Prayers for a righteous vindication, for guidance, for faith to trust where they could not see, and for eventual peace and goodwill, were the only petitions.". ", Ver16. If we recognize the faults of our fellow-Christians, and are so vexed at their folly that we determine to have no more fellowship or co-operation with them, we are not following our Lord in this. And He has a real thing against mercenaries, those who would make merchandise of the things of God. but you have made it a den of thieves.". How incredibly astounding these words sound in the ears of men who are accustomed to survey the world after it has been subjected for upwards of eighteen centuries to the uninterrupted presence of Jesus and the accumulating influences of Christianity! Why did not Jesus directly account for his actions to the priests, scribes, and elders? The two terms are carefully distinguished in St. John (John 10:1), "the same is a thief ( κλέπτης) and a robber ( λῃστής)." "He thus shows," says St. Jerome, "that they knew, but would not answer; and that he knew, but did not speak, because they were silent as to what they knew." It was, therefore, a natural supposition that on this tree, with its leaves fully developed, there might be found at least some ripened fruit. Here, then, is another reason for exceeding reverence, that here "we spiritually eat the flesh of Christ and drink His blood, we dwell in Christ and Christ in us, we are one with Christ and Christ with us." (2) The penitent, who in his grief and humiliation comes to Jesus Christ for pardon and peace. They existed also in a state of constant alarm, from persecution either impending or actually raging, which forced them to be content to assemble when they could and how they could. 6. Moreover the salvation they desired was one of a merely outward sort: they would be glad to be free from the tyranny of Rome, but had no desire to be released from the bondage of sin. Hence we learn what reverence is due to the houses of God; so that, as the master of a house resents any insult offered to his house as an insult to himself, so Christ reckons any wilful dishonor done to his house as a wrong and insult to him. Every incident in this passage is interesting, and I beg the Reader's attention to it. II. (See John 1:20; John 10:41.) Cf8:27-30; 10:46-11:11,12:35-37. What is the secret of the Church's marvellous strength?—It is revealed in the words, "Have faith in God." This passage has two distinct movements, each containing its own spiritual lesson impressively conveyed. The purity of Christian worship will be well illustrated by the contrast. The Jews may seem for a time to flourish like that green fig tree; but they will "soon be cut down as the grass, and be withered as the green herb." It was familiar ground, fragrant with tender associations with both the human and the Divine. 18. For once before, at the beginning of his ministry, he had cleansed this temple and driven forth the buyers and sellers, but the evil had reasserted itself, so that it was defiled as much as formerly. The multitudes? In religion the stern necessity for occasional doubt may be wholesome; but the easy indulgence in continuous doubt is deadly. He said, "I am the vine; My Father is the husbandman. He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on an ass, even on a colt, the foal of an ass” (Zechariah 9:9). His Authority Questioned. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. No328. thieves = robbers, or brigands. Theophylact: But if a man by sinning gives up to the devil the grace and purity of baptism, he has sold his Dove, and for this reason is cast out of the temple.There follows: "And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. But these are the very persons whom God would have to worship Him, and whose godly supplications and "pure offerings" give a savour and seasoning to the whole sacrifice. And yet why will men doubt the power of God, or refuse to permit Him to act as He sees fit? Our Lord teaches us very plainly, by cleansing the Temple at Jerusalem, that a reverence is due to holy places; that where the presence of God ought to be recognised and felt the common affairs of life ought not to find entrance. If then the Lord forbids men to carry on in the temple worldly matters, which they might freely do any where else, how much more do they deserve a greater portion of the anger of Heaven, who carry on in the temple consecrated to Him those things, which are unlawful wherever they may be done. Prov.22:22,23 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; For the LORD will plead their cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them. It was a good opportunity to take his revenge, and he determined not to let it pass. 1 Kings 1:38). Thus we read of Balsam, of Caleb's daughter, and of Abigail riding on asses. The unforeseen and unexpected was foreseen and prepared for by Christ. When ye stand praying.—Comp. Next week, chapters12,13. This fig tree had leaves, but no fruit; for it was not the season of figs ( ὁ γὰρ καιρὸς οὐκ ἧν σύκων). And usually, they precede even the leaves, so that by the time the leaves come on the tree, these figs are pretty well developed. However, at Passover time pilgrims generally would be greeted by festive crowds shouting out to God, ‘Blessed is he who comes, in the name of the Lord’ (Psalms 118:26) and ‘Save now’ (‘hosanna’ - a cry for deliverance - compare Psalms 118:25)’, for it was a time of high excitement. He had given thanks before to the Father that “these things”-the mysteries of the kingdom-were hidden from the wise and prudent and revealed to babes (Matthew 11:25). A sincere and forgiving disposition is indispensable. Reader! 2. He takes advantage of the popular enthusiasm which now for a time runs in his favor. They might succeed in disparaging His character and station before men. But God forbid that it should be taken to mean, that the Lord cast out of the temple, or forbade men to bring into it, the vessels consecrated to God; for here He shews a type of the judgment to come, for He thrusts away the wicked from the Church, and restrains them by His everlasting word from ever again coming in to trouble the Church. Everything came under His survey, for He “looked round about upon all things.”. 2. He then left the city and returned to Bethany (meaning: house of affliction). And we know in fact that the Temple at Jerusalem never was, and could at no time be called, "an house of prayer for all nations." Matthew makes the disciples see, wonder, and speak; Mark records more precisely how Peter remembered the circumstance and spoke. Your idle clergy, especially certain Roman cathedral clergy, who fatten on the sins of the faithful, never preach, seldom hear confessions, never visit the sick; simply do nothing but mumble mass on saints’ days-they are thieves. It abideth for ever. Mark 11 begins with an account of preparations for the triumphal entry. As followers of Christ we should learn to put up with, and to use to the utmost, what we know is imperfect and transient. "Ill will never said well. If I would stop them, these very stones would start crying out." They can be harmonised. And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. I don"t know. (3) Where too must they rank who but partially receive the record that God gave of His Song of Solomon 2. I. We want to see the reasons for a command, the probable issues of it, and when we see neither too often we withhold obedience. Surely it has reached the height of irony when He to Whom all worship pointed, He Who was the true Lamb of God, He Who initiated and appointed the service of the Temple for Himself, must stand there alone and unknown in His Temple, and He to Whom Israel looked as their peace, should be constrained to visit Israel only in wrath. If people would take him by force to make him a king, he departed and did hide himself from them. According to Lightfoot and Wetstein, the Rabbins afterwards forbade the same thing. 2. The fig tree typifies the religious condition of the people. Outwardly all the power and authority of the established order was in the hands of those who were opposing the Lord and His teaching. 2. And as the world generally is the place where He treats with man, and makes provision for the well-being of the body, so is this the chief appointed place for the business of heaven, and for securing those advantages which are great, but unspeakable. A purchase price, for example, is the performance of good works. One can visualize Him as He stood before the amazed and frightened mob. The scribes and chief priests draw back before the ascendency that His word had given Him over the people, and He goes out of the city without being molested, notwithstanding their malice. No colt was his, but one was there, and when its owner heard "The Lord hath need of him," it was ready for the Lord's use. Afterward the disciples wondered as they saw the withered fig tree. And we learn also that Jesus, although hated and despised by the rulers, had abated none of his claims to authority and jurisdiction. from heaven or from men? The Mountain of the Lord's House, the grand Sanctuary of ancient Israel, was the very sign and figure of the Old Dispensation, which was in its character concentrated, local, and centralised—one God, one nation, one Temple, one law. So the Israel of the time of Jesus, and so the external Church of later times and the last.—The cursing of the fig-tree in its relation to the cleansing of the temple: 1. Exactly similar evils have long ago been manifested in Christendom. HE EFFECTS THIS THROUGH HIS SPIRIT, AND THE REVELATION HE MAKES OF THE CHARACTER OF God AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SACRED THINGS. The confusion of the Sanhedrim on this day, and their projects as to the manner in which they should kill Jesus—seeing that they feared the people, who did earnest homage to Jesus—he connects rightly with this day; while Luke records it more indefinitely ( Luke 19:47-48), as also Matthew in somewhat similar manner ( Matthew 21:15-16), and John also in another aspect of it ( John 12:17-19). We sometimes wonder that the greatest Teacher, the divinest Master the world ever saw, was so little recognized during his ministry. 2. to seek to have our own sins remitted while we retain the sins of others! They had seen the life of John. Tischendorf gives it up. A fig tree in full leaf by the wayside seemed to offer prospects of a feast of figs, but when Jesus went over to see it He found nothing but leaves, for the time of figs was not yet. "Let vain and busy thoughts have there no part; Bring not thy plough, thy plots, thy pleasures thither. A comparison and a contrast. or that the celestial flame of Divine love should burn bright and clear where there are so many thick fumes and vapours rising up to damp and choke it? A Christian place of worship no doubt is in no sense so sacred as the Jewish tabernacle, or temple. Compare Luke 19:45-48. I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?" To wither was within the power of any one, but to wither by a word was a supernatural act only possible to one in closest fellowship with God. This was the abuse of the temple. Boy! If an earthly prince choose to honour a subject, what expense is spared? Indifferent to the corruption that existed in the House of God, and incapable of dealing with it themselves, they oppose the One who can, and does, deal with the evil, by raising the question of authority. c And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if perhaps He might find anything on it, and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season of figs (Mark 11:13). Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. The reputed masters of the Temple approached this newcomer, and demanded to know "in what authority" He was acting. In fact this whole passage is a mixture of symbolism and reality. First, that the passover that year fell late, that is, in the beginning of April, the time of the barley harvest. "Oh, my brothers, God exists! Here, when our reason and understanding are in some degree developed, we approach the sacred fount of inspiration, and drink in knowledge from the oracles of God. But though the leaders of the nation reject the Lord, the babes and sucklings may render a testimony to His glory ( Psalm 8:2). The horse, on the other hand, would have been unbecoming in such a procession, since the horse was the emblem of war from an early to a late period in Hebrew history; thus, in Exodus 15:1-27 we read, "Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea;" and also in Jeremiah 8:6, "Every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.". The enthusiasm had reached its height. Christ Jesus comes down amongst us from the lofty heavens, as One meek and lowly, and says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man will open the door, I will come in to him.". Faith in God.—Trust towards God, πίστις Θεοῦ (Genitive of the object). e And He would not permit that any man should carry a vessel through the temple (Mark 11:16). THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE POSITION ASSIGNED HIM IN PROPHECY. Trees may be withered, mountains may be removed, all things may be had, by those who have faith. That ἵνα had acquired in later Greek a weakened or modified meaning, so as to stand midway between purpose and result, or even to denote the latter, is pretty generally admitted. 3. M. Taylor, The Miracles of Our Saviour, p413. So the mission of the Church is to feed hungry souls. It involves the abuse of what is best and highest-“My house,” etc. He appealed to their recognition of his authority—" the Lord." He became a people herder or driver. He points out God's intention with His house. If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did, . The life and works of Christ are his justification. He will point out their hypocritical fruitlessness, their lack of faith, and unveil why their prayers were being hindered. II. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any ( Mark 11:25 ); Oh, the importance of forgiveness. The original purpose of the temple is restated, and he emphasizes the spiritual side of worship. Remembering what He had previously done as a young firebrand (John 2:14-17) this gains in significance. And hence in those very feelings, knows the feelings of his people, in all these, and every other case. (15-19) And Jesus went into the temple.—See Notes on . And what is it that Christian nations have done and are doing for the heathen? What weapon do the feeble followers of the Crucified wield, with which to strike down the deep-rooted, wide-spreading evil power? Enthusiasts were there. God drove our guilty first parents from the garden; but it was done by the intervention of an angel. Suppose news came to our metropolis that in a distant hamlet, among working people, a child had been born, and that rumors of portents accompanying his birth found favor in that country-side. Is this our case—as a Church? To the undivided thought and will nothing is ideally impossible. Christ is the Divine Purifier, who dispossesses the enemy, and restores the sanctuary to its destined ends, the indwelling, the worship, and the glory of the Eternal! We learn reverence for sacred places, since the one exercise of His royal authority which Jesus publicly displayed was to cleanse the temple, even though upon the morrow He would relinquish it forever, to be "your house" -- and desolate. God forgives us as we forgive our brothers in Christ. But ye have made it a den of thieves; for no other, in our Lord's esteem, were the buyers and sellers of sheep, oxen, and doves, and the money changers, and the priests that encouraged them, and had a profit out of them: now these had their seats, shops, and tables, within the mountain of the house; and even in that part of it, which was assigned to the Gentiles, the nations of the world, who became proselytes, and came up to Jerusalem to worship there at certain times; See Gill on Matthew 21:13. 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