With a full week ahead – Jesus came back to the Temple on Monday morning, where He performed one of His mightiest and most significant works – a work that has daily relevance in the life of every Believer – because we are God’s New Covenant temple.
Along the way, he cursed a fig tree because it had failed to bear fruit – some believe this cursing of the fig tree represented God’s judgment on the spiritually dead religious leaders of Israel, while others believe – the symbolism extended to all Believers, demonstrating that genuine faith is more than an outward show – true, living faith must bear spiritual fruit in a person’s life.
And yes – as we all know – when He arrived at the Temple – He found the courts full of corrupt money changers – so it was then – He began overturning their tables and clearing the Temple, saying –
“The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves”
What a day – but notice what happens after Jesus cleansed the temple – He began teaching daily in this spot on this Monday – and throughout the days leading up to His arrest and crucifixion at the end of the week.
So yes – He had a purpose in cleansing the temple court.
He cleansed it so that His people could pray and worship in it – He cleansed it so that He could teach in it – and yes – by this very act, along with the Scripture that He quotes – He was demonstrating that His teaching was not for Jews only – but for all nations – this was the court of the Gentiles.
He taught the people in the temple while instructing them in sound doctrine – He preached the Gospel to them – He told them they needed to be saved and that He had come as their Savior.
These two things go together – the Gospel of salvation by Jesus Christ, and instruction in sound doctrine.
We can’t divorce the preaching of the Gospel from the teaching of sound doctrine – the whole counsel of God, for yes – these are the two elements of Christ’s purpose for His church as He gave it in the Great Commission after His resurrection.
Also note – the dual response to Jesus’ preaching and teaching – there was the right response – and – the wrong response.
And yes – there rears our free will again – our responses we make daily – and yes sweet friends – the choice of our response is as to whether we make the right or the wrong one in every decision we make – never fearing the wrong but always accepting the right.
No matter the response – we always and forever have the opportunity to fall into the arms of Jesus. He will always and forever have our backs, and always and forever – waits patiently for our call.
We simply need to make the call.
We are loved by love Himself. He loves us big and He loves us strong, and yes – love wins period
Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21-21-22