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Lessons from the Fig Tree and Temple Cleansing: Mark 11-12
August 1, 2025 · 15 min
Explore the dramatic shift from Jesus' triumphal entry to His challenges with religious leaders.
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The Fig Tree and the Temple: A Lesson in True Faith 0:10 Good morning. Today, Mark chapters 11 and 12. What does Jesus do when he encounters a situation of all hat and no cattle? Verse 13 of chapter 11, and0:21 seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, he went to see if perhaps he could find something on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. Okay.0:33 Chapter 11 begins Jesus' last week in Jerusalem with what we now call Palm Sunday. Chapter 11 closes with Jesus pointing to the poor widow and her sacrificial0:45 gift as he leaves the temple for the very last time. Now this is, pretty much familiar terrain. We've seen all of these accounts in both Matthew and Luke.0:59 But, as we've seen as we've seen with almost every, gospel account in this 1, there's some additional details and insight from Mark's account. Remember, Mark's account1:11 was based upon that from, Peter. So in this chapter, we have the triumphal entry on that Sunday, the cleansing of the temple the following day on the Monday, Jesus driving out the money1:23 changers, and this was the second time he actually had done this. The cursing of the fig tree, which we're gonna look at in more detail in just a moment. Jesus was asked by what authority he1:35 was doing the things that he did. The parable of the vineyard, should I pay my taxes? Short answer, yes. Marriage and the resurrection, the greatest commandment, how can1:47 David call his son lord, and then as we made reference to the widow's mite. So let's start with his entry into the city as he rode in on the colt that his disciples had obtained1:59 from him miraculously. Let's begin we're gonna pick up in verse 7 of chapter 11. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their clothes on the2:10 road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who went before him and those who followed cried out saying, Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the2:22 lord. Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the lord. Hosanna in the highest. Alright. Let me just say this. This is why we should not put our2:34 confidence in public opinion in polls. This same crowd, 1 week later, would be shouting, crucify him. Alright. Let's go to the events of the next day on2:45 Monday, verse 12. Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, he went to see if perhaps he could find something on2:57 it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. Now in response, Jesus said to it, let no 1 eat fruit from you ever again, and his disciples heard3:09 it. We looked at this in Matthew. He was in Bethany next to Bethpage, which means house of figs. This place was known for its figs. Alright. When you go3:21 there, there's a lot of figs fig trees in Egypt in Israel. Sorry. And, this was a place that was known specifically for its figs. And Jesus sees these fig trees. He3:33 sees this fig tree with leaves. Now it was not fig season. Made it very clear. We just read that. But the tree had leaves, and the leaves coincided with figs. If the tree had leaves, then generally, it would3:45 have figs. So the tree boasted of fruit, but it had none to meet the real and the urgent need. It boasted of fruit, but it had none. All hat and no cattle, as they would say in3:57 Texas. This was a picture of religion and the religious crowd. They had leaves. They had all the the markings, the makings, but they were not meeting the4:09 needs of the people. So this fig tree incident is connected to what we are about to see in the temple. It's really if we see this teaching on the fig tree, in between sandwiched in4:20 between is what occurs in the temple. And so that's this is what's unique in this account of Mark. It helps us connect with what Jesus is actually saying here in his encounter with the fig tree. He4:32 always uses Jesus uses a lot of illustrations and analogies and helps people understand, and the fig tree is speaking to what religion was. It was empty. It was boasting of many4:44 things, but providing nothing. Look at verse 15. So they came to Jerusalem, then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money4:56 changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And he would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then he taught, saying to them, is it not written, my house should be called a house of prayer for all5:07 nations? But you have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and the chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy him, for they feared him because all the people were astonished at his teaching. When5:18 evening had come, he went out of the city. Now in the morning, verse 20, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter remembering said, Rabbi, look, the fig5:30 tree which you cursed had withered away. Now this is a picture of what was gonna happen. But, again, here here's a question is we should not be promoting5:42 religious ritual. Rather, we need to be promoting a relationship with our creator. Our messaging in our churches, our teaching in our churches should be pointing people5:55 to the savior, to a life altering, life changing, life transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. So Jesus answered and said to him,6:06 have faith in God. 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 have6:18 whatever he says. Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you will receive them and you will have them. Now keep in mind, right, that this promise is connected to the in6:29 empty promises of religion. Religion would never and will never meet our deep and profound spiritual need. But trusting faith in Jesus Christ brings6:41 us into a relationship with God, and that will move mountains. Now I I I think we need to go a little deeper in this because some people take this out of context. When Jesus says whatever things6:53 you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them. Now does this mean that if we have enough faith that we can have whatever we7:05 want from god? Well, the short answer is no. The proper way to interpret scripture, alright, which is called hermeneutics, is with scripture. So we7:16 interpret scripture by using scripture. Alright? So we can't we can't just take something out of context and and and take 1 passage of scripture and build something upon it. We have7:28 to look at how it fits with other scripture. We have to make sure our interpretation of scripture is understood in light of and consistent with the rest of scripture. So let's look at some other passages7:40 that will shed light on the words of Jesus. Recall how Jesus taught us to pray over in Matthew chapter 6 verse 8. Therefore, do not be like them, for your father knows the things that you have7:52 need of before you ask him. So so notice first here that god, our father, knows what we need before we pray. Verse 9 of Matthew 6. In this manner, therefore, pray8:04 our father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. So notice it's your will. We need to be praying in accordance with the will of8:16 God, not our personal passions or desires, but rather the will of God. Now go back to Mark in the fourteenth chapter as Jesus is in the garden facing death on the cross.8:28 Mark 14 36. And he said, Abba, father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will. See, nothing is8:39 beyond the ability of god, but the deciding factor is the will of god. Now look at, first John chapter 5 verse 14. We've looked at this before, but it bears8:51 repeating. Now this is the confidence that we have in him. And if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we9:03 ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of him. So what is our confidence that our prayers will be answered? Well, that we're praying9:15 according to his will. Alright. 1 more passage, John 14 12. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will also do, and greater than9:27 these he will do because I go to my father. And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that my father may be glorified in the son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. So here's another9:39 qualifier, that the father may be glorified in the son. Okay? So it's not about, our,9:51 you know, about us being comfortable, about us having all the things that we want. It's about glorifying the father as we pray according to his will. So to to summarize, our prayer, our request, our lives should10:02 be focused on being in alignment with the will of God for the glory of God. When that happens and and it's you know, it sounds easy, but10:15 yielding ourselves to the will of God means something we have to pray every day because our human nature often strays. And and we have to yield ourselves to the will10:27 of God, his plans and his purpose. And when we do that, we're gonna experience what James says, an effective, fervent prayer life that avails much. Now now wait. There's more. Jesus10:39 continues back into Mark 11 verse 25. And whatever use whenever you stand praying, if you have anything else anything against anyone, forgive him that your father in heaven may also10:51 forgive your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your father in heaven forgive your trespasses. Now have we seen that before? Yes. We have. Back in Matthew chapter 6 verse 12,11:02 and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil 1, for yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Verse 14 of Matthew 6. For if you11:14 forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses. You see, unforgiveness toward11:26 others keeps us from the fullness of the forgiveness we have in Jesus, and that unforgiveness will hinder the effectiveness of our prayers. I tell you, this is a11:38 difficult 1. This is even the 1 that you'll recall from, I believe, in Luke chapter 17 where Jesus told the disciples, if someone offends you 7 times in a day and they come back and they11:49 repent, you need to forgive them. And the disciples looked at Jesus and they said, lord, increase our faith. These things look easy on paper, but they're hard to do in practice. But if we12:01 wanna walk in the fullness of what Jesus Christ has provided, we have to follow his direction. Alright. And, let me wrap up here very quickly. In chapter 12, we read more detail of the12:13 parable of the the the tenants of the vineyard, which emphasizes here in Mark the son, a clear reference to Jesus. As the Jewish nation had stoned the prophets, they would now reject the Son who would12:25 become the chief cornerstone upon which God would build the church for all who would believe from every nation. And that's where the invitation to the Gentiles came in. Also in chapter 12, a bit12:37 more detail on the conversation between Jesus and this scribe who, you know, at first, we see all these scribes trying to trick him up. We see this whole string of, challenges to Jesus. But here,12:49 this man comes with, as we can see from Jesus's reaction to him, he comes with a genuine heart. And he wanted to know what's the greatest commandment, and he explains it quite well as he has this, interaction with13:01 Jesus. And and so Jesus affirms this scribe's answer, and he says this, you are not far from the kingdom of god. So he he had an intellectual knowledge of13:13 god, and it was genuine, But it was not sufficient because we must have a heart knowledge. We must trust in the redemptive work that God did through Jesus13:24 Christ. And it is by his grace that we are saved through faith. Father, we thank you for your word. And, Lord, we're just so grateful that you have not left us to navigate13:37 this life alone, but you've given us your word. So I pray that through the holy spirit, our teacher, that we would gain insight and understanding, not just an intellectual knowledge like13:48 this scribe had at this point. But, lord, it would it would move from our our our head to our heart, that it would change us and transform us, that we might walk in a14:00 relationship with you, lord, that is powerful and effect and effective. Lord, may our prayers may our prayers be in alignment with your will, bringing glory to your name, that they'll be14:12 effectual. They'll chain they'll move mountains. May we see mountains moved. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning. And remember, this, this coming Saturday is our monthly stand on14:24 the word bible study. And, if you're in the Baton Rouge area, we'll be in Baton Rouge this weekend. And you can join us. Just email me, tony at tony perkins dot com. We'll get you the information on that. We'll begin14:36 at, 7 PM online on the Stand Firm app, 7 PM central, that's 8 PM eastern time, we'll have a study as we take a look at the book of Mark. So that's this14:48 Saturday. Invite you to, join us on the Stand Firm app. Until next time, keep standing on the word.14:57 Today's study comes from the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan, available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you15:09 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 The Fig Tree and the Temple: A Lesson in True Faith
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