The Life of Jesus (24)

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The Life of Jesus (24)

• A study of the week that changed history

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In our last lesson

• 1 Cor. 111, 1 John 26we need to imitate Him
• Matt. 211-11 His triumphal entry into Jerusalem

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The Life of Jesus

• Cleansing the Temple

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Cleansing the temple

• Matt. 2112-13
• 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

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Cleansing the temple

• Matt. 2112-13, He says, It is written, My
  house shall be called a house of prayer but you
  have made it a den of thievescf. Isaiah 567,
  Jer. 711
• This was 2nd time He did this John 213-22

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Cleansing the temple

• Why didnt they stop Him?
• What they were doing was wrong! Neh. 1315-22
• Jesus had a devout following, cf. Matt. 2114-17
• Did they know, deep down, He was right?
• Mark 1118 they sought to destroy Him

Again, in all this Jesus is in control!
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Cleansing the temple

• A passion to honor God!
• Under Old Law, provisions were to be made Deut.
  1424-26
• They had turned such into a business that
  overshadowed the purpose

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Cleansing the temple

• Do we see such today?
• Some exploit the gospel for profit (i.e. Joel
  Osteen)
• Some manipulate scripture for personal gain
  e.g. Gal. 610, Titus 111, 1 Tim. 65Consider
  Gal. 513

God is insulted, blasphemed by such conduct!
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The Life of Jesus

• Cursing the fig tree

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Cursing the fig tree

• Matt. 2118-22, Mark 1112-14, 20-24
• The next morning, Jesus returns to the city. He
  is hungry and sees a fig tree with leaves.

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Cursing the fig tree

• Matt. 2118-22
• 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.

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Cursing the fig tree

• Matt. 2118-22, Mark 1112-14, 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.

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Cursing the fig tree

• Matt. 2118-22, Mark 1112-14, 20-24
• When asked about it, Jesus teaches them the need
  for faith.

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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.

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Cursing the fig tree

• Representative of Israel?
• Such is what happened the Law was passing away
  - cf. 2 Cor. 311, 13, Rom. 930-33 (Isa. 2816)
• This message was emphasized during this time
  Cf. Matt. 2142-44

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Cursing the fig tree

• Representative of Israel?
• The parable of the barren fig tree Luke
  136-8This WAS taught as Jesus was dealing with
  rejection and repentance

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Cursing the fig tree

• What is the significance of this event?
• Stated Jesus emphasized the power of faith to
  His disciples

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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. 2121-22)

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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. 116, Jas
  15-8, 2 Pet. 15

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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.
  517. According to His will 1 Jn. 514-15

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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!

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Cursing the fig tree

• Why did He curse the fig tree?
• Remember Man subdues the earth Gen. 128-30,
  92-4, Psa. 84-6
• Sometimes demonstration makes the greatest impact!

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The Life of Jesus

• Does the life He lived influence the life YOU
  life?