It is a strange world we live in. People are very fickle and self-serving creatures. We now look at the Monday after Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. When Jesus leaves Jerusalem Sunday evening there is no fanfare following Him. He leaves with His 12 disciples and goes to Bethany. The next day, He heads back into the city of Jerusalem.
On the way, verse 12 states that Jesus was hungry. He saw a fig tree that was full of leaves, but as He approached it, He realized this beautiful leafy tree had no fruit. It had the appearance of a productive fruit-bearing tree, but it was barren! Because it was barren Jesus placed a curse on the tree and it withered before their eyes. Jesus was on His way back into the city, but He didn’t pass up an opportunity to teach biblical truth. This tree appeared as one that was healthy and productive, yet it was not. A great illustration of hypocrisy.
He proceeds to go to Jerusalem where He enters the temple and finds people taking advantage of those attending worship. They have set up their tables in church for the purpose of making money. Jesus shows His love for the Father and for righteousness, when He gets angry and throws those exploiting the church for their own gain, out of the church. These temple merchants were exploiting others, while they act as if they are doing this as an effort to serve God. Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and was angry.
In both situations on this day after His triumphant ride, Jesus deals with hypocrisy. The fig was misrepresenting itself, and so were the merchants. God hated hypocrisy then, and He hates it now.
This was just days before Jesus went to the cross. He did not slow down to enjoy His last days. He did not pass up an opportunity to teach the truths of His word. Sin bothered Him greatly, not just because He was the Son of God, God in the flesh, but also because He sought in everything He did to please the Father.
How much more in our present world should we be seeking and sharing the truth of God’s word. Satan provides plenty of things to take the place of God himself. So many are being led down the wrong path of thinking they are ok because weak Christians don’t want to study to know the truth or to expose a lie. Do we try to make others at church think everything is fine between us and God, while on the inside we know much of our lives do not please Him?
When we act the part on Sunday, but do our own thing on Monday, seeking to please ourselves, our own way, we are no different than those who cried Hosanna on Palm Sunday. Those that laid their cloaks for Jesus colt to walk on were caught in the emotion of the day. They were very sincere for the moment, but there was no substance to their worship.
What is the substance to your worship? Is the joy you show in public pouring out from the deep love you have, because you have studied to know God in private? Do you know how Jesus feels about the actions of your life? Is He pleased with your Monday through Saturday worship? These are questions each of us needs to ask ourselves daily. We may be hypocritical unintentionally, but intentional, or unintentional, the result is the same. May God help us to be honest with ourselves and honest with God.
Mark 11:12-18 “And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and Overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.”
