Flipping Tables
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The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.
Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
The fig tree is symbolic of the Temple and Judaism
The Jewish faith was always meant to blossom to include Gentiles
And the Christian faith will one day encompass the Jews
This is an introduction to the Jews abandonment of true faith
This is an introduction to the Jews abandonment of true faith
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,
and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.
And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Like the fig tree, the Temple did not have the fruit He craved
It should have been ready to receive the Messiah
Instead, it was full of corruption
This took place in the court of Gentiles
This took place in the court of Gentiles
The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
They feared Jesus for the reason they should have embraced Him
He was the pathway for the world to receive God
When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.
The tree is lifeless and destroyed
Much like Jerusalem in 70 AD
We see the fate of Israel
Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.
The Disciples may have feared because of the fig tree
They may have also made the connection of the fig tree and the Temple
Jesus shares the source of access to God
“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
The power of God is not anchored in a geographical location
Instead it is found in the faith of His people
But His people are meant to be fruit filled in season and out of season
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
In context of God’s people doing God’s will with God’s word
Worship should be centered on God’s grace
You are the temple of God
Jesus still flips tables
Are you offended by Jesus or your sin
The Church is the temple of God
Jesus still flips tables
Is your worship focused on God’s grace or your benefit
