Isn't it interesting when you found out something new about a well known passage. Often times, it sheds new light and causes the passage to have a new and/or deeper meaning. Such has been the case for me as I prepare for this lesson.
Interesting - Bethany means houseof dates and Bethphage means house of figs.
"Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" was originally a pronouncement of blessing on pilgrims coming to Jerusalem to celebrate a feast. Hosanna means save now. Likely the people were continuing to look for deliverance from Roman rule.
The curse of the fig tree
The leaves on the tree were a sign it was bearing fruit even though it was not the season for figs. Jesus pronounced a curse on the tree and the next day it was dead. This was a parable in action. The religious leaders of the Jews made an outward show but there was no fruit. This is a convicting passage for me. I wonder how many times I make a fine appearance but there is no fruit.
The Sanhedrin were in control (had authority) of the temple. The only higher authority was God, the Messiah or a prophet. When Jesus drove out the merchants he had in effect claimed authority. The Sanhedrin understood this and therefore confronted Jesus.
I've known for a long time that the Sadducees didn't believe in resurrection. Here's the reason (new to me) - They accepted only the first five books of the Old Testament as sacred. Because they found no evidence of resurrection in these books, they rejected that doctrine. How sad that they had the beauty and spiritual richness of the other books yet did not accept them!
Keith and I have discussed this passage in the past and it tends to make us sad that we will not be "married" in heaven. What we can't understand is that relationships begun here only deepen in heaven.
Which commandment is the greatest? The scribes identified 613 commandments - 365 negative and 248 positive!!
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