Jesus Clears the Temple - The Withered Fig Tree

Isaiah 42:1-9
Hebrews 9:11-15
March 29, 2010

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it. On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: " 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. When evening came, they went out of the city.

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins -Mark 11:12-26

Our reading begins with the half of the story of the withered fig tree, which is commonly grouped with our main story. The story of Jesu clearing the temple I one of my personal favorites. Jesus is lawfully angry at all the people who are making His father’s house into a marketplace. Speaking Isaiah 56:7 to everyone in the temple He makes a lot of enemies, including the high priests who looked for ways to kill him for the first time. Our reading demonstrates how mislead the general public was by the high priests. It also give us some very clear guidelines for how the church is to be operated.

Andrew Blomenberg

Almighty God, grant that in the midst of our failures and weakness we may be restored through the passion and intercession of Your only-begotten Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Collect for Monday of Holy Week Lutheran Book of Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House St. Louis

Schnorr von Carolsfeld, woodcuts © WELS Permission to use these copyrighted items is limited to personal and congregational use.