Episode 249: 32AD Passion Week Monday: The Fig Tree Cursed, Intercession, and the End of the Religious Mountain

A scribe asks Jesus what is the greatest commandment.  In this episode, we dissect these passages from Matthew 22 and Mark 12 and compare it to Deuteronomy 6:5.  Afterward, we will see what happens when Jesus is done with their questions; he asks them a question, a mystery pulled from Psalm 110.  Who is talking in Psalm 110 when David writes "the Lord said to my Lord?" Matthew 22:34-46Mark 12:28-37Luke 20:41-44Deuteronomy 6:5Psalm 110www.messagetokings.com

The Sadducees came to Jesus with one of their stock illustrations, related to the resurrection and marriage, and Jesus answered them with a theological wonder "you are mistaken, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God." In this episode, we cover the theology of the resurrection of the dead.  Matthew 22:22-23Mark 12:18-27Luke 20:27-401 Corinthians 15:221 Corinthians 15:51-53Hebrews 9:27Romans 14:10www.messagetokings.com

The rulers and authorities sent spies that they might seize Jesus with their words. The question was "should we pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" Paralleling this scene and King Solomon's wisdom, we cover the gift of discernment and the gift of word of wisdom.  Matthew 22:15-22Mark 12:13-17Luke 20:20-26Luke 12:12-12:131 King 3www.messagetokings.com

According to Luke 20:20, the chief priests sent spies who pretended to righteous to Jesus to catch him at his words.  As a consequence of the hypocrisy of the religious leaders and to reveal the age to come, Jesus tells the Parable of the Wedding Feast. The parable reveals the ignorance and judgment of the religious leaders, the age to come, and the wedding supper of the lamb.  Matthew 22:1-14Revelation 19:7-9Revelation 21:1-2Romans 13:14Ephesians 5:24-252 Corinthians 11:2www.messagetokings.com

The religious leaders send spies among Jesus' followers to try to trick Jesus with complex questions. In this context and the turning of the tables, Jesus tells two parables about a vineyard and the wickedness of the religious leaders. The parable of the two sons is about two sons. One is wicked, honest, and repentant and the other is religious, deceitful, and unrepentant.  Which one did the will of the father?The parable of the wicked vinedresser speaks to the love of the God, that would send prophet after prophet to Israel followed by his own son which would be rejected and killed. The parable was a condemnation of the religious leaders as much as it is a prophetic annotation of the days to come.  Matthew 21:23-22:14Mark 11:27-12:12Luke 20:1-19www.messagetokings.com

In the morning, Jesus goes to Jerusalem and sees a fig tree.  Even though it wasn't the season for figs, he curses the fig tree "may you never bear fruit again." In the evening, the disciples passed by the fig tree and saw it withered and dead.  They were amazing and asked Jesus about it.  In this episode, we discuss the withered fig tree and the future death of the religious mountain in Jerusalem. Matthew 21:18-22Mark 11:12-24Hosea 9:10Jeremiah 8:13Micah 4:41 Kings 4:25John 1:48-50Luke 13:6-9www.messagetokings.com

Passion WeekMonday: Cursing the Fig Tree, Cleansing the TempleJesus started the day cursing the fig tree which represents Israel and preceded to the Temple Mount. He stepped into the Court of the Gentiles and created a whip and drove out the money changers interrupting the Passover weekly procedures. The scribes and chief priests were so angry, they met to discuss how to destroy him.  In this episode, we consider their language and the divine justice that will occur in this place of the Court of the Gentiles, per Josephus in the Siege of Jerusalem in 70AD. Matthew 21:12-17Mark 11:12-19Luke 19:45-48www.messagetokings.com

"Why would the stones cry out?"Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the crowds go wild singing praises quoting psalm 118. The Pharisees asks Jesus to rebuke his disciples, and he replies, "if they don't, the stones will cry out." In this episode, we cover the Triumphant Entry, and why the stones would cry out.Matthew 21:1-11Mark 11:1-11Luke 19:28-44John 12:12-19Zechariah 9:9Psalm 118Luke 1:37www.messagetokings.com

Six days before passover, and the final act before passion week, Jesus is anointed at Bethany at the house of Simon the Leper by Mary, the sister of Lazarus. In this episode, we discuss this anointing for his death, and the other anointings of Jesus' life.  Luke 7:36-50John 12:1-8Matthew 26:6-13John 19:38-42John 3:16www.messagetokings.com

Perhaps Zacchaeus, a short wealthy tax collector, heard the cry of blind Bartimaeus "son of David," and he scrambled up a tree to see Jesus on the road.  When Jesus came by on the road, he called up to Zacchaeus, and welcomed himself to his home. Jesus sees him, and calls him by his name which means "pure." In this episode, we cover the salvation of Zacchaeus.    Matthew 5:8Luke 19:1-10www.messagetokings.com