Directions: Tailor this guide to fit your personal or family devotions. The goal is not to get through all of the passages and questions!  The goal is to spend time in God’s Word and in worshiping Him.  Choose from the passages and questions below.  Add your own questions.  Have fun!!  If you are leading others, you will want to read through the worship guide in advance to prepare. 

Monday:  Jesus Curses the Fig Tree and Cleanses the Temple.

A. Read Scripture:  Read one or more of the following passages and discuss the questions below

Possible Passages: Matthew 21:12-22; Mark 11:12-26; Luke 19:45-48

Discussion Questions:

1. Why does Jesus curse the fig tree? 

As Jesus entered the city, he was hungry and checked a fig tree in leaf to see if it had any figs on it.  Finding none he cursed it.  Why?  Mark often sandwiches a story within a story and the two help interpret one another.  In Mark’s Gospel, the cleansing of the temple is sandwiched between the cursing of the fig tree. This gives a clue to its meaning. The fig tree often represents Israel in the OT (Jer 8:13; Hos 9:10; Joel 1:7; Nah 3:12).  This is an enacted parable (cf. Luke 13:6-9). The fig tree is a metaphor for Israel’s barrenness.  It has the appearance of life but no fruit.  Cursing the fig tree symbolized God’s judgment on the hypocrisy of the nation which had the outward appearance of life but failed to bear fruit.  This judgment becomes clear in the cleansing of the temple. 

2. What lesson about faith does Jesus teach the next day (Tuesday) from the fig tree? (Mark 11:20-25)

If the disciples “have faith in God” (Mark 11:22) they will move spiritual mountains through believing prayer.  How does praying with faith align our prayers with God’s will? 

Disciples must also forgive others while praying so that they will experience God’s forgiveness themselves.  We see the same truth taught in the Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6:12, 14-15) and in the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matt 18:21-35).  We cannot offer right prayer and worship to God if we are wrong in our relationships with others.  Are you holding any bitter grudges against someone?  Who do you need to forgive?    

3. Why does Jesus weep when he enters the city? (Luke 19:41-44) What does this reveal about Jesus?  Do you share Jesus’ heart for the lost and perishing? 

Jesus comes as King and within a week he will be crucified by His rebellious subjects. He knows this and still He weeps for them. He knows their hatred and cruelty. He knows their sinful, self-righteous, and stubborn hearts. He knows they will angrily reject him, falsely accuse him, brutally beat him, and gladly crucify him.  Still he weeps for them! His compassion is amazing.

4. Why are the people of Jerusalem going to be judged?  (see also Luke 13:34-35)

The triumphal entry is a tearful entry.  Jesus weeps for those who fail to recognize the peace he brings.  “Would that you, even you, had known the things that make for peace” or we could translate “the terms for peace” – as the same phrase is translated in Luke 14:32.  Jesus offers peace with God through repentance and faith in Him (Rom 5:1).  But they rejected the gospel of peace (Eph 6:15).  So they will face terrible and total destruction.  When God offers peace and the offer is refused, all that remains is judgment.  God’s judgment always begins at home (1 Pet 4:17).

5. Why does Jesus cleanse the Temple?  

Not only did the nation miss the Messiah’s visitation, they failed to worship God properly.  Jesus rebukes them for turning the temple from a place of solemn worship into a noisy, greedy marketplace.  From a place of prayer to a place of profit.  Jesus cleanses the temple to restore it to a place of prayer & worship to God and teaching for God’s people.

Jesus “overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons” (21:12-17).  Mark’s gospel adds that Jesus “would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.” (11:15-19).  He cuts off the supply chain, casts out the sellers, and shuts the whole thing down.  One wonders, how long did it take?

This is not Jesus meek and mild.  This is Jesus consumed with zeal!  This fulfilled Psalm 69:9, as John’s gospel tells us, “His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house has consumed me.”  Just like riding the donkey, for those with eyes to see, the cleansing of the temple fulfills Scripture and points to Jesus as the Savior King (Mal 3:1ff). Again we see the heart of Jesus – his passion for God’s glory and God’s proper worship!

6. Why is prayer so important for God’s people?

Summary: The religious leaders had turned the temple into the opposite of what it was meant to be.  They had commercialized and corrupted God’s worship.  Jesus has passion for God’s glory and God’s proper worship.  We should too.  Jesus’ cleansing of the temple calls us to be sure that we properly worship and honor God.  By cleansing the temple Jesus challenges their authority and actions for profiting from this corruption.  Now the chief priests, scribes, and leaders seriously seek for a way to destroy Jesus.  The stage is set for the final act.  The religious leaders are firmly opposed to Jesus.  The tension and hostility will only grow until they finally put him to death.  The people had no idea that the Messiah would deliver them not by inflicting God’s wrath on Rome, but by absorbing it on the cross!

B. Singing:  Consider one or more of the following songs

• “Death was Arrested”
• “Victory in Jesus” (Hymn)
• “In Christ Alone” (Modern Hymn)
• “How Marvelous (I Stand Amazed)”  (Hymn)
• “O Church Arise (Arise, Shine)” (modern hymn) by the Getty’s

C. Prayer:  Use the Scriptures to guide your prayers of praise and petition. 

Jesus, we praise you for your heart of compassion for lost and perishing people.  God, thank you for your judgment on the unrighteous and the offer of peace with you through faith in Jesus Christ.  Forgive our lack of compassion for the souls of unbelievers and for any unforgiveness toward others.  Lord, help us to rightly worship you.  Make us fruitful disciples whose lives honor you.  Give us your heart of compassion for the lost. Fill our prayers with faith and bring reconciliation in our relationships. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.