Main Argument: As promised, the LORD came in Christ to bring people from all nations into His presence among a new
who have
God, pray
, and forgive
them.
THE FRUITLESS FIG TREE (v12-14, 20-21)
Mark 11:12–14
12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
By bracketing the fig tree
around the temple
, Jesus is likening the beautiful looking
to the fig tree that is full of foliage but void of
.
Mark 11:20–21
20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
IN THE FRUITLESS TEMPLE (v15-16)
Mark 11:15–16
15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; 16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
Jesus’s purpose is not to
the temple; it is to
it.
THE TEMPLE RULERS (v17-19)
Mark 11:17–19
17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. 19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.
See: Isaiah 56; Jeremiah 7
Blatant failures of the temple rulers:
1. They failed to justly
2. They
They lived against the very commandments they professed to teach and uphold.
Notice how in Jesus’s day they:
• Stole (Mk 7:10-12; 12:1-12)
• Plotted to murder the innocent (Mk 3:6; 11:18)
• Committed adultery (Mk 10:2-12)
• Lied about their love for God (Mk 7:6-9)
• Were blind idolaters (Mk 3:29; 4:12; 7:6-7)
• Oppressed the widow (Mk 12:41-44)
• Misused and bound the Sabbath (Mk 3:1-6)
• Dishonored their mother and father (Mk7:10)
See: Mark 14:58; Ephesians 2:19-22
THE NEW
(v21-26)
Mark 11:21–23 KJV
21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.Mark 11:24–26 KJV
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Have
in God.
Q: How might you justify things you know God condemns? What does that say about your faith?
Pray in faith .
Q: Do you see corporate prayer as something only leaders in the church do? Do you have the faith to pray with other Christians?
Be ready
as God.
Q: What does forgiveness have to do with representing God to others? How do we forgive as God?
The people of God indwelt by the
CONCLUSION
See: Malachi 3:1
Mark 11:17
17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.