136. Fig tree with no
fruit is cursed- Matt. 21:18-22, Mark 11:12-14; 19-24
-The fig tree, which is cursed, represents the unbelieving
Israel that rejected her King. Even though they had an appearance of life and
the potential to bear fruit, they had not produced the faith that was required
to grow the Kingdom of God. Therefore, they would dry up and become
unproductive in the economy of God during this time period by Jesus’ prophetic
act. Mark’s gospel gives us a clearer picture of the time line of the cursing
compared to the drying up of the fig tree. The act occurs, then Jesus goes into
Jerusalem and drives out those who were buying and selling in the Temple
overturning tables of the money changers (Mark 11:15). The “and at once the fig
tree withered” that Matthew gives us in the text is relative (Matthew 21:19b).
It was considered immediate because it was full of life in the time of Jesus’
hunger as they journeyed towards Jerusalem, but by the next morning, it was
dried up (Mark 11:20).
-The disciples, led by the voice of Peter, were amazed at
the miracle of the dried fig tree, and Jesus took the opportunity to once again
teach them about faith and its power. His conclusion is that “all things for
which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be
granted you (Mark 11:24, Matthew 21:22).” *Application* What Jesus is talking
about here is mountain moving faith that gets the response of Heaven. Notice
that there is absolutely no room for doubting here. The man who doubts is like
a ship tossed on the ocean and is double minded and unstable in all his ways
(James 1:5-8). The lack of faith cost the children of Israel their righteous
King for the time being. Don’t let unbelief rob you of all that God in store
for you. You will bear much fruit if you abide in Him, which only comes through
trusting Him (John 15:1-8, especially verse 7).
Verse to Memorize-
Mark 11:24
137. Second cleansing
of the Temple- Matt. 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18, Luke 19:45-48
-Jesus is fed up with the abuse of the House of God. The
money changers were profiting from the exchange rate and had impure hearts
towards the worship of the Living God. Jesus sets the record straight by
declaring His House as a House of Prayer for all the nations and that they had
made it a den of robbers (Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 7:11). He overturned their
tables in righteous indignation creating a powerful scene of the Lord’s fury
over this matter. This drew the irritation of the religious leaders and they
sought to destroy Him, but the people were hanging on every word that proceeded
from His mouth and were astonished. His time was near, but it had not fully
come and the chief priests and scribes were unable to find anything that they
might do (Luke 19:48). Jesus was passing the test of perfection. *Application*
This incident should be a warning to us in how we approach coming into the
house of God at church. God’s house is to be a place where we gather in
reverence and fear of His majesty with awe struck wonder and appreciation. It is
a holy place of communication with Him on the vertical level and communication
with other believers and guests on the horizontal level. It truly should be a
place of prayer for all the nations to come and experience the glory and the
power of the Almighty. Don’t minimize the importance of proper heart attitude
every time you approach the house of God. Careless worship, as we see here,
infuriates our Lord for good reason.
Verse to Memorize-
Mark 11:17
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