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Intro
· He has entered the city of the King
· All the events of the week point to the cross and empty tomb
· He now pronounces judgment as the King
· Hypocrisy is the issue
· False worship ins the issue
Cleansing the Temple – vv. 12-17
Why was Jesus so upset?
· Activity rather than worship
· Man focused worship rather than God focused worship
The temple should have been a place for true worship to take place, but it had turned into a religious business endeavor.
· Pilgrims coming for the Passover celebration
· Purchasing animals for sacrifices
The gentile court was for the gentiles to come and have access to the Temple. The idea was so that they could come and learn about the ONE TRUE GOD
· House of Prayer…Den of thieves. v. 13
· The nation of Israel should have cherished and protected this area.
· YET IT WAS A CONVENIENT AREA FOR BUSINESS
· What was designed for worship of God was now a worship of man.
What are some dangers that we have today? Have we lost focus on our worship? Are we here for God or for man?
· Listen to our excuses about why people do not faithfully attend church…. Your will hear the heart!
The level of hypocrisy is astonishing. v. 14
· The temple is cleared
· Jesus begins to minister and heal
· REMEMBER… JESUS IS PROPHET, PRIEST, AND KING.
· Yet, the religious leaders are furious over what He is doing and has done in God’s House.
· THE IRONY of this picture.
Cursing the Fig Tree – vv. 18-22
The tree was fruitless
· He could have just caused the tree to produce fruit
· Instead, He judged
· This was a divine object lesson (John MacArthur)
Israel was fruitless
· Israel had all the rights and privileges to bear fruit
· Yet, the temple was a clear picture of their fruitlessness
· The tree represents Israel. The lack of fruit is their disobedience.
A lesson on faith and prayer - vv. 20-22
· Faith =Trust
o Hear, believe, embrace, do.
o Head, Heart, Hands
· Prayer
o The temple was supposed to be a house of prayer
o Prayer is the bedrock of our understanding of true faith.
o The intimate relationship that one has with God.
o To be a people of prayer is to be a people that truly know God.
· Israel did not live by true FAITH AND PRAYER and were judged.
· Jesus is teaching on the fruitfulness of true faithfulness
o This is not a “name it and claim it” teaching.
AS HE CONTINUES HIS JOURNEY TO THE CROSS… THE TRUE KING IS PUTTING THINGS IN ORDER.