining the sacrificial system. The scribes were experts in the Law of Moses, often serving as teachers and interpreters of the law. The leaders of the people likely included members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. These groups held significant religious and political power and were often resistant to Jesus' teachings, which challenged their authority and interpretations of the law. Their opposition to Jesus is a recurring theme in the Gospels, reflecting the tension between Jesus' message and the established religious order.
were intent on killing Him
This phrase reveals the growing hostility and conspiracy against Jesus by the religious authorities. Their intent to kill Him fulfills the prophetic scriptures, such as Isaiah 53, which speaks of the suffering servant. This opposition is rooted in their fear of losing power and control, as Jesus' teachings and miracles attracted large followings and questioned their authority. The plot to kill Jesus also aligns with the broader narrative of the Gospels, where Jesus' death is portrayed as a necessary part of God's redemptive plan for humanity. This intent to kill Him foreshadows the events leading to His crucifixion, which is central to Christian theology as the means of atonement for sin.
“Jesus was teaching…” (Luke 19:47a)
• From the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:21) to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 24:1-3), Jesus consistently placed God’s Word before the people (Matthew 4:23; John 18:19-20).
• He teaches as the promised Prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18; Acts 3:22), calling listeners not merely to information but to obedience (James 1:22).
• His authority eclipses that of every rabbi and scribe (Matthew 7:28-29), revealing the Father’s heart (John 14:9-10).
“…at the temple…” (Luke 19:47a)
• The temple was meant to be “a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7; Mark 11:17). After cleansing it (Luke 19:45-46), Jesus restores its purpose by teaching there.
• His arrival fulfills Malachi 3:1—“the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to His temple.”
• Standing among the sacrifices that foreshadowed Him, He proclaims Himself as their fulfillment (John 2:19-21; Hebrews 10:1).
“…every day…” (Luke 19:47a)
• The daily rhythm highlights His tireless compassion (Matthew 9:36) and resolve “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
• Repeated exposure gave ordinary people ample opportunity to hear and believe (Acts 2:46; 5:42).
• With the cross only days away, He redeems every remaining hour (John 13:1).
“…but the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people were trying to kill Him.” (Luke 19:47b)
• Those entrusted with spiritual leadership (Micah 5:2-5) harden their hearts, fulfilling Psalm 2:2 and Isaiah 53:3-7.
• Their hostility intensified after the temple cleansing and Jesus’ public acclaim (John 11:48; Mark 11:18).
• Their plot, though wicked, fits within God’s sovereign design for redemption (Acts 2:23; Romans 5:8).
• The contrast is stark: the Light teaches; darkness schemes—yet the Light will prevail (John 1:5).
Luke 19:47 sets a dramatic stage: the Savior patiently proclaims truth in the very courts of God, day after day, while religious leaders plot His death. Faithful ministry and fierce opposition run side by side, yet the verse assures us that God’s purpose cannot be thwarted. What His enemies mean for evil, He will use to bring salvation through the cross.
(47) And he taught daily in the temple.--Literally, He was teaching.The chief of the people.--Literally, the first of the people. The word is the same as in Mark 6:21, for "the chief estates" of Galilee. Here, apparently, it denotes those who, whether members of the Sanhedrin or not, were men of mark--notables, as it were--among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. As to the purpose ascribed to them, see Note on Mark 11:18.
Verse 47. - And he taught daily in the temple. This and the following verses give, after the manner of St. Luke, both in his Gospel and in the Acts, a general picture of the Lord's life in these last days of his public ministry in Jerusalem; anal of the effect of his last teaching (l) upon the priests and scribes, etc., and(2) upon the mass of the people. The Greek word rendered "very attentive to hear (him)" is an expressive one, and describes the intense attention with which the people generally listened to the last solemn public utterances of the Master. It means literally, "they hung upon his lips."