The Life of Jesus (24)
A study of the week
that changed history
In our last lesson
• 1 Cor. 11:1, 1 John 2:6
we need to imitate Him
• Matt. 21:1-11 – His
triumphal entry into
Jerusalem
The Life of Jesus
Cleansing the
Temple
Cleansing the temple
• Matt. 21:12-13
• Jesus goes to the temple and
observes the selling of
animals and merchandizing.
• He proceeds to overturn the
money tables and drives out
the animals
Cleansing the temple
• Matt. 21:12-13, He says, “It
is written, ‘My house shall be
called a house of prayer’ but
you have made it a ‘den of
thieves’”
cf. Isaiah 56:7, Jer. 7:11
• This was 2nd time He did this –
John 2:13-22
Cleansing the temple
• Why didn’t they stop Him?
• What they were doing was wrong!
Neh. 13:15-22
Again,
all this
Jesuscf.
• Jesus
had in
a devout
following,
Matt. 21:14-17
is in control!
• Did they know, deep down, He
was right?
• Mark 11:18 – they sought to
destroy Him
Cleansing the temple
• A passion to honor God!
• Under Old Law, provisions
were to be made Deut.
14:24-26
• They had turned such into a
business that overshadowed
the purpose
Cleansing the temple
• Do we see such today?
• Some exploit the gospel for
God
is
insulted,
profit (i.e. Joel Osteen)
blasphemed
by
such
• Some manipulate scripture for
conduct!
personal gain – e.g. Gal. 6:10,
Titus 1:11, 1 Tim. 6:5
Consider Gal. 5:13
The Life of Jesus
Cursing the fig tree
Cursing the fig tree
• Matt. 21:18-22,
Mark 11:12-14, 20-24
• The next morning, Jesus
returns to the city. He is
hungry and sees a fig tree
with leaves.
Cursing the fig tree
• Matt. 21:18-22
• Fig trees in that region
produced fruit and THEN
leaves. (Mark tells us it was not
the season for figs).
Possible that this tree had
bloomed “out of season” If so, it
was pretentious but useless.
Cursing the fig tree
• Matt. 21:18-22,
Mark 11:12-14, 20-24
• Jesus curses the tree
(The only miracle of Jesus that
was a curse)
• Immediately the tree begins to
wither. Next day totally dead.
Cursing the fig tree
• Matt. 21:18-22,
Mark 11:12-14, 20-24
• When asked about it, Jesus
teaches them the need for
faith.
Cursing the fig tree
• What is the significance of this
event?
• IMPLIED: The tree
representative of Israel. They
falsely portrayed that they were
“healthy”, but they would be
cursed and wither away.
Cursing the fig tree
Representative of Israel?
• Such is what happened – the
Law was passing away - cf. 2
Cor. 3:11, 13, Rom. 9:3033 (Isa. 28:16)
• This message was emphasized
during this time –
Cf. Matt. 21:42-44
Cursing the fig tree
Representative of Israel?
• The parable of the barren fig
tree – Luke 13:6-8
This WAS taught as Jesus
was dealing with rejection
and repentance
Cursing the fig tree
• What is the significance of
this event?
• Stated: Jesus emphasized
the power of faith to His
disciples
Cursing the fig tree
The power of faith
• Jesus indirectly answered
their question – with faith
they would be able to do
great works through prayer
(Matt. 21:21-22)
Cursing the fig tree
The power of faith
• His disciples needed
reassurance
• Lesson: While our faith will not
perform miracles, we need
strong faith
Heb. 11:6, Jas 1:5-8,
2 Pet. 1:5
Cursing the fig tree
The power of faith
• Jesus ties their faith to prayer
(vs. 22)
• Do we appreciate the power
of prayer? 1 Thess. 5:17.
According to His will – 1 Jn.
5:14-15
Cursing the fig tree
Why did He curse the fig tree?
• Some are critical of what Jesus
did here (e.g. cruel, unjust,
inconsistent with His nature)
• Jesus used an object to teach a
lesson! He could have justly
struck the Sanhedrin, but
instead used an object!
Cursing the fig tree
Why did He curse the fig tree?
• Remember: Man subdues
the earth – Gen. 1:28-30,
9:2-4, Psa. 8:4-6
• Sometimes demonstration
makes the greatest impact!
The Life of Jesus
Does the life He lived
influence the life
YOU life?