Jesus Gets Thieves Off the Temple Mount
December 12, 2022
Commentary
As Jesus and His disciples left Bethany for Jerusalem the next morning, He saw a fig tree with leaves (vv. 12–13). Being hungry, He expected to find fruit, since fig trees usually bear fruit when leaves appear. But when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves. Jesus then said, “No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever” (v. 14). This act was a lesson that outward appearance without real fruit is empty before God, warning us against empty profession.
When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple and saw people buying and selling (vv. 15–16). The temple tax required a special coin, and money changers charged high fees. Doves for sacrifice were sold at unfair prices. The poor were being taken advantage of. Jesus drove them out and said, “My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (v. 17). The religious leaders then began to seek a way to destroy Him (v. 18), revealing their hardened and selfish hearts and resistance to God’s truth.
That evening they returned to Bethany (v. 19). The next day, the disciples saw that the fig tree had withered from the roots (vv. 20–21). Jesus used this to teach about prayer and faith. He said, “Have faith in God” (v. 22). True faith trusts God’s power and brings every need before Him, even when circumstances seem difficult or impossible.
Jesus taught that prayer must include faith, expectation, and forgiveness (vv. 23–26). We must believe that God is able, expect that He will answer, and be willing to forgive others. A heart filled with bitterness cannot truly pray. God desires sincere hearts that trust Him, seek Him, and live in obedience, producing real spiritual fruit in daily life, reflecting His grace, truth, and transforming love.
Application
Do I only look fruitful, or am I truly growing inside? Do I trust Him in hard things? Am I holding unforgiveness? What step of obedience will I take now? Will I trust Him even when I cannot see the outcome? Bring your heart to God honestly in prayer. Lord, help me to forgive, to believe, and to live with real faith each day.
Mark 11:12–26 (NET)
12 Now the next day, as they went out from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 After noticing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it. When he came to it he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
15 Then they came to Jerusalem. Jesus entered the temple area and began to drive out those who were selling and buying in the temple courts. He turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and he would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 Then he began to teach them and said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have turned it into a den of robbers!” 18 The chief priests and the experts in the law heard it and they considered how they could assassinate him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed by his teaching. 19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
20 In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered.” 22 Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, if someone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your sins.”
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