TRUE RELIGION COMPARED WITH FALSE RELIGION

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Matthew 21:12-22

Lesson #51
TRUE RELIGION COMPARED WITH FALSE RELIGION

• Memory verse: Matthew 21:22
• Remember this is the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry before the crucifixion.
• Everything Jesus does during this week is a fulfillment of prophecy.
• We can see God’s perfect timing in every detail.
  • In Dan 9:25, Daniel gave a prophecy that the Messiah would come 483 years after Artaxerxes gave the command to rebuild Jerusalem.
  • Jesus fulfilled that prophecy to the exact day during the triumphal entry.
• The sacrificial Passover lamb entered Jerusalem and was tied to the altar in the temple for four days.
  • During those four days, the priests would examine the lamb for any defect or fault.
  • Like the Passover lamb of God, Jesus entered Jerusalem. Even though Jesus lodges in Bethany during this week, He spends the first four days in the temple. We will see the scribes and Pharisees examine him and question him for any fault.
• Read Mat 21:12-14 The cleansing of the temple
  • The temple area was divided into buildings and courtyards. There was a court of the Gentiles where any person, Jew or Gentile, could go. There was the court of the women where any Jew could go. There was the court of the Israelites where the people assembled for temple services. There was the court of the priests where only the priests could go. One building contained the holy place and the holy of holies just like the Old Testament tabernacle in the wilderness. Only the priests could go into the holy place, and only the high priest could go into the holy of holies once a year.
  • The scene in Mat 21:12-14 takes place in the court of the Gentiles where anyone could go.
  • Two kinds of trading occurred here:
    • Money changing:
      • Every Jew had to pay a temple tax. That tax was paid near the time of Passover. Many people paid it when they came to the temple for Passover.
      • The tax had to be paid in a certain currency. The money changers changed foreign money into the correct currency. Money changers charged a fee for this service. The fee became exorbitant.
    • Selling animals:
      • If you travelled from a great distance, you would not bring your animals for sacrifice with you. Instead you would buy them in Jerusalem. The prices charged for these animals were higher within the temple grounds than in other parts of the city.
      • For example, a pair of doves could cost as little as 4p outside the temple and as much as 75p inside the temple.
      • When animals were sold to the people, they were not always perfect animals without defect.
      • When animals were sold, the priests would not sacrifice them. They would return the animals to be sold again and again.
      • A census of animals used at a Passover week was more than 250,000 animals.
  • What do we learn about Jesus?
    • Jesus was upset by the corruption and greed of the priests in both the changing of money and the selling of animals.
    • He did not like to see the people being cheated.
      • We see his righteous anger:
        • Toward those who exploited the people in the name of religion. Jer 7:11 tells us that this was not a new practice in the New Testament.
        • Toward those who corrupted worship making prayer and the forgiveness of sin impossible. Isa 56:7 tells us that this was not a new practice in the New Testament.
        • Jesus did not throw everyone out of the temple. The sick and the poor people remained. He then ministered to their needs.
      • Why did Jesus throw over the tables of the money changers and let the doves free?
        • Even Jesus knew that the same corrupt practices would continue the next day just as they had for hundreds of years.
        • Jesus was making a definite point for everyone to see. The King has authority over the religious system.
• Read Mat 21:15-17
  • The children shouting in the temple:
  • Two explanations:
    • =1= These were small children that fulfill a prophecy given in Psa 8:2.
      • It is unlikely there were crowds of children in the temple, and if there were, they would not be shouting.
      • Luk 19:39-40 indicates the disciples were shouting. The followers of a teacher were often called “little children”.
    • =2= “Hosanna to the son of David!”: This is a continuation of the praise given at the triumphal entry.
      • Read Mat 21:18-22 and Mar 11:12-14, 20-21 The withered fig tree
      • The incident of the fig tree is very unusual (this is the only destructive miracle Jesus did.) This miracle has caused many problems of interpretation. Notice the act was done publicly while the explanation of it was given to the disciples.
      • One problem occurs because Jesus seems to use his miraculous powers for his own personal benefit.
      • Another problem is because of the different accounts in the 3 gospels.
    • The Matthew account: The fig tree withers immediately.
    • The Mark account: The fig tree withers gradually and is not evident until the next morning.
    • Mark’s gospel is the earliest account and closer in time to the actual event.
    • The Luke account:
      • Read Luk 13:6-9
      • Luke’s gospel does not have this story of the cursed fig tree but he has a parable of the fig tree.
  • Matthew and Mark do not have this parable.
    • Background:
      • The fig tree in Old Testament symbolism:
        • It is a picture of fertility, peace, and prosperity in the Promised Land that God either blesses or destroys.
        • (1Kin 4:25 Mic 4:4 Zec 3:10 Psa 105:33 Jer 8:13 Hos 2:12.)
      • The shade of the tree was often a man’s private place for meditation, prayer, and scripture reading. (Joh 1:48)
      • To understand the story, we must know the growing and fruit-bearing habits of fig trees.
        • The fig tree grows from 15-20 feet tall. Its branches spread 25-30 feet.
        • It was valued for its shade as well as its fruit and oil.
        • The fig tree bears 2 crops a year.

The first crop bears on the old wood. Early in the year little green knobs appear at the end of the branches. They become the figs. These fruit buds come in April but they are uneatable. Gradually the leaves and flowers open so that the tree is in full fruit, full leaf, and full flower all at the same time. This happens in June.

No fig tree ever bore fruit in April. This process is then repeated with the new wood with the second crop coming in September.

• • • The strange fig tree that Jesus cursed:
      • Notice that the fig tree is in full leaf in the middle of April. (Passover was 15th Nisan = the middle of April).
      • Notice that Jesus looked for figs on a tree that never had figs in April. (Mar 11:13)
      • Jesus cursed a fig tree that did not do an impossible thing.
    • Jesus’ dramatic lesson:
      • Prophets often made use of symbolic actions to call attention to an important truth. Jesus uses this off-season tree to teach two truths:
      • Truth #1 about the nation of Israel:
        • Uselessness invites disaster:
        • This tree was useless because it produced no fruit, only leaves.

The religious system of the Jews was useless.

It looked like a Godly organization but there was no spiritual fruit.

They were supposed to welcome the Messiah into the world, but they failed.

Failure to fulfill God’s purpose brings judgment.

Profession without practice is condemned by God.

The tree had leaves. If a fig tree had leaves, it was a claim that there was fruit there as well. Its claim was false.

The religious system of the Jews claimed to have faith in God, but they only wanted to kill Jesus.

God judges false claims.

Fruitlessness brings a curse from God.

Later in Mat 23:13-36 we will see Jesus pronounce curses on the scribes and Pharisees for having leaves but no fruit.

• • • • Truth #2 about true faith and prayer
        • Uselessness invites disaster.
        • God desires Christians that produce fruit for His kingdom.
        • Profession without practice is condemned by God.

Our outward profession of faith must be accompanied by the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Gal 5:22-23).

Fruitfulness comes from an inner faith.

• • • • • Fruitfulness brings power in answered prayer.

What kind of power?

Power to do mighty things for God.

Power to accept God’s will in your life.

Power to bear the unbearable, to pass breaking point and not break.

Homework

Matthew 21:23-46

• Application of Mat 21:12-22
  • Examine your tree (your Christian walk) for fruit.
  • What fruit (Gal 5:22-23) do you find developing that was not there five years ago?
• Preparation for Mat 21:23-46
  • Read Mat 21:23-27 Jesus’ authority
    • Why did Jesus not answer the chief priests and elders?
  • Read Mat 21:28-32 The parable of 2 sons and the vineyard
    • Who does the first son represent?
    • Who does the second son represent?
    • What does the vineyard represent?
    • What is the central truth of the parable?
  • Read Mat 21:33-46 The parable of the householder and the heir
    • Who does the householder represent? (Isa 5:2)
    • What does the winepress represent? (Rev 19:11-16)
    • What does the tower represent? (Isa 5:2)
    • Who do the servants represent?
    • Who is the son?
    • Who are the “other farmers” (vs. 41)? (Rom 11)
    • What does the fruit represent?
    • Read Psa 118:22-23 about the stone.
    • What is the central truth of the parable?
• Memory verse: Matthew 12:50