Holy Monday And Jesus Series

Theme: Search of God

Text: Matthew 21:18-20

Introduction: The three notable events of this chapter are the Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem City, Cleansing of the temple, and the curse and withering of the fig tree. These are series of miracles and climax of judgment before the crucifixion. Jesus, Messiah of Peace, reached Gentiles, and reformation begins at the temple, and the entire blasting of the Jewish pride and power has been pictured through cursing and withering of the fig tree (Whedon). The narratives exhibit the plan of Christ. Day after day he went to and from Jerusalem: in the evening he went to Bethany or some part of the Mount of Olives, and there abode all night, and returned in the daytime to Jerusalem, and taught in the temple; for it does not appear that he was one night in Jerusalem, before the night of the Passover (John Gill). Matthew combines two-morning walks, Monday and Tuesday, of Jesus from Bethany to Jerusalem (Schaff Popular). Monday was hungry and cursed, which was witnessed and remembered by Peter on Tuesday. Through these events, I would like to share with you three spiritual lessons:

Jesus comes to us early in the morning

Jesus expects from us the fruitful life

Jesus teaches us to pray with faith

1. Jesus comes to us Early in the Morning (Matthew 21:18)

Early in the morning – implies the daybreak, around 5 am. It is the time for the breakfast of a Jew (Ellicott). Early refers to the last or fourth watch of the day. Matthew writes Jesus was hungry. It was a clear description of the humanity of Christ. This verse casts doubt on the supposition that Jesus was staying in the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. If he could have stayed, he would have had breakfast there before departing to the city. The inference was that He might have remained all night in prayer at some remote recess in the vicinity of Bethany as it was his custom. It could have happened and nestled into a tiny depression on the slopes of the Mount of Olives (Coffman).

The curse of the fig tree had happened on a Monday morning, before going to Jerusalem and before the cleansing of the temple. But the effect was beheld by Peter and others on Tuesday, and a lesson was given to them about prayer with faith when Jesus was visiting Jerusalem for the third time (Mark 11:12-13, 19, 20-21) (Pulpit).

Application:

Jesus loves to come to us early in the day and seeks with the hunger of fellowship, love, and truth. Jesus seeks fellowship. He seeks prayers, and He seeks our cooperation. God blesses us to have a blessed and successful day ahead. He wishes for a greener life. Bible has many examples of early morning expectations of God. He is the morning star of David to all (Revelation 22:16). The same morning star rises in your hearts (2 Peter 1:19). David says, In the morning you hear my voice, I lay my requests and wait in expectation (Psalm 5:3). God told his servants to come to him early in the morning. Many servants of God stood before God early in the morning to know the plan of God for the day ahead of them – Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Samuel, and many others. The promise is that those who seek him early find him (Proverbs 8:17).

2. Jesus expects from us the fruitful life (Matthew 21:19)

Found nothing except leaves: Jesus was hungry, and so he went to the fig tree looking for fruits to satisfy his hunger. But the fig tree had many leaves but not even a single fruit. It is a representation of the life of the Jewish nation. “If the fig tree with its fair promise of leaves and its barrenness of fruit was the Jewish nation, it's withering under his malediction(curse) was the perdition of the Jewish state and system” (Whedon). This may suggest therefore that here Jesus is depicted as not only feeling for food but also as being hungry to discover righteousness in Israel. He wants to find figs (Peter Pett). The sin of hypocrites, unfruitful professors, vain followers normally seek alive but are dead in deeds. They would not bring forth the fruits of righteousness and justness (Benson). Christ looks for the power of religion in those who profess it, and the savor of it from those that have the show of it. His just expectations from flourishing professors are often disappointed; he comes to many, seeking fruit, and finds leaves only. (Matthew Henry). Jesus came to seek and save the Lost. He searches everyone. He expects, looks up for the betterment of the followers of Christ. His hunger made him glorify the power of God and teach a lesson to his disciples (Calvin).