October 29, 2023
Mark 11:15-25
Lessons Learned
by Wayne Gaeddert
1. Parallel passages for cleansing the temple are Matthew 21:12-17 and Luke 19:45-48.
2. The temple Herod had built for the Jews in Jerusalem was approximately 1000 feet by 1550 feet. (~35.6 acres)
3. It took 46 years to build Herod’s temple. John 2:20
4. There were 3 temples built in Jerusalem.
· Solomon's was first - it was destroyed by Babylon.
· Zerubbabel led some exiles back to Jerusalem under the authority of Cyrus, king of Persia, to rebuild a smaller temple.
· Herod rebuilt the second temple making it much larger. (This temple was destroyed by the Romans 40 years after the time of Jesus.)
5. The temple space was divided into areas of restricted access.
· Holy of Holies- The high priest went in 1 time per year.
· Holy place - the priests did their work here.
· Court of Israel - for Jewish men.
· Court of women - for Jewish women.
· Court of Gentiles - around the outside.
6. The purpose for the temple was to provide a place for all people to worship.
7. People in Jerusalem were going through the temple as a shortcut to get around in the city.
8. Jesus presents Himself in the temple as an authority figure.
9. The money exchangers were temple employees who charged people 8 1/3% to exchange their money into a particular coin acceptable to pay the temple tax.
10. This cleansing of the temple was on Monday, the day after the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
11. In verse 17, Jesus quoted from 2 Old Testament passages.
A. “My house...prayer for all nations.” Isaiah 56:7
B. “Den of robbers.” Jeremiah 7:11
12. In verse 17, Mark specifically notes that Jesus taught those present why he had cleansed the temple.
13. The Jeremiah reference would have implied to the Jews that judgment was coming. See Jeremiah 7:12-15
14. The scribes were the group who were teachers (rabbis) of the law.
15. Those who fear Jesus do not love Jesus. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
16. Those who submit to Jesus are blessed by His presence.
17. Hosea 9:10 is an example of God using the symbol of a fig tree to refer to Israel.
18. The leaves of the fig tree in Palestine appear in March and are accompanied by a crop of small edible knobs called taksh which drop before the true figs form, which ripen in June. An absence of taksh indicates that the tree in question will bear no figs. It was therefore, entirely reasonable for Jesus, shortly before Passover time in mid-April, to go up to a fig tree to find out if it had any fruit. F.F. Bruce Commentary of Mark
19. Faith is believing what you have learned about God.
20. Doubt is the nemesis of faith.
21. Forgive implies that one gives up all claim to requital and to resentment or vengeful feelings. Merriam-Webster Dictionary
22. Forgiveness of others is the evidence, not the basis, of our forgiveness. Dr. Bob Utley
23. Parallel passage of the withered fig tree is in Matthew 21:18-22.
24. Rather than dwell on unfruitfulness, Jesus instructed His disciples on how to be fruitful:
· Have faith in God.
· Forgive.
25. The withered fig tree represents the judgment of Israel’s spiritual leadership which was fruitless and their magnificent temple would be destroyed.
26. Moving a mountain was a metaphor in Jewish literature for doing what seemed to be impossible. ESV Study Bible note.
27. “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. “ 1 John 5:14-15
· In order to be familiar with His will, you must spend time with Him to understand how to pray according to His will.
28. Application:
· Remove any barriers that prevent you or others from worshiping God.
· Faith and forgiveness are keys to being fruitful in God’s eyes.
