Sunday, 12 August 2018

What does the Figtree tells us about False Religion?

Matthew 21 [True vs False Religion]

V1 to V11 : Jesus entered Jerusalem in the same manner that fulfilled (Zech 9:9), proving his authority as God and King, the Messiah.

V12 to V13 : Jesus overturned the Jewish temple, quoting from Isaiah 56:7 and Jer 7:11. He exposed the hypocrisy of the Jewish religion that looks grandeur on the outside, but corrupted on the inside. Being the Messiah, He has the authority to judge.

V14 to V17 : Ps 8:2 was cited to prove that the Children was praising none other than the God most high, not mere human which the Chief Priests and Scribes assumed. And they are likely to be unhappy with Jesus overturning the tables at the temple in V12-13.

V18 to V19 : Jesus cursed the Figtree because it seemingly showed that it had fruits (by the season of the leaves), but in actual fact was without fruit. Reflection of the Jewish religion in V12-13, that fulfilled all external piousness to show to man, but void of true Holiness that God demanded.

V20 to V22 : If we align ourselves to the same faith that cursed the Figtree (True Holiness, not false pretense), we can ask for a mountain to be removed and it shall be done. That is because if we have true Faith, our desires will be aligned to the True Vine (John 15:7); whose desire is that we may be spiritually reconciled and live Holy lives.

V23 to V27 : Scribes question Jesus authority (refer to V12-13 when he overturned the tables). Jesus used example of John the Baptist to prove that his authority is of God.

V28 to V32 : Contrast between a son who verbally rejected God, but ended up in obedience vs a son who verbally said he will obey but ended up in disobedience. This is true reflection of the Jewish religion that Jesus overturned in V12-13 and like the Figtree that pretended to bear fruit in V18-22.

V33 to V46 : The wicked Vinedressors are a reflection of rebellious Israel (ref Isaiah 5:1-8) who had a form of religion (Isaiah 1:12-15), but did not have true repentance. Instead, they killed the servants (represents the prophets) and finally the Son (represents Christ) of the Owner (represents God). The Vineyard will eventually be taken away from the Figtree of False religion, and given to true believers who will produce real fruits of the spirit.

Matthew 23, Jesus continues with a full condemnation of the False religious system of his time.

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