Religious leaders in Jerusalem are determined to put Jesus to death, but they need a reason to report him to the Romans. A trap is set for him, followed by other questions and challenges, but Jesus responds brilliantly and stumps them with his own question.

This striking parable stands as a stark warning to ignoring the repeated invitations to attend a banquet offered by a king who represents God. The parable reverberates in Orthodoxy with many images and references, including entering the banquet without a wedding garment.

Some titles for the expected Messiah seem strange to us, such as "Everlasting Father" or "Angel of Great Council." But the Fathers of the Church understood their great significance and will explain them to us as we conclude this short series on the Messianic prophecies.

Continuing our study of Old Testament prophecies about the birth of Christ, we will see how the prophets clearly foretold not only the birth of a human Messiah, but something much more extraordinary: that the Messiah would also be God Himself.

In this special lesson, we will look at how the ancient Church interpreted Old Testament prophecies that foretold the birth of the Savior. How could anyone know that Jesus was the Messiah? The prophecies were key: they prepared the Jews by telling them what to look for.

The Lord cites a prophecy that was being fulfilled at that very moment: the Jewish leaders were rejecting their Messiah. The early Church remembered this important prophecy, but its significance was greater than mere fulfillment: It signified Christ's divinity as well.

The Lord's pointed criticism of the religious leaders of Israel continues. He enrages his opponents with another devastating critique in the form of a parable. He foretells his own death at their hands and that the "vineyard" entrusted to them will be given to others.

The Lord has cleansed the Temple and now is confronted by the Jewish leaders about the source of his authority to perform such an act. They attempt to trap him but he responds by revealing their hypocrisy and trapping them with the snares that they set for him.

This story from the last week of Christ's life puzzles many people. Why would Jesus curse a tree? But Christ's actions have deep, symbolic, and prophetic meaning. The sometimes elusive Fr. Costas will join us to talk about the meaning of Christ's act.

We say that Jesus "cleansed" the Temple, but how? What did his actions even mean? Why did he cause such a disturbance? Did he lose his temper or were his actions a symbolic commentary on the purpose, function, and attitude toward the Temple by his contemporaries?