Jesus Asserts His Authority

Mark 11:11, 15-19

THE incidents in today’s lesson occurred subsequent to the Master’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when he was acclaimed King by his enthusiastic followers. That same evening Jesus and the Twelve went out of Jerusalem and spent the night in Bethany, possibly at the home of Jesus’ friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. It was while on his way back to the city the next morning that Jesus pronounced a curse upon the barren fig tree.

To many this has seemed like a strange act, one which almost appears to be an exhibition of childish temper. But we do not think that this is the proper viewpoint. Very shortly after this the disciples questioned Jesus concerning the signs of his second presence and the end of the age. One of the signs was to be the fig tree sending forth its buds. We believe there is a relationship between the cursing of the fig tree by the Master and his prophecy that at the time of his second presence the fig tree would again begin to bud.

It is generally recognized by students of prophecy that the fig tree symbolizes the nation of Israel. It was about the same time—probably the same day—when Jesus cursed the fig tree that he also said to Israel, “Your house is left unto you desolate.” (Matt. 23:38; Luke 13:35) This was the time when national favor was withdrawn from the natural house of Israel, resulting in their complete desolation some 37-40 years later, in A.D. 70-73. It was fitting, we think, that the fig tree, symbolizing the nation, should be cursed in illustration of what was about to take place with respect to the nation itself.

We are thankful, however, that we can now see so many evidences that this curse is being removed from Israel, that the “fig tree” is showing signs of life. This means that God’s favor is returning, and that soon Israel and all nations will be blessed under the administration of the messianic kingdom, in which Jesus will be the King of kings.

After exercising his authority in cursing the fig tree, Jesus went with his disciples directly to the temple. Here again he displayed his authority, taking advantage, perhaps, of the fact that the day before such a representative number of the people had acclaimed him to be their King.

The act of driving out the moneychangers from the temple serves well to remind us how prone mankind has been to commercialize religion. The desire to worship a Supreme Being is very pronounced in the minds of most people, but it is a desire which has been very easy to exploit, with the result that millions of the unsuspecting have been taken advantage of by those unprincipled enough to make merchandise out of human devotion to God.

In driving out the money-changers from the temple, Jesus remarked that the building originally intended to be a house of prayer had been turned into a den of thieves. But this type of thief has continued to frequent the house of God in many and varied ways ever since. The important lesson in this for us is that we should in no way make use of our Christian professions, or those of others, as a means of enriching ourselves along material lines. To do this would be a flagrant misuse of spiritual blessings, and if continued would most certainly lead to spiritual disaster.

Mark 12:28-31

JESUS’ authority as a teacher stemmed largely from his masterful use of the Scriptures. Having driven the moneychangers out of the temple, he remained there for a while and taught the people, among whom was a scribe who was apparently sincere in his desire to learn from the lips of the Master. His question was, “Which is the first commandment of all?”

In answer to this question, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 6:4,5. Here Moses sums up the meaning of the entire Law as it bears upon pure relationship to God. Jesus cites this as the “first” commandment, although it was not one of the Ten Commandments at all. The thought is that it is first in importance because it comprehends the intent of them all. It reads, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” One who thus loves the Lord would of necessity be living very close to him.

Jesus explained that the “second” commandment was like the first, declaring that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. This is cited from Leviticus 19:18. Again Jesus’ reference is not to one of the Ten Commandments, but rather to Moses’ interpretation of them. This “second” commandment is like unto the “first” in the sense that it comprehends the meaning of all God’s requirements as they relate to our fellow men, whereas the “first” is a summary of God’s requirements pertaining to our relationship to him. If we love our neighbors as ourselves we will not injure them in any way.

The scribe who asked the Master this question was very favorably impressed with the answer. He recognized the soundness of Jesus’ logic, expressing the opinion that to love the Lord with all our heart and our neighbors as ourselves would certainly be much more pleasing to the Lord than merely to bring burnt offerings to him.

Jesus took note of this reply by the scribe and recognized his sincerity, saying to him that he was not far from the kingdom of God. The scribes and Pharisees as a class shut up the kingdom of God for others—or tried to—nor would they themselves enter into the kingdom, which Jesus was proclaiming, the real kingdom of promise. It was their attitude of arrogance and pride that barred them from the kingdom.

But in the case of the individual scribe who questioned Jesus in the temple, it was different. He was not too proud to recognize the truth when he heard it. This meant that he was in the right attitude of heart to be of the “little flock” to whom it is the Father’s good pleasure to give the kingdom. If he continued to maintain this attitude, it is quite likely that later he became a disciple.

QUESTIONS

What is the chronological setting of this study?

What lesson is implied in Jesus’ cursing of the fig tree?

What practical lesson may we derive from Jesus’ driving the moneychangers from the temple?

What did Jesus mean by saying to the scribe who questioned him in the temple that he was not far from the kingdom of God?

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