JESUS CLEARED THE TEMPLE

Passage: Mark 11:12-19

Key verse: 17

NIV

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts(A)(B)(C)

12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.(D) 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’[a]?(E) But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’[b]”(F)

18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him,(G) because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.(H)

19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples[c] went out of the city.(I)

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 11:17 Isaiah 56:7
  2. Mark 11:17 Jer. 7:11
  3. Mark 11:19 Some early manuscripts came, Jesus
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

12 (A)On the following day, when they came from Bethany, (B)he was hungry. 13 (C)And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for (D)it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

15 (E)And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of (F)the money-changers and the seats of those who sold (G)pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, (H)‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But (I)you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and (J)were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because (K)all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 (L)And when evening came they[a] went out of the city.

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 11:19 Some manuscripts he
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. A fig tree with no fruit was cursed (12-14) A fig tree with leaves looked good from a distance. But when hungry Jesus wanted some fig, he found no fruit in it. It was like the hypocritical Jewish leaders with inner corruption. Such fruitless people will be judged as Jesus said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." These verses also seem to teach about the importance of bearing fruit especially when the Lord needs it. I must always be available to Jesus to be used by God. 2. A temple of God with no prayers was cleansed (15-19) Jesus arrived in Jerusalem and entered the temple area. Jesus saw the temple to be the den of the robbers. Jesus used Scripture to teach that the temple should be the house of prayer for all nations. Then Jesus drove out those sellers and buyers and overturned the table of moneychangers. But the religious leaders did not repent. They planned to kill Jesus judging him according to their tradition. Our heart is also the temple of God.

Prayer: Lord, help me not just look good outwardly but bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace... (Gal 5:22-23). Cleanse my heart and make me a house of prayer for all nations!

One Word: My heart is the temple of God!