Matthew 21:12-22
Preached Sunday Morning, April 19, 2009
Introduction:
Often when the World thinks of our Savior, they think of Jesus as a meek, spineless individual who has little drive or personality. They see Him as so passive that He never creates a stir.
The Bible describes Jesus as one who has great passion. According to Webster’s Dictionary, to be passionate is to have strong emotion, to be animated. Today we will see that Jesus is very passionate about certain things. Make no mistake, Jesus never sinned. He was, however, very emotional about certain things. We can learn a lot about Jesus as we study our text this morning and discover the Passion of Our Christ.
I. Jesus is passionate about Holiness
Matthew 21:12-13
12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
A. The Temple was a place for people to meet with God.
B. The Passover was coming – Jesus was the final and ultimate Passover sacrifice.
C. The people used this season as a business opportunity
D. The animals were sold directly out of the temple making an increased profit for all involved.
E. Jesus took personal offense to this “My house”
F. Jesus took deliberate and specific action
1. Jesus did not lose His temper
Hebrews 4:15
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
1 Peter 2:21-22
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
2. Jesus took the time to deliberately fashion a whip
John 2:15
15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
3. Jesus deliberately mixed the money of the merchants
4. Jesus acted with authority like He owned the place.
G. Our bodies are God’s Temple this side of Calvary
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
è What are you allowing to defile your Temple?
II. Jesus is passionate about honor.
A. People recognized His power after He stood with authority for holiness
Matthew 21:14
14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
B. The children shouted praise to the Messiah
Matthew 21:15-17
15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, 16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? 17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.
1. Their faith was pure and simple enough to believe and respond.
2. This simple faith enraged the self-righteous religious establishment.
C. Jesus is worthy of all honor!
Luke 19:37-40
37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
III. Jesus is passionate about feeding the hungry
Matthew 21:18-22
18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
A. The literal fig tree
1. Jesus was hungry
2. The tree was all leaves and no figs
3. Jesus cursed the unfruitful tree
B. Symbol of unfruitful Israel
1. Religious teaching happened under fig trees
2. All leaves = a superficial list of external compliance.
3. No figs = No fruit of a changed life and the reality of a relationship with God.
C. Symbol of unfruitful Christians
John 15:8,16
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.