The day after Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem, He would dramatically demonstrate His authority by purifying the temple. He would also curse a fig tree as a vivid example of His rejection by the people of Israel.
The Purification by the King
On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from your again!” And His disciples were listening. –Mark 11:12-14.
The fig tree has much significant meaning here in this passage if we dig a little deeper. The first mention of any term in the Bible is always significant as we saw with the word “love” in the story of Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac. The first mention of a fig tree is also in Genesis. It occurs just after Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. –Genesis 3:7.
Let’s hold that thought for a moment and return back to Jesus and the fig tree. In doing a little research on fig trees, whenever a fig tree has leaves it’s like it is telling you “there is fruit here.” In other words, under normal circumstances, where there are fig leaves, there is fruit. When Jesus approaches this fig tree, He finds plenty of leaves (outward appearance) but no fruit (what’s inside). The word picture here is that Jesus was likening the fig tree to Israel. Israel professed to have fruit, but on closer inspection there was none. Jesus’ favorite target for this were the Pharisees.
But what about Adam and Eve’s fig clothing? Well, think about what had just occurred. Adam and Eve–after enjoying direct connection to the Creator–have now sinned through an act of willful disobedience. They were now subjected to open shame. What did they try and do? Cover up or hide their shame through their own works or righteousness: “and they sewed fig leaves…” (emphasis mine).
Continuing our study in Mark,
Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.” The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching. When evening came, they would go out of the city. –Mark 11:15-19.
This instance of the purifying of the temple is the second time Jesus did this. The animals–which were required to be without spot or blemish–were sold for sacrificial purposes. People would be coming from all over to Jerusalem for Passover. As a result, there would be Greek and Roman currencies that needed to be converted into the standard half-shekel required for the Temple tax. Jesus here was condemning those that were guilty of profaning the temple and of excess profiteering.
Something you might gloss over when reading this passage is Jesus’ quote from Isaiah 57:6:
My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations.
Did you get that? Here Jesus is driving out Jewish moneychangers from a decidedly Jewish Temple. But the verse in Isaiah speaks of a “house of prayer for all the nations.” Interesting sub-text that would appear to have prophetic, end-times meaning. I never made the connection myself until doing this study.
In tomorrow’s post, we will see what Jesus taught on Tuesday, April 8, 32 A.D. about the signs of the end of the age as well as the challenges to His authority.
May He Increase!
I’m really enjoying this Joe…..I love your insight! Not sure why you are not a pastor? As a side note………I know I shouldn’t be “envious” BUT…………..you live in California and Phillip lives in South Africa!! Wow………what beautiful places to live!! If only you two brother’s would invite me over for dinner some day!!!
Good morning Ike,
I’m glad you got something out of today’s post. I was explaining this new insight to my wife last night (the fig leaves). I think she was really tired because she wasn’t quite getting my point. I started think that maybe it was too late for me, too, and that I wasn’t make sense.
Although I’m not sure God has called me to be a pastor, part of my goals–with God directing my path–is that this blog launches me into a career in the ministry. Not sure exactly where, but I really would to be able to do this for a living: Bible studies, research, blogging, etc. These are were my talents and passions lie.
California is nice. Today is in going to be in the low 80′s. Outside right now, it is truly beautiful with a nice breeze and not a cloud in the sky. That said, our weather can get boring. I mean, I’m more of a thunderstorm kind of guy. We rarely get anything out here that you’d consider “weather.” I like to say that out here we have “climate!”
Joe,
Have you ever heard that Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple is also a picture of the Jewish custom of cleaning His Father’s house of all leaven (sin) before Passover? I found it to be a fascinating picture.
Jeff,
After I wrote the post late last night, I was mulling over things in my head and discussing the fig leaves insight with my wife. I do remember telling her during the conversation that I needed to go back and add a few things that had popped into my head. I’m so glad you posted this comment. I’m going to remember this from now on. This is another perfect example of why Chuck Missler says that the Bible self-validates itself. It’s 66 books, written by 40 different authors over a few thousand years, yet it is an integrated message. Everything is related and no point is too small. It all matters and is all significant. Every person, every place name…they all point to Christ in some way if you just dig deep enough.
Wonderful insight, Jeff! Thank you so much for sharing it.
Great post Joe. Remember we are all ministers, and you are ministering to us with your writing. So much of the Passover can be seen in the week of His resurrection.
I have read that the area of the tables was the area that Gentiles would have been able to assemble in prayer within the temple complex. They could go no further, but this area was reserved for them. The merchants had usurped the gentile position.
What a God that designs a place for even nonbelievers to pray. Is there a lesson there for us? Should we allow nonbelievers access, that they might taste and see that the Lord is good?
Will,
You don’t know what an answer to prayer your comments were to me tonight.
Secondly, I may have just learned something I was not aware of. Are you saying that the portion of the temple that Jesus was driving out the moneychangers was for the Gentiles? If so, that is very interesting.
Beyond that, it sounds as though the insight I picked up on where the Scripture talks about God’s house being a “house of prayer for all the nations” confirms what you are saying. The more I’m pondering this and your comments, the more I’m amazed at the truth at work here in these passages.
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