What walls of protection do men build for themselves, and why can they never provide the same security as the Lord? Cf. Isa 31:1-3. In what way do people often look to religion for a hedge of protection? Cf. Mat 23:27-28, 2Ti 3:5, Tit 1:16. Although being religious may provide a measure of security because…
To whom is Jesus primarily speaking in this parable? Cf. the previous context of Mat 21:23-32, as well as Mat 21:45. Recall that Jesus often taught in parables in order that the meaning might be hidden from those who did not have ears to hear, cf. Mat 13:9-15; was that the nature of this parable? …
Was either of the two sons in this parable blameless in regard to the father’s command? What was the fault of the first son? How is the blunt refusal of the first son to obey the father’s command like so many when first confronted with the gospel call to repentance? What does this son’s later…
What parable does Matthew alone relate in Mat 21:28-30? To whom does He address it, and why? See Mat 21:23-27 and note that Jesus posed this parable to the delegation of Jewish leaders in response to their hardness of heart that refused to acknowledge the heavenly authority of both John’s baptism and His own ministry. …
Recall that on Tuesday of Passion Week while Jesus was teaching in the temple He was confronted by a delegation of Jewish leaders from the Sanhedrin challenging Him about His authority to go about teaching the people and cleansing the temple as He was doing. In answer to their question He asked them if John…
Recall that Jesus was confronted by a delegation of Jewish leaders from the Sanhedrin about His authority to teach and go about cleansing the temple as He was doing. They assumed that because they were in a position of authority in matters relating to God that they were the final authority in such matters and…
Who was it that confronted Jesus? See Mat 21:23, Mar 11:27, Luk 20:1. Who did they represent? See Mar 15:1, Luk 22:66, Act 4:5-7,15, 5:21,27, etc… and note that the NAS “Council” refers to the Sanhedrin or ruling body of the Jews (see text notes). On what day of Passion Week would it have been…
How does Jesus summarize what He is teaching His disciples in regard to the withered fig tree? See Mat 21:22, Mar 11:24. In light of His immediately preceding statement, what is the significance of the word “all” in these two verses? Again, what does this teach us about the potential power of prayer? Are there…
What does Matthew record was the disciples’ reaction to the withering of the fig tree? See Mat 21:20. Which disciple in particular does Mark say expressed his surprise? See Mar 11:21. What question did the disciples ask, and what does their question and amazement indicate about the withering of the fig tree being more than…
Recall that as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem on Monday morning after spending the night in Bethany, He saw a fig tree at a distance that had leafed out. Being hungry He went looking for some of the immature developing fruits that one would expect to find at that time, but instead found it to…