Even the lowest can find a home in Christ. What does it look like to bear fruit for Christ? Christ confronts the religious leaders of Israel for not bearing fruit, and is received by the lowly.

Outline:

Two Parts:

1.The King of the Kingdom Enters Jerusalem, and cleanses the Temple.

2.Confrontation with the chief priests, scribes and pharisees.

#### I. Jesus enters Jerusalem v.1-11

- v.4-7 - Fulfill Prophecy - x. Zech. 9:9 - 520-540 yrs. earlier

- "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;

righteous and having salvation is he,

**humble** and mounted on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

...

          - Donkey - 2 things - humility and peace.

          - Different Messiah

**Christ is the King, the Son of David - prophesied in OT.**

- v.9 - Hosanna - _aramaic_ _Hoshia-na,_ "Please save!" - praise.

#### II. Jesus cleanses the temple v.12-17

- Temple - the place given by God for worship, and for animal sacrifice for cleansing from sins. Its laws are talked about in the Old Testament.

- Money changers - were bankers that would exchange foreign moneys into the temple currency so people could pay for their sacrifices and tax. They likely made a lot of money for doing this, they were also selling animals... and it looks like they started doing this *inside* the temple rather than merely outside.

- chief priests - this is the High priest according to OT law, but also the priestly family line... at this point they had gained political power and also oversaw the judicial counsel called the Sanhedrin. Religious and Political Power.

- house of prayer - den of robbers - Is. 56:7 and Jer. 7:8-11.

- Malachi 3:1b - "And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple..."

- The book of Malachi was written some 400 years before this... God's word through a prophet against the corruptions of the priests....

- God foretold that he would send a messenger before Him to prepare the way, he would send Elijah, and that the Lord himself would suddenly come to the temple and refine the priests.

#### III. Jesus Curses the Fig Tree v.18-22

- Faith to move mountains

- why this story here? ... keep in mind the setting or context. no fruit - fruit is going to be mentioned later.

#### IV. Jesus' authority questioned v.23-27

- Christ asks about John the Baptist - His Forerunner.

#### V. Two parables of Vineyard v.28-46

- 1st - two sons asked to work in the Vineyard

- one says no, changes mind and goes

- other says yes, but changes mind and doesn't

- only one does the will of his Father

- Tax Collectors/prostitutes enter Kingdom - they changed their minds and believed John.

- 2nd - Master rents out his vineyard to tenants, sends servants to collect the fruit. They mistreat them - kill them... Sends his Son, they kill him. He will kill them and rent out the Vineyard to others who will

- The Master is God, Vineyard is his Kingdom... Tenants would be the chief priests, pharisees,

#### KEY Truths - v. 42-43 -

Christ is the Chosen Cornerstone of the Kingdom of God, though rejected by 'the Builders'.

Therefore - the Kingdom will be taken away from them and given to people bearing its fruits.

#### Application:

- [ ] Say Hosanna!

- [ ] The lowest may come - children, blind, lame, tax collectors and prostitutes...

- [ ] Change your mind and believe Christ - and enter his kingdom - as the tax collectors and prostitutes - the lowest and considered the most sinful.

Read from:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)

© 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.