It is remarkable that after thus acting in judgment in the cleansing of the temple, it says, “the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple; He turns the selfish hypocrites but receives the poor, the lame and the blind and He healed them.” But all these wonderful happenings, together with the crying of the children, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” only draws out the sore displeasure of the chief priests and scribes. They complain to Him, “Hearest Thou what these say?” In reply the Lord quotes to them part of Psalm 8, saying, “Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise?” Yet they were blind to what Scripture had to say of Him.
The Lord therefore leaves them and goes out of the city to Bethany, to pass the night there with those who were the true remnant of His people.
In the morning the Lord returns to the city and being hungry, as He passes a fig tree, he looks for fruit but finds nothing but leaves. Its time for fruit had not yet come. The Lord curses the fig tree, saying, “Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth forever. And presently the fig tree withered away!” The fig tree is a type of Israel as a nation, but the time for Israel’s fruit bearing Was long since past. Man after the flesh can never produce fruit for God.
On entering the temple the Lord is challenged by the chief priests and elders who demand to know, “By what authority doest Thou these things?” They would have Him recognize their authority. With admirable wisdom the Lord answers them by asking them a question: “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” This would prove either their dishonesty or their blindness. They had rejected John’s ministry and so they reason among themselves, saying, “If we shall say, From heaven; He will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe Him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all held John as a prophet.” Their consciences told them only too well what the truth really was, but they refuse to admit it however, and attempt to cover up their hypocrisy by pretended ignorance and answer, “We cannot tell.” To have given them an answer would only have sanctioned their iniquity, so the Lord refuses to tell them from whence came His all authority.
Whatsoever ye do, labor at it heartily, as doing it to the Lord and not to men. (Col. 3.23.)
The mercy of God is never separated from the Cross of Christ.
If you wish to be identified with Christ in the future, you must be identified with Him now.
If Paul had not had the thorn in the flesh, perhaps we should not have had the blessed text, “My Grace is sufficient for thee.”
ML-12/02/1962