(1) Overview:
(NET) The incident of the cursing of the fig tree occurs before he enters the temple for a third time (11:27ff) and is questioned at length by the religious leaders (11:27–12:40). It appears that Mark records the incident as a portent of what is going to happen to the leadership in Jerusalem who were supposed to have borne spiritual fruit but have been found by Messiah at his coming to be barren. The fact that the nation as a whole is indicted is made explicit in chapter 13:1–37 where Jesus speaks of Jerusalem’s destruction and his second coming.
(2) The 2nd time Jesus went to the temple
11:17 Then he began to teach them and said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have turned it into a den of robbers!”
(NET) A quotation from Jer 7:11. The meaning of Jesus’ statement about making the temple courts a den of robbers probably operates here at two levels. Not only were the religious leaders robbing the people financially, but because of this they had also robbed them spiritually by stealing from them the opportunity to come to know God genuinely. It is possible that these merchants had recently been moved to this location for convenience.
The religious leaders allowed the merchants to sell doves/cattle/sheep to the worshippers so that they did not need to bring their animals from homes as sacrifices. However, it is the temple courts, a place of prayer, not for commercial activities.
11:18 The chief priests and the experts in the law heard it and they considered how they could assassinate him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed by his teaching.
There was a difference between the leaders and the people towards Jesus. At the end, Jesus was killed because of the leaders. In other words, leaders could mislead, deceive people, and they pushed behind people and made them shout, "Crucified Him! Crucified Him!" When Jewish leaders rejected Jesus God's kingdom did not come at their time.
There was a difference between the leaders and the people towards Jesus. At the end, Jesus was killed because of the leaders. In other words, leaders could mislead, deceive people, and they pushed behind people and made them shout, "Crucified Him! Crucified Him!" When Jewish leaders rejected Jesus God's kingdom did not come at their time.
(3) Reflection: As a leader we just need to realize how important our job is. You may be the leader of your family, your work group, small group in the church, or you are the teachers. We are accountable before God. When I sent out the email last week I made a mistake on the schedule and people did not show up last night probably because of that. Even when I was told about the mistake I did not resent the schedule again to correct that. I asked God for His forgiveness, but the meeting was over. May we all consider our leadership to be something important and we will handle it carefully.
Audrey
Green Olive Sharing 9/13
v.12-26
v.12-14
At this time of year, edible figs were still about six weeks away, but the bland fruit had recently appeared on the tree in late March; they would become ripe by late May. These were the early figs that preceded the main crop of late figs, which were ripe for harvest from mid-August into October. If only leaves appeared, without the early figs, that tree would bear no figs that year—early or late. Because everyone would know that it was “not yet the season for [real] figs,” Jesus is making a point about trees that only pretend to have good fruit (cf. Jer 24)
v.14b And his disciples heard it
v.15-19
v.15b-17 He turned over the tables... and the chairs of...he would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts
My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have turned it into a den of robbers!
A quotation from Jer 7:11. The meaning of Jesus’ statement about making the temple courts a den of robbers probably operates here at two levels. Not only were the religious leaders robbing the people financially, but because of this they had also robbed them spiritually by stealing from them the opportunity to come to know God genuinely.
v.18 The chief priests and the experts in the law heard it and they considered how they could assassinate him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed by his teaching
v.20-25
a-b-a structure.
Why? What does the fig tree refer to?
The leafy fig tree, with all its promise of fruit, is as deceptive as the Jewish leaders, which, despite their religious commerce and activity, is really an outlaws’ hideout (v. 17). The curse of the fig tree is a symbol of God’s judgment
those who turned the temple into a den of robbers. The Jewish leaders (and Israel whom they represented)
R.W.: withered x2, faith in God, believes, pray/ask/believe
The object is God. Not whether your faith is strong or not. The context is the overturn of the Jewish leaders and Israel. It will be done by God.
Father in heaven is the center of the prayer v.25. Make sure you have the right relationship with Him when praying.
At this time, There was a difference between the leaders and the people towards Jesus. At the end, Jesus was killed because of the leaders. In other words, leaders could mislead, deceive people, and they pushed behind people and made them shout, "Crucified Him! Crucified Him!" When Jewish leaders rejected Jesus God's kingdom did not come at their time.
As a leader we just need to realize how important our job is. You may be the leader of your family, your work group, small group in the church, or you are the teachers. We are accountable before God.
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