The Rejection

The Rejection Matthew 21:18-27

The Tree - 18-22, The Boss - 23-27

BWI - Turn with me to Deuteronomy 7. Yahweh loved Israel so, Deuteronomy 7:7–8  “ The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

Yet God is going reject Israel, again. The same one who walked through the water with them, the one who dwelt in their midst in the wilderness, now stands in their midst before them.

Deuteronomy 7:9–11  “ “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; 10 and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. 11 Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them.”

The high priest, the Sanhedrin, the leaders of Israel, reject Jesus outright. The one who delivered them from Egypt. Now they are going to crucify Him. And the Holy One who spoke to them in the desert, will reject them and forgive them from the cross.

The Tree 18-22

Matthew 21:18–19 

18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 

19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

TT Mark 11 - Now Jesus speaks to a tree. Not so the tree hears Him, but so that the disciples would hear it, but not in some grand dramatic way, but enough so they know whats what.

Mark 11:12–14  “ Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.”

Now in v20 we see it says (hold place) Mark 11:20–21  “ Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.””

Matthew 21:20–22 

20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”  (in Mark some disciples didn’t notice till after the temple. Which is prob this recollection)

21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 

22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.

Mark 11:22–24  “ So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Why is the fig tree is Israel? Deuteronomy 8:7–8  “ For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;” in Hosea 9:10  “ “I found Israel Like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers As the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal Peor, And separated themselves to that shame; They became an abomination like the thing they loved.” Nathaneel sat under the fig tree when Jesus “saw” him. (John 1:48)

This rejection is not a political one, its an eschatological, soteriological and ecclesiastical one. Its about end times, salvation and how we will fellowship with God and one another

With all of this, we see the first response isn't, this is the rejection of Israel! Israel, who at just the right time has her Messiah revealed to her, and rejects him John 1:11  “ He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” Isaiah 53:3  “ He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” its plain that God knew it, and like Deuteronomy tells us, with disobedience, rejecting Christ for who He is, there are consequences.

Notice, this isn't casting Israel away. Romans 11:1a  “ I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! …” Romans 11:25–32  “ For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” 28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.”

Granted there are some. Like Nicodemus, they say He is from God. But the sanhedrin (leaders of Israel) as a whole, tells us that Jesus has to die. True faith produces fruit. And on closer inspection Israel has little to no fruit.

Jesus’ response is Faith. It is not fruit that produces faith, its not works done to appear fruitful. Its not even your faith that saves you. It brings you to God, who is our salvation.

This isn't about confessing or focusing your telepathic faith powers to physically move mountains. Its about trusting Christ with everything and see every obstacle to what He calls you to accomplish be moved by Him. But you’ll never see it in your life without faith.

Now, Jesus enters the same temple that he cleansed and finds that the management, is not very happy.

The Boss 23-27

Matthew 21:23 

23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”

So immediately after rejecting the “tree” the Chief Priest and the elders of the people confront Him, not as messiah, but as enemies.

Matthew 21:24–27 

24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 

This isn’t just a philosophical or psychological game that Jesus is playing on them, He is challenging them.

To what? To look to the scriptures, to look to His testimony, the miracles the 3 witnesses.

25 The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 

26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” 

27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Their logic is right, but the answer is cowardly. They have declared in private, Jesus needs to die. In public they challenge, seek to undermine, and destroy the lives of any that choose to believe. They want to destroy him. But they “fear” the crowds they seek to control.

In: Matt. 14:5; 21:46; Luke 20:6 they fear the mob. But its not just that. Its another tool they use to give themselves an out, for why they wont just do it. But its also that they are basing their judgement on their own traditions and religiosity, than the Word of God.

Jesus has fulfilled scripture after scripture. He has healed the impossible, stilled the impossible storm, etc. And they should be living not in fear of men, but fear of God. Proverbs 29:25  “ The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” Deuteronomy 10:17  “ For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.” Isaiah 51:7  “ “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, You people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, Nor be afraid of their insults.” and finally Isaiah 8:13  “ The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread.” Fear the one who after killing you can send you to hell. (Luke 12:5)

And he, is standing before them.

Lets close , and look at the solemn moment here. Jesus has just rejected Israel after being rejected by them over and over again. He challenges their legalism and traditions and they have placed their own authority to be equal with Gods.

See in their own minds and traditions, Jesus is a blasphemer. He makes Himself equal with God. He rejects vaunted tradition which to them is also blasphemy. And this wanted blaspheming criminal, is standing before them. Challenging them and he has done so and will continue to do so. Until the cross. Then the victory is His, and ours.