Four Points Church

Psalm 48 is a hymn and ritual worship song that was sung by Jewish pilgrims to Jerusalem.  It is a song that praises the eternal attributes of God by looking at the physical architecture of Jerusalem.  The psalm directs the pilgrims’ attention to the elevated mount as they approach the city, the walls and citadels as they enter the city, the temple mount and dwelling of God for worship, and the towers/ramparts as they leave.  This is a psalm sung to remember the majesty, glory, and eternal protection/deliverance of God.

We all have a natural propensity to forget information. Whether it’s forgetting an item on a grocery list or forgetting a birthday of a loved one, we can all recall a situation in which we had a difficult time remembering something. This becomes a serious problem when we connect this to our relationship with Jesus. Even in the midst of our forgetfulness, God remembers us and is compassionate because of His redemptive love He has shown us in Jesus.

Last week, we looked at Creation in Psalm 8, how God made everything good, to reflect His character. Man was given a special position, to rule over creation, and the privilege of bearing His image and likeness (Gen 1:26-27). This week we look at the Fall through Psalm 51, David’s prayer for cleansing and restoration following his sin with Bathsheba, his friend Uriah’s wife (2 Sam 11-12).

David here is coming off the last few psalms of being rescued from his enemies – to the brightness of a new day, much like a child coming out of a tunnel to see that light approach at the end of the tunnel and then the glory of creation around him. David is celebrating the majesty of God in Creation.

In our previous text we saw the Pharisees and Herodians silenced by Jesus. In this text another group known as the Sadducees attempt to discredit Jesus before the crowds. Unlike the Pharisees who sought favor with God through their traditions and works, the Sadducees were strictly Bible people.

This is the third parable that Jesus speaks after His authority was questioned by the Jewish leaders (21:23). Like the first two, this parable is a direct rebuke to the stubborn refusal of faith that is evident in the hearts of these leaders. The parable tells of a king who is throwing a wedding feast for his son. He sends out his servants to invite the kingdom. The response however is irregular. Some of his invited guests simply pay no attention to the invitation. Others respond more violently and beat and kill the kings servants who brought them their invitation.

The Jewish leaders come to Jesus and basically ask Him, “Who do you think you are and what gives you the right to come in here and try to change everything?”  The response of Jesus does more than just silence His opponents.  Jesus had already revealed to His disciples who John the Baptist was (Matthew 17:11-13).  John was the one who fulfilled the prophecies of Malachi.  He was the forerunner of the Messiah.  Anyone who knew who John was would recognize who Jesus was.  This is why the Jewish leaders were unable to correctly answer the question that Jesus asked.  They were proving their own unwillingness to believe Jesus was in fact the Christ.  Jesus will hammer down on this stubbornness in the following three parables.

We don’t need a temple or to perform sacrifices for our own righteousness or ability to come before God.  Instead we need faith in Christ Jesus.  In Him, and the forgiveness He freely gives us and commands us to model, we now have efficacy in our prayers, whoever we are and wherever we may be.

For those unaware of the modern slang term “hangry” it’s a combination of the two words “hungry” and “angry.” Many people read this section and think that Jesus was really angry and really wanted a fig from that tree. However, the actions of Jesus in this text are deeply symbolic and rich with prophetic interpretation. Jesus would have entered the temple and walked into the court of the gentiles.

Jesus has already told his disciples of a new world and thrones that are coming in the future (20:28). However, this is not all Jesus knows of the future. Jesus is already familiar with the cost of this coming kingdom. A cost He will have to pay. For the third and final time in Matthews gospel, Jesus describes the brutal tortures that He will endure once they get to Jerusalem. He will be delivered over to the gentiles by His own people. He will then be mocked, flogged, and crucified. These were the most horrific punishments available in the first century. Yet, Jesus was willing to face them for the salvation of His people. His sacrifice sets us free from sin, death, shame and guilt.