1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,000 Matthew Mark and Luke are often times called the synoptic 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,800 gospels. And what that means is, they 3 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:11,300 include many of the same stories even using the same wording and 4 00:00:11,300 --> 00:00:14,900 often in similar sequence. In fact, the word synoptic 5 00:00:14,900 --> 00:00:19,800 literally means together site, but this is compared with John's 6 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:23,100 writings who all, by way of content really is comparatively 7 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,600 different. Well, since some, none of this 8 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,800 synoptic records are exhaustive, we need to look to Matthew and 9 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,800 Mark's account together to get the full picture Hendrickson 10 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:37,800 wrote this, he said the gospel writers were not just mere. 11 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:42,500 Copyist, but independent authors who eats utilize their own 12 00:00:42,500 --> 00:00:45,700 methods. And in this case, what we have, 13 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:51,900 we have Mark that wrote in a chronological order, Matthew 14 00:00:51,900 --> 00:00:55,400 wrote in a topical order. For example, the event that's 15 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:59,800 before us today, Mark describes as beginning at 6 a.m. 16 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,300 On Monday and the application of all of that. 17 00:01:03,300 --> 00:01:06,200 And the sermon the Lord preaches is on Tuesday. 18 00:01:06,500 --> 00:01:10,000 In other words, he dealt with the chronological sequence of 19 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,700 things that happen in marks account between the actual 20 00:01:13,700 --> 00:01:17,500 cursing of the Fig Tree and the lesson that he taught on Tuesday 21 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,500 in between was the cleansing of the temple. 22 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:27,300 Now, Matthew just begins with the sequence of topics and since 23 00:01:27,300 --> 00:01:30,200 the next thing is the at 6 a.m. on Monday, Day. 24 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:35,100 He teaches this fig tree in one uninterrupted account. 25 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,300 So going back, just a little bit though. 26 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,300 Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. 27 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,600 And when he was finished, it was getting later in the day and he 28 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:47,700 made a sweeping survey of the temple. 29 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,700 He leaves the city and the company of the 12 and he spends 30 00:01:51,700 --> 00:01:57,400 the night in Bethany. Now, in the morning, it says he 31 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,000 was hungry. Now, I got to tell you. 32 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,400 I can't tell you the number of explanations that I read by 33 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:07,600 various Scholars, trying to explain why Jesus was hungry. 34 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:12,000 In other words, some pointed this out, if he went to Bethany, 35 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,900 no doubt he To the house of Lazarus. 36 00:02:14,900 --> 00:02:18,600 His dear friend, the one that he previously rose from the dead 37 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:21,200 and guess who else lived there in the house of Lazarus? 38 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:26,400 His sisters, Mary and Martha. And one scholar said, well, if 39 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,500 he went to Bethany, if you went to Lazarus house, Mary and 40 00:02:29,500 --> 00:02:33,000 Martha, no doubt were there to Martha being the great server 41 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,700 that she was didn't somebody get up and make him breakfast. 42 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,700 Did he get up extra early that day and just leave early? 43 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:49,000 Well consider this first of all first of all broadest says that 44 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:53,500 it was very common that the first meal of the day was in the 45 00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:59,300 middle of for noon or the middle of morning so it would not be 46 00:02:59,300 --> 00:03:03,200 uncommon for a man to be hungry at 6 a.m. and still have not 47 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,600 eaten me. Take it further JW McGarvey said 48 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,800 this. Trying to explain about why the 49 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,100 Lord perhaps had not eaten. Her was hungry. 50 00:03:11,700 --> 00:03:15,200 He said the closing Days of Our Lord were so full of activity, 51 00:03:15,500 --> 00:03:18,800 he doesn't have time to Terry and Bethany to eat. 52 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:23,000 Still others said this and this is entirely possible to by the 53 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:27,700 way, because there were times when the Lord avoided or evaded, 54 00:03:27,700 --> 00:03:30,700 someone coming to attack him because it was not his time. 55 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,800 Not because he was afraid, not because he didn't want to die 56 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:37,400 for the sins of the world and fulfill what his father had sent 57 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,200 him to do. But because he knew it wasn't 58 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,600 time. Some Scholars said because he 59 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,700 knew it wasn't time. He never went to Lazarus his 60 00:03:45,700 --> 00:03:50,500 house that night in Bethany he said once Tyler said no doubt. 61 00:03:50,500 --> 00:03:54,600 He spent the night on the quiet, slopes of the Mount of Olives 62 00:03:54,700 --> 00:04:00,800 and laid low because his time had not yet come Well the simple 63 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,200 fact is folks, you know what that matter and we don't know 64 00:04:05,100 --> 00:04:09,200 all we do know. All we do know is we know that 65 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:14,400 the Lord was hungry and we see The Human Side of Jesus I might 66 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:16,100 just say this is a beautiful picture. 67 00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:20,500 Of what the Bible describes of Jesus himself. 68 00:04:21,899 --> 00:04:23,300 No doubt. He's the son of God. 69 00:04:23,300 --> 00:04:26,900 And, you know, this, he's the son of God because he is fully 70 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,000 Divine. So, our Messiah was fully 71 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,000 Divine, Son of God. Yes. 72 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,100 What else he was is the perfect picture of things. 73 00:04:34,100 --> 00:04:37,600 I have preached to you. Over the years, he was hungry 74 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:41,600 showing that he is the son of man, meaning that he is fully 75 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:45,300 human. Our Messiah was fully Divine Son 76 00:04:45,300 --> 00:04:47,000 of God. He was fully human. 77 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:51,000 Of man and on this occasion, we get just a little glimpse into 78 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:57,400 his Humanity, he's hungry, all of a sudden in Matthew chapter 79 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:02,700 21 and verse 19. It says that seeing a fig tree 80 00:05:02,700 --> 00:05:04,900 by the road, interesting about that. 81 00:05:05,100 --> 00:05:07,300 This was a fig tree, that was standing there. 82 00:05:07,300 --> 00:05:11,300 No doubt all by itself. Very common in Palestine. 83 00:05:11,500 --> 00:05:15,800 And from what I have read very important in Palestine, some of 84 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:19,900 these trees provided Good shade for the harsh Mediterranean sun. 85 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,400 And I agreed that some of these fig trees actually reached 20 86 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:27,500 feet in the air. There was a time when a man was 87 00:05:27,500 --> 00:05:31,900 under the under the shade of the Fig Tree one time in John's 88 00:05:31,900 --> 00:05:34,900 gospel it records, I believe is John 1 and 49. 89 00:05:34,900 --> 00:05:39,300 I think it was a man by the name of Nathaniel and Nathaniel was 90 00:05:39,300 --> 00:05:43,600 underneath a tree, a fig tree. One of these great big fig 91 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,000 trees, it was providing shade form. 92 00:05:46,100 --> 00:05:49,600 You remember what happened? The Lord passes by and the Lord 93 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,700 calls him to discipleship. What was the man doing, though? 94 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:54,800 He was Wonder one of these great big trees. 95 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:59,300 Now. In addition to this about fig 96 00:05:59,300 --> 00:06:05,300 trees, figs were nutritious and very inexpensive and a wonderful 97 00:06:05,300 --> 00:06:09,400 source of food. In fact, in fact, before Israel 98 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:13,700 entered the promised land, God promised them the land would 99 00:06:13,700 --> 00:06:20,300 abound in Honey in wheat and barley in vines in pomegranates 100 00:06:20,300 --> 00:06:27,700 and in figs Deuteronomy chapter 8, and verse 8, so-so The Fig 101 00:06:27,700 --> 00:06:31,800 Tree is somewhat of a symbol of the blessing and prosperity of 102 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:36,700 the nation of Israel, a symbol of prosperity, and notice what 103 00:06:36,700 --> 00:06:40,000 happens. And it's when it starts getting 104 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,400 fun. They come by this fig. 105 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:47,300 Tree by the road. And it says he came to it, but 106 00:06:47,300 --> 00:06:53,400 he found nothing but leaves. What did he mean by that? 107 00:06:54,300 --> 00:06:57,000 In other words, marks account says, you know what he did, he 108 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,700 went over, he saw the leaves and what are you do? 109 00:07:00,300 --> 00:07:04,100 Great picture here, get this in your mind, he saw the leaves and 110 00:07:04,100 --> 00:07:08,200 the Lord goes over to the tree because of the leaves and he 111 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:14,100 inspects it for fruit. He was drawn to it by the outer 112 00:07:14,100 --> 00:07:19,200 sign of having figs. He sees the leaves and he goes 113 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:25,300 and inspects it for for fruit. But then there's more marks 114 00:07:25,300 --> 00:07:28,600 account says this too, but he finds none. 115 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:33,600 Because it was not the season for figs. 116 00:07:34,300 --> 00:07:37,600 First of all, may I say there is not the slightest evidence here 117 00:07:38,700 --> 00:07:43,100 that Jesus has lost his temper or he was moved by selfish 118 00:07:43,100 --> 00:07:47,500 emotions and he cursed the tree. I can't believe how many people 119 00:07:47,500 --> 00:07:51,100 I have or how many accounts I have read that have actually 120 00:07:51,100 --> 00:07:55,000 taken the spin that the Lord lost control because he was 121 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:58,500 hungry. That's not our Lord. 122 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:01,200 You don't think that you think that you don't think that our 123 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:05,500 Lord could maintain self-control regarding a fig tree, when he 124 00:08:05,500 --> 00:08:08,900 was hungry, when he did, all the things that he did for the sins 125 00:08:08,900 --> 00:08:12,000 of the world. When Jesus, for 33 years lived 126 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,100 in this life was in all points tempted, like as we are have the 127 00:08:15,100 --> 00:08:19,000 self-control yet without sin, but he couldn't contain himself 128 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:22,400 on this occasion. Make no mistake about it. 129 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:28,000 This was not the hungry fit of Our Lord, by cursing this tree, 130 00:08:28,300 --> 00:08:31,800 he comes to and he sees the leaves when he does, he inspects 131 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:36,200 it marks account says, but it had it was not the season for 132 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,600 figs one. Scholar said this to said this, 133 00:08:40,299 --> 00:08:42,500 it did it wasn't the season for figs. 134 00:08:42,500 --> 00:08:44,800 Therefore, when the Lord got there. 135 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:48,700 And saw, there were no figs, it was because that's exactly what 136 00:08:48,700 --> 00:08:51,200 should have happened. If it wasn't this Season for 137 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:53,500 figs, it wasn't going to have any things. 138 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,300 Please get this though. It wasn't that he was just 139 00:09:00,300 --> 00:09:05,000 hungry sees the Fig Tree, inspects it, for fruit finds 140 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:09,800 nun, gets mad curses it. And by the way, when Jesus 141 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:14,600 cursed the fig tree, And when it withered away, that was a 142 00:09:14,608 --> 00:09:20,000 miracle. That was a miracle. 143 00:09:21,300 --> 00:09:25,600 Now, no Miracle ever performed in the Bible. 144 00:09:26,700 --> 00:09:28,900 Was for personal and private benefit, not one. 145 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:34,100 If Jesus cursed the Fig Tree, thus performing a miracle and it 146 00:09:34,100 --> 00:09:38,100 Withers away, that would be, the only case in all of the Bible, 147 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,500 were a miracle, was performed for personal benefit. 148 00:09:41,900 --> 00:09:45,100 It was never done that way. And that's not what happened 149 00:09:45,100 --> 00:09:48,500 here either. Let's go further, let's go 150 00:09:48,500 --> 00:09:51,000 further. It's time for the Lord to teach 151 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,500 a lesson. It's time for the Lord to preach 152 00:09:54,500 --> 00:09:56,800 a sermon. Many times we reflect on the 153 00:09:56,800 --> 00:10:00,200 teaching of Jesus, and I've even said this and over the last 20 154 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:06,400 years trying to preach Often times we sit there and we that 155 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:10,100 speak publicly sometimes we really labor over. 156 00:10:10,100 --> 00:10:13,000 What, we're going to talk on what we're going to speak about, 157 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,500 and I have made the statement that the Lord just went from 158 00:10:15,500 --> 00:10:17,400 place to place me. He saw something. 159 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:19,900 He saw the need and he preached the perfect sermon for the 160 00:10:19,900 --> 00:10:22,500 occasion. That's exactly what he's doing. 161 00:10:22,500 --> 00:10:24,700 Here. He goes to the Fig Tree sees. 162 00:10:24,700 --> 00:10:27,400 The leaves has no fruit understands. 163 00:10:27,500 --> 00:10:32,300 It was not the season for fruit but it's time to preach a sermon 164 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:34,900 and the sermon is a Threefold lesson. 165 00:10:34,900 --> 00:10:39,300 Here it is. It was time to reveal Jesus as 166 00:10:39,300 --> 00:10:42,200 the Son of God. That's number one, it was a 167 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:46,000 lesson that's to teach that. It's utter futility to have a 168 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,100 profession of faith without works. 169 00:10:48,900 --> 00:10:52,300 Also, the lesson is that it reveals the mighty possibilities 170 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:55,600 of Faith beat. This is the threefold lesson 171 00:10:55,700 --> 00:10:59,900 that the Lord is going to teach. But let's go back to the phrase. 172 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,000 The it was not the season for figs. 173 00:11:03,100 --> 00:11:08,300 Now, I read some critics, And some critics said, you know, 174 00:11:08,300 --> 00:11:12,400 Jesus really acted irrationally if it wasn't the season for 175 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,100 figs, why do you have to curse the tree? 176 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:18,100 But you know, all you got to do is study fig trees and fruit 177 00:11:18,100 --> 00:11:21,100 back then and you can know exactly that if you took take 178 00:11:21,100 --> 00:11:25,200 that interpretation, you know, exactly that that's a wrong or a 179 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:29,100 false interpretation. What do we mean when it says it 180 00:11:29,100 --> 00:11:34,400 was not the season for figs. Well, first of all in Palestine 181 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:43,500 in Palestine, on many fig trees. fruit appears before the leaps, 182 00:11:45,500 --> 00:11:48,500 Now, when we got trees with fruit, we get the leaves first. 183 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:51,000 And then comes the fruit. Right. 184 00:11:51,900 --> 00:11:54,800 Did you know that in Palestine? Some fig trees? 185 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:59,100 The fruit came before the leaves now it's very important. 186 00:11:59,900 --> 00:12:04,100 Now in fact, there's only two Harvest times for figs in the 187 00:12:04,100 --> 00:12:09,100 area around Jerusalem. The first was for the early figs 188 00:12:09,100 --> 00:12:14,000 and incidentally these were figs that appeared on the tree at the 189 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:18,000 end of March. They came from Sprouts or shoots 190 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:22,300 from the previous year. They were called the early figs. 191 00:12:23,300 --> 00:12:28,100 Now. Since the Passover was an April 192 00:12:28,100 --> 00:12:30,800 we'll get to that in a minute, though was an April, we're 193 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:32,500 talking about the early figs here. 194 00:12:32,500 --> 00:12:37,800 Now the other time for Harvest of figs, were the late figs and 195 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:42,700 the length figs ripened in the late summer, and we're gathered 196 00:12:42,700 --> 00:12:46,700 from August to October. All right, so what are we 197 00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:50,500 talking about? These came from New shoots or 198 00:12:50,500 --> 00:12:54,100 new sprouts. The ones that came late, the 199 00:12:54,100 --> 00:12:57,400 ones that came early, we're fruit, that was produced in 200 00:12:57,400 --> 00:12:59,400 March from the shoots from the previous year. 201 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:01,600 Now, we're talking about what time of year. 202 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:06,400 Now, we're talking about around the month of April, that means 203 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,500 that what the gospel writers are referring to, in the accounts 204 00:13:09,500 --> 00:13:13,800 that are before us, if they're talking about the early fruit or 205 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:21,600 the early things, Now. I got to tell you, I didn't know 206 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:26,400 anything about figs at all. I didn't know anything about. 207 00:13:27,500 --> 00:13:30,500 Figs or trees from those areas before I read and study this 208 00:13:30,500 --> 00:13:35,000 subject. But it's amazing though. because 209 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:39,300 the fact that the fruit comes first, the fruit comes first. 210 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,700 You're about the month of April. Now, Jesus is about to be 211 00:13:42,700 --> 00:13:47,700 crucified in just a few short days and he comes to a tree and 212 00:13:47,700 --> 00:13:51,300 it's got leaps. In fact, it's in full Leaf, it's 213 00:13:51,300 --> 00:13:55,500 in full Leaf, Jesus inspects the tree and has no fruit. 214 00:13:56,300 --> 00:14:03,100 So as the result, the Bible says, Jesus cursed the tree so 215 00:14:03,100 --> 00:14:05,400 this was not a hungry fit by our Lord. 216 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:08,300 That just got mad at the tree because he was hungry and there 217 00:14:08,300 --> 00:14:13,300 was no fruit this Was just compensation for 218 00:14:13,300 --> 00:14:18,900 misrepresentation. That's exactly what that was JW. 219 00:14:18,900 --> 00:14:22,700 McGarvey wrote this, let me read it to you listen, though, it was 220 00:14:22,700 --> 00:14:27,800 too early for fruit. It was also too early for leaves 221 00:14:28,500 --> 00:14:32,100 the tree, evidently had an unusually favorable position. 222 00:14:32,500 --> 00:14:36,300 It seemed Devon Itself by being in advance of the other trees 223 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:40,200 and to challenge the Wayfarer to come and refresh himself. 224 00:14:40,500 --> 00:14:44,500 So, he curses the tree because it was Barren, but don't you see 225 00:14:44,500 --> 00:14:45,700 the point? It's time. 226 00:14:45,900 --> 00:14:49,300 Lord to teach a lesson, what is he possibly talking about? 227 00:14:49,900 --> 00:14:52,500 He's talking about something that appears one way on the 228 00:14:52,500 --> 00:14:57,800 outside but really indeed and in fact is another way, this is 229 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:01,800 what the Lord is doing. He is preaching a sermon about 230 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:07,900 hypocrisy. He is preaching a sermon about 231 00:15:07,900 --> 00:15:13,700 hypocrisy and the Fig Tree represents the Jewish Nation. 232 00:15:16,700 --> 00:15:20,700 Now. From a distance. 233 00:15:21,900 --> 00:15:26,900 Israel, boasted of righteousness Israel, boasted of having fruit 234 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:29,400 Israel? Boasted a being the people of 235 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:31,600 God. But on closer examination. 236 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:34,600 It was a hypocritical scam. There was no edible fruit 237 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:38,800 anywhere. Among them Johnson said this, 238 00:15:39,100 --> 00:15:42,800 just a few hours before those that were in Jerusalem, had 239 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:46,100 greeted the Messiah with unrestrained enthusiasm. 240 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:50,000 I said this in the introduction, I said it last week, they came 241 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,800 with the palm branches. They laid down the clothes that 242 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:56,700 went no doubt from Mount Olive. It all the way inside the city 243 00:15:56,700 --> 00:16:00,500 of Jerusalem. They were hailing the King on 244 00:16:00,500 --> 00:16:04,100 the outside with unrestrained enthusiasm. 245 00:16:04,100 --> 00:16:06,100 You know, what's going to happen in just a few days? 246 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:10,900 They're going to say, let him be crucified. 247 00:16:12,700 --> 00:16:16,600 They're going to say his blood be on us and on our children. 248 00:16:18,300 --> 00:16:21,100 They're going to say crucify him. 249 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,500 Incidentally, do you remember when they brought Barabbas out 250 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:29,600 that Highwayman a man, no doubt that was like Jesus described 251 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:31,100 with the parable of the Good Samaritan. 252 00:16:32,300 --> 00:16:36,800 Remember when they brought this this Creeped out. 253 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:42,000 And he standing next to Jesus, And one is going to be released. 254 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:44,700 And the statement was made, the question was made, which one 255 00:16:44,700 --> 00:16:47,200 shall I release unto you and they All Cried Out Barabbas. 256 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:51,700 Have you ever wondered this Didn't anybody say Jesus? 257 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:57,400 Wasn't there, anybody? What about the mindset of the, 258 00:16:57,400 --> 00:16:59,000 of the Disciples of the Apostles? 259 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,600 The Bible says, all forsook him and fled at some point. 260 00:17:03,100 --> 00:17:05,800 I just wonder if there was anyone there that cried out for 261 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,400 Jesus? Anyone that said Hosanna to the 262 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:13,599 highest on the previous Sunday Was there anyone that cried out 263 00:17:13,599 --> 00:17:17,099 for Jesus? Jesus is painting a picture of 264 00:17:17,099 --> 00:17:20,099 the hypocrisy of the Jewish nation. 265 00:17:20,700 --> 00:17:24,900 And I got to say, I got to say, if you want to make a practical 266 00:17:24,900 --> 00:17:27,300 application for our life, I just wonder this. 267 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:33,000 Are we one way on the outside in front of? 268 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,600 And in the midst of people that we want to them to know that we 269 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:40,100 are Christians, like our Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 270 00:17:40,100 --> 00:17:44,000 are our families are we one way on the outside with the leaves 271 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:49,300 full leaf that were Christian, but inside have no desire at all 272 00:17:49,300 --> 00:17:50,800 to make those changes in your life. 273 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:54,700 If that's the case, then we're just the same as what. 274 00:17:54,700 --> 00:17:58,900 Jesus described with the barren fig tree that he curses, were 275 00:17:58,900 --> 00:18:01,700 pretending to be something on the outside when on the inside 276 00:18:01,700 --> 00:18:04,600 were not even thinking about making changes. 277 00:18:05,700 --> 00:18:11,600 Unless non pas cracy. Now, interesting about this when 278 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:14,400 Jesus curses the Fig Tree, the lesson is not obvious to the 279 00:18:14,408 --> 00:18:17,100 disciples. So if you go to Mark's account 280 00:18:17,500 --> 00:18:20,800 marks, account has the Lord explaining, the symbolism in its 281 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:24,200 application of Israel. The next day on Tuesday, now in 282 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:27,900 marks account and Mark 11. And verse 14, Mark points out 283 00:18:27,900 --> 00:18:31,500 that this is all the disciples are listening to what he had 284 00:18:31,500 --> 00:18:35,800 said and that prepares them for the sequel that begins in Mark 285 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:39,900 11 and verse 20. Now, let's go in your mind. 286 00:18:39,900 --> 00:18:44,200 It's now Tuesday, right? It's Tuesday in the mindset. 287 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:45,700 They were all listening. What they hear? 288 00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:49,100 Jesus say, Jesus curses the barren fig tree and says, you're 289 00:18:49,100 --> 00:18:53,500 never going to have fruit. Watch this the next day in the 290 00:18:53,500 --> 00:18:57,600 morning as they passed by, they see the dried. 291 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:01,600 They see the tree dried up from its roots next. 292 00:19:01,900 --> 00:19:06,600 And Peter remembering said to him, Rabbi look the Fig Tree, 293 00:19:06,700 --> 00:19:10,000 which you cursed. Has withered away. 294 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,800 You know, Matthews account says, when you put it all together, It 295 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,700 says the disciples marbled and were amazed now, why do you 296 00:19:19,708 --> 00:19:24,000 think they marveled? Fowler said this fellow wrote, 297 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:27,100 he said, no doubt they were amazed because all the miracles 298 00:19:27,100 --> 00:19:29,800 of Jesus up. Until this point in time, we're 299 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:33,600 miracles of mercy and compassion, and all and so 300 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:35,700 forth. But all of a sudden, now this is 301 00:19:35,708 --> 00:19:39,200 a different kind of a miracle. This is a miracle demonstrating. 302 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:43,500 Punitive judgment Fowler said, maybe they were Amazed by that. 303 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:45,700 I think it's really simple though. 304 00:19:45,700 --> 00:19:48,500 I think the question actually Bears out what it means. 305 00:19:49,500 --> 00:19:53,100 I think the disciples were all amazed at how quick it died. 306 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,100 How quick it withered up, and how quick that it died. 307 00:19:56,500 --> 00:19:59,800 So, Peter says, what an amazing response to Lauren's going to 308 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,800 make in a minute. But Peter says he's remembering 309 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,800 as they're walking by. He said, Rabbi look. 310 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:08,900 The Fig Tree which you cursed has withered away. 311 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,100 In other words, I can't believe it is withered away. 312 00:20:12,100 --> 00:20:15,100 So very soon, he wants the answer from Jesus. 313 00:20:15,300 --> 00:20:18,600 This is how the Lord responds, what, an amazing response. 314 00:20:20,100 --> 00:20:26,100 So, Jesus answered and said to them, Have faith in God. 315 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:33,700 What an incredible response. All Peter says, is can't believe 316 00:20:33,700 --> 00:20:35,300 this thing is withered so quickly. 317 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:40,000 And Jesus says have faith in God. 318 00:20:40,900 --> 00:20:44,900 That was his response. And Jesus obviously is 319 00:20:44,900 --> 00:20:49,000 addressing all the disciples and not just Peter he doesn't give 320 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:52,700 him Peter and answer a direct answer for his remark, Peter was 321 00:20:52,700 --> 00:20:56,000 curious, why it withered away? Jesus now is going to preach a 322 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:58,900 sermon and he's going to talk about something that's extremely 323 00:20:58,900 --> 00:21:01,400 important. He's going to talk about having 324 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,600 faith in God. Now, this word have this word 325 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:07,200 have. It's an interesting Greek verb, 326 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:11,200 and it actually means it's in the, it's in the present tense. 327 00:21:11,500 --> 00:21:15,900 So, it actually means this, When Jesus says this to Peter and all 328 00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:20,600 the disciples, he is saying continually have faith in God. 329 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:25,400 So this isn't a one-time thing, this is an ongoing continuing 330 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:28,500 thing. Says he continued to have faith 331 00:21:28,500 --> 00:21:30,300 in God. What kind of faith? 332 00:21:31,300 --> 00:21:34,500 The kind of faith that relies on God, for everything. 333 00:21:35,700 --> 00:21:39,200 In particular. He's going to talk about the 334 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:41,000 effectiveness of prayer and really that's what he's 335 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:44,300 referring to. It's faith that disciples had so 336 00:21:44,300 --> 00:21:48,800 much trouble for trouble over how many times did the Lord have 337 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,400 to tell his disciples or ye of little faith? 338 00:21:52,300 --> 00:21:53,700 Do you remember? And I'll just be very brief 339 00:21:53,700 --> 00:21:56,600 about this, but do you remember when they could not cast out the 340 00:21:56,600 --> 00:22:00,000 demon out of the boy member that Matthew 17. 341 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:03,100 They couldn't cast out the demon when Jesus finally comes and he 342 00:22:03,100 --> 00:22:06,400 does so, and he cast out the demon and he goes away with his 343 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:11,100 disciples, the disciples asked. Jesus, why couldn't we cast it 344 00:22:11,100 --> 00:22:13,900 out? And Jesus says, because of your 345 00:22:13,900 --> 00:22:17,000 unbelief and it doesn't say unbelief in the original 346 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:19,900 unbelief. It actually says, little faith. 347 00:22:21,100 --> 00:22:25,100 In other words, they did not have enough Faith to rely on. 348 00:22:25,100 --> 00:22:28,900 God that they could do what the Lord promised them that they 349 00:22:28,900 --> 00:22:31,700 could do. They always have problems with 350 00:22:31,700 --> 00:22:34,000 that. They're still having problems 351 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:35,700 with that. Jesus is teaching them. 352 00:22:37,300 --> 00:22:40,000 A lesson on this. And then Jesus came a little 353 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:44,100 lesson about a mustard seed that there's their faith needed to 354 00:22:44,100 --> 00:22:49,900 grow to Greatness now, because the Fig Tree here, Jesus 355 00:22:49,900 --> 00:22:52,600 possesses the kind of faith and prayer. 356 00:22:52,900 --> 00:22:56,300 That causes this fig tree to be withered. 357 00:22:56,500 --> 00:22:59,300 And Jesus would point out this very simple thing. 358 00:22:59,500 --> 00:23:03,900 If they could simply have the same exact kind the same exact 359 00:23:03,900 --> 00:23:06,000 kind of Faith, they not only could do things. 360 00:23:06,100 --> 00:23:09,000 Things like Jesus did with withering, the Fig Tree 361 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:13,700 immediately but even the greater things of all, even greater 362 00:23:13,700 --> 00:23:16,800 things and would come like removing mountains. 363 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:18,800 We'll get to that in just a few minutes. 364 00:23:19,100 --> 00:23:22,900 Incidentally, the Lord's lesson is to fold its teaching time for 365 00:23:22,900 --> 00:23:24,500 the Lord. In fact, the entire thing the 366 00:23:24,500 --> 00:23:29,200 entire event becomes a teaching opportunity and it is a teaching 367 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:34,500 opportunity to talk about faith. And humility now. 368 00:23:35,900 --> 00:23:38,300 You know, when the Bible says, my thoughts, speaking of God, my 369 00:23:38,300 --> 00:23:40,600 thoughts are not your thoughts. And my ways are not your ways. 370 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:42,900 Saith, the Lord for us to hit the heavens, are higher than the 371 00:23:42,900 --> 00:23:48,100 earth, and so on and so forth. All Peter says, is look at the 372 00:23:48,100 --> 00:23:53,000 tree. and Jesus knows the hearts of his disciples and preaches a 373 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:57,800 sermon on faith and humility He knows what they need. 374 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:04,000 I can't know that the Lord knew that it's time for the Lord, 375 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:08,300 preached a sermon. Now marks account says in Mark 376 00:24:08,300 --> 00:24:14,300 chapter 11 and verse 23. For assuredly, I say to you. 377 00:24:15,700 --> 00:24:22,000 Whoever says, to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the 378 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:26,200 sea and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those 379 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:31,200 things, he says will be done. He will have whatever he says or 380 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:35,000 whatever he asks now. No doubt the mountain that he's 381 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:37,400 referring to perhaps is the Mount of Olives. 382 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:40,400 And the sea. I would think it would be, the 383 00:24:40,500 --> 00:24:43,900 men would be the density, even though some Scholars say, it 384 00:24:43,900 --> 00:24:45,500 could have been the Mediterranean Sea. 385 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:50,900 What the Lord is doing, is he speaking in hyperbole? 386 00:24:51,100 --> 00:24:53,700 That's an extreme exaggeration to prove a point. 387 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:56,100 You know what he's saying? He's saying if you have the 388 00:24:56,100 --> 00:24:58,100 right kind of Faith, what kind of Faith? 389 00:24:58,100 --> 00:25:00,900 The kind of faith that grows like the Mustard Seed, the kind 390 00:25:00,900 --> 00:25:04,100 of faith in your heart, that relies on God and everything. 391 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:06,900 You will have the proper Faith to be able to do what I'm 392 00:25:06,900 --> 00:25:09,200 telling. What you've just seen me do and 393 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:13,900 Even remove mountains. And in hyperbole, he said, it's 394 00:25:13,900 --> 00:25:17,400 like you could take the Mount of Olives and throw it down. 3,000 395 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:22,100 feet into the Dead Sea by exaggeration. 396 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:27,500 You know, Jesus often used exaggeration like that when 397 00:25:27,500 --> 00:25:30,200 Jesus was making a point about a rich, man, getting into heaven. 398 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:34,800 Remember what he said? It's easier for a camel to go 399 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:38,500 through the eye of a needle than a rich man to get into heaven. 400 00:25:38,500 --> 00:25:41,900 Incidentally, in those areas, they have what they call the eye 401 00:25:41,900 --> 00:25:44,400 of the needle, where camel would come in and the entrance. 402 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:46,800 And some people would try to explain away what the Lord was 403 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:49,100 talking about by saying what he's talking about is telling 404 00:25:49,100 --> 00:25:51,700 about that Camel coming into Jerusalem for real right through 405 00:25:51,700 --> 00:25:53,800 that entrance that they call the eye of a needle. 406 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,200 That's not what he meant. He means the eye of a real 407 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,500 needle. That's him. 408 00:25:58,500 --> 00:26:02,700 Speaking in hyperbole extreme exaggeration to prove his point. 409 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:05,500 He saying the same thing here, if you had the right kind of 410 00:26:05,500 --> 00:26:09,500 Faith, you could buy, hyperbole remove mountains and even cast 411 00:26:09,500 --> 00:26:15,000 it into the Dead Sea. You know, the disciples were 412 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:17,200 going to have tremendous obstacles, come their way. 413 00:26:19,500 --> 00:26:21,500 With all this encouragement and all the things that they were 414 00:26:21,500 --> 00:26:25,800 talking about. They need to understand that 415 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:28,400 they can move mountains of difficulty and they understood 416 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:30,800 that phrase by the way, we're moving mountains. 417 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:35,200 Among the Jews. Meant a metaphorical statement 418 00:26:35,300 --> 00:26:38,100 to describe moving mountains of difficulty in your life. 419 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:40,900 That's what that meant and they knew that. 420 00:26:41,100 --> 00:26:45,600 All right, so this is great encouragement here and sometimes 421 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:48,800 people would take this great encouragement and apply it in a 422 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:51,800 general sense. Well if it's going to be applied 423 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:55,200 in a general sense, JW McGarvey gives the following 424 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:58,600 qualifications in other words, if we're going to say in our 425 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:01,600 life that if we have, the proper faith, that we can move 426 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:04,900 mountains of difficulty that come our way, we have to apply 427 00:27:04,900 --> 00:27:08,500 the following clarifications that McGarvey gives here they 428 00:27:08,500 --> 00:27:13,000 are. Our number one, we cannot expect 429 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:19,100 to obtain that which is unlawful to desire number two. 430 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:25,300 We cannot expect to obtain that which is unwise to seek number 431 00:27:25,300 --> 00:27:28,600 three. We cannot expect to obtain that 432 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:32,200 which was selfishly, run counter to the will of God. 433 00:27:33,500 --> 00:27:37,800 And here's number four. We must not expect God to 434 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:42,300 perform miracles in our life. Because Miracles have ceased. 435 00:27:43,100 --> 00:27:47,000 So if we're going to apply this in general, that's fine. 436 00:27:47,100 --> 00:27:48,700 Yes, we have the right kind of Faith. 437 00:27:48,700 --> 00:27:51,300 Yes, we can move mountains of difficulty in her life. 438 00:27:51,300 --> 00:27:56,400 Yeah, that's true. But with these exceptions, if 439 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:59,800 these conditions, these qualifications, all of these 440 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:05,100 things do apply the garbage. Summarize the Lord's point. 441 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,600 By saying the disciples who Jesus addressed will soon enter 442 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:12,100 into a task, which would seem to him difficult. 443 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:16,700 As removing mountains, he went on further, he talked about the 444 00:28:16,700 --> 00:28:19,400 license and immorality of paganism and a fight against 445 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:22,200 that. That might have seemed 446 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:24,800 insurmountable. What about the bigotry and 447 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:27,700 Prejudice of Judaism? You know, we're studying in the 448 00:28:27,700 --> 00:28:30,100 book of Galatians. There are still Judy izing 449 00:28:30,100 --> 00:28:33,400 teachers coming in trying to bite aspects of the Old Law. 450 00:28:34,100 --> 00:28:36,500 It going back to the when the church was established on the 451 00:28:36,500 --> 00:28:40,200 day of Pentecost, from that point forward, the disciples, 452 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:43,800 the apostles had what seemed to be perhaps insurmountable 453 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:48,700 obstacles and objects They needed this encouragement. 454 00:28:49,500 --> 00:28:53,300 It might even be in been as difficult in their mind as 455 00:28:53,300 --> 00:28:57,300 Moving Mountains. They needed to be assured. 456 00:28:57,300 --> 00:29:00,700 That the power of Faith was Superior to all the adverse 457 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:04,600 forces. Now let's read it again. 458 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:08,500 We, they could not, they could not expect to obtain that, which 459 00:29:08,500 --> 00:29:10,800 is unlawful for the for them to desire. 460 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:14,900 They could not expect to obtain that, which was unwise to seek. 461 00:29:14,900 --> 00:29:18,900 They could not expect to obtain that, which his selfish Leon run 462 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:22,300 counter to the will of God, but it wasn't the age of Miracles 463 00:29:22,300 --> 00:29:27,000 and they could expect A miracle. And that's what it says in 464 00:29:27,100 --> 00:29:32,000 chapter 11, Mark 11 and 24. Therefore, whatever. 465 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:36,300 Things. You ask, you know, there's a the 466 00:29:36,300 --> 00:29:40,400 implied condition here. Is whatever they would ask of 467 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:44,300 God in faith. The implied condition would be, 468 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:47,700 what is asked in harmony with the loss of the will of God. 469 00:29:47,900 --> 00:29:53,800 And by the way, if you pray, you have to pray in accordance with 470 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:58,400 the laws of the will of God, we can never expect God to change 471 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:01,600 the laws of the will of God just to accommodate us. 472 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:05,500 Secondly, here's the other implied condition of the 473 00:30:05,500 --> 00:30:07,500 statement, whatever things you ask. 474 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:12,700 That every true prayer involves the submission of what is asked 475 00:30:12,700 --> 00:30:15,800 to the Judgment of the father. How many times have we said? 476 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:20,700 If It Be Your Will, or we put it in your hands, our brother just 477 00:30:20,700 --> 00:30:23,700 prayed a minute ago. He said that we pray for those 478 00:30:23,700 --> 00:30:28,300 that rule over us as I paraphrase that rule over us 479 00:30:28,300 --> 00:30:30,300 that they would never in act any laws. 480 00:30:30,500 --> 00:30:33,200 That would keep us from worshipping you our heavenly 481 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:34,800 father. But what are we doing? 482 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,500 We are praying to God but we are putting it in. 483 00:30:37,700 --> 00:30:41,800 His hands and his judgment. And his will. 484 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:49,500 In everything. Then it says this I say to you, 485 00:30:49,500 --> 00:30:54,700 whatever things you ask, when you pray believe that you 486 00:30:54,700 --> 00:31:00,100 receive them, your the word receive here in the original is 487 00:31:00,100 --> 00:31:03,100 in the past tense. Now get this, this is great. 488 00:31:04,300 --> 00:31:07,300 This is going to talk about how confident we are when we pray. 489 00:31:07,500 --> 00:31:10,000 Okay, here's the lesson. You know what this says to them 490 00:31:10,300 --> 00:31:14,000 he's telling them, whatever you ask, believe that, you receive 491 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:16,500 them. But this word received in the 492 00:31:16,500 --> 00:31:20,300 original is in the past tense. It's better rendered like this, 493 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:24,600 whatever things you ask, when you pray, believe that you have 494 00:31:24,700 --> 00:31:30,800 already received them. That fits. 495 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:34,900 That fits Paul's were John's writing, too. 496 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:40,100 The Epistle of John. In other words, when you pray to 497 00:31:40,100 --> 00:31:44,000 God, you have such belief in answered prayer that you believe 498 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:47,900 that God is automatically answering that prayer right now. 499 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:55,600 If it's according to his will He is answering that prayer as 500 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:59,500 you're pregnant. So, the main lesson here, the 501 00:31:59,500 --> 00:32:02,900 main lesson obviously is talking about having the right kind of 502 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:07,800 faith and I can't imagine living life without the right kind of 503 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:10,000 Faith. But there's more because the 504 00:32:10,008 --> 00:32:13,400 Lord now is going to talk about something else and this is very 505 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:15,400 brief and we'll wrap up our remarks. 506 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:17,800 He's talking about the right kind of Faith. 507 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:21,600 Peter says, look at the tree. He says, believe in God, have 508 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,900 faith in God, teaches them, a little sermon, if you just have 509 00:32:24,900 --> 00:32:27,000 the right kind of Faith, you're not only could do what I did 510 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:28,600 with that. Fig tree, but you can move 511 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:31,300 mountains of difficulty to speaking in hyperbole. 512 00:32:31,300 --> 00:32:33,200 You could take the mountain and even throw it into the sea. 513 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:37,700 Whatever you ask, you will receive with the conditions. 514 00:32:37,700 --> 00:32:41,900 We've already stipulated, but there's more It's also a lesson 515 00:32:41,900 --> 00:32:46,500 of humility. It's also a lesson of humility. 516 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:49,600 In other words, Jesus is saying, while we're having this 517 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:54,800 discussion about faith, we must also have a discussion about 518 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:58,000 humility and that brings us to verse 25. 519 00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:03,600 And whenever you stand praying, Now. 520 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:08,500 In a Bible, study of private bible study this last week. 521 00:33:08,500 --> 00:33:11,000 We're talking about the posture and prayer. 522 00:33:11,100 --> 00:33:15,200 Somebody asked a question about the posture in prayer And 523 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:21,400 sometimes we kneel down. when we pray, sometimes we stand. 524 00:33:22,500 --> 00:33:24,400 Do you know that there's no posture in the Bible? 525 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:29,000 Described for praying, none at all customarily? 526 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:30,400 We met Neil. That's good because, you know 527 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:33,200 what? Jesus made that example, Jesus 528 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:36,400 one-time, knelt in the Gospel of Luke when he prayed. 529 00:33:37,100 --> 00:33:39,800 So we have evidence of that. Why did Jesus say, stand, 530 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:42,500 though? Why did he say, stand, he sent 531 00:33:42,500 --> 00:33:46,600 stand because it was customary for Jews at that time when they 532 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:51,200 prayed they stood. So he's just using that example. 533 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:54,300 He said, oh my the way. When you stand praying. 534 00:33:55,500 --> 00:33:58,900 Because that's what they did, not that you have to stand up to 535 00:33:58,900 --> 00:34:00,400 pray. Okay? 536 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:07,300 Now, He says, when you stand praying, not speaking about a 537 00:34:07,300 --> 00:34:13,400 particular posture, okay? But he says this, when you do 538 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:18,699 that, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, 539 00:34:18,699 --> 00:34:21,699 that your father in Heaven, may also forgive you. 540 00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:27,400 Your trespasses, may I say one final thing about posture, it's 541 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:30,500 not the posture of the body, it's the posture of the mind or 542 00:34:30,500 --> 00:34:32,699 the heart. That's it. 543 00:34:34,400 --> 00:34:37,699 And, you know, it's, I don't know why people sometimes in the 544 00:34:37,699 --> 00:34:40,800 religious World prey of flippant type prayer. 545 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:46,199 Almost a words of disrespect, you're coming before the father. 546 00:34:46,199 --> 00:34:48,699 And I'm going to tell you, whether you kneel down, stand 547 00:34:48,699 --> 00:34:54,100 up, lay down, whatever you do, you have to make your heart 548 00:34:54,100 --> 00:34:58,200 reverent, and you have to submit your heart in a position or 549 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:01,800 posture, your hearts, the posture of reverence to God. 550 00:35:03,300 --> 00:35:06,400 Now, Jesus could I add something here to? 551 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:09,300 This is similar to the words on The Sermon, on the Mount. 552 00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:13,900 His point is our prayers will not be effective, even though we 553 00:35:13,900 --> 00:35:15,900 believe intensely, that's what he said. 554 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:17,500 If you have the right kind of Faith, you're going to get it 555 00:35:17,500 --> 00:35:20,800 right now. We saying there's a condition 556 00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:23,500 and it even if you have all that faith, it doesn't matter. 557 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:27,100 If you have a problem right here, you're not getting 558 00:35:27,100 --> 00:35:30,300 forgiven at all. That is amazing to me. 559 00:35:31,900 --> 00:35:35,200 I have to tell you, I got to tell you, I've wondered in my 560 00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:39,100 life, was there ever a time? When I held a grudge and did not 561 00:35:39,100 --> 00:35:42,400 forgive someone out of the hardness of my heart? 562 00:35:42,500 --> 00:35:45,500 Have I ever done that? And then just put that on the 563 00:35:45,500 --> 00:35:49,400 back burner gone on down the road and ask God to forgive me 564 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:53,300 that night of my sins. I'm going to tell you, Jesus 565 00:35:53,300 --> 00:35:58,000 said, while you're doing the standing in the praying, Why you 566 00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:00,300 have all that faith that I just promise you're going to have? 567 00:36:01,700 --> 00:36:05,200 If you have that kind of faith, if you have anything against 568 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:09,500 anyone and you don't forgive them, your father will not 569 00:36:09,500 --> 00:36:13,600 forgive you. Now let's go back to Peters 570 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:17,500 original statement. This is where I think the Lord 571 00:36:17,500 --> 00:36:20,300 is just so brilliant. Maybe this is an obvious to you, 572 00:36:20,300 --> 00:36:22,800 is just it just kind of jumped off at me, kind of obvious to 573 00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:26,400 me. Peter comes to the trainee, all 574 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:29,200 look at the tree and the tree. Okay. 575 00:36:29,400 --> 00:36:31,300 Hey, there's trees a withered away. 576 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:35,200 Maybe Peter in his mind was thinking this, what the Lord 577 00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:38,400 would have known. Maybe Peter in his mind was 578 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:41,900 thinking now, wait a minute, all those that are going to be 579 00:36:41,900 --> 00:36:46,600 enemies of ours, all those that are going to be hypocritical 580 00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:49,600 enemies will be able to curse them to just made me. 581 00:36:50,500 --> 00:36:53,700 Maybe in Peters mind. He was thinking we'll be able to 582 00:36:53,700 --> 00:36:57,100 do that with people too. I don't know. 583 00:36:57,100 --> 00:37:01,000 I don't know. Just maybe the Lord felt like, 584 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:02,800 wait a minute. Peter, I got to fix your heart. 585 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:06,400 I have to straighten out your heart because while you have the 586 00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:08,400 faith and why you saw me cursed the Fig Tree. 587 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:11,100 And when I said you're going to be able to even do that, let me 588 00:37:11,100 --> 00:37:15,300 fix your heart. In other words the curses on 589 00:37:15,300 --> 00:37:18,100 other men will be executed by God just as the curse of the Fig 590 00:37:18,100 --> 00:37:21,000 Tree, Maybe. He would have had a vindictive 591 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:23,700 spirit. I don't know, but Jesus made 592 00:37:23,700 --> 00:37:27,600 that point. Effective prayer, folks must be 593 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:31,200 with the loving heart. A person who prays must be 594 00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:36,200 willing with anxious desire to forgive others. 595 00:37:36,900 --> 00:37:40,800 Now, Jesus is not saying that if you forgive others, if you 596 00:37:40,800 --> 00:37:43,900 forgive others, you are automatically forgiven of your 597 00:37:43,900 --> 00:37:46,700 stuff. It doesn't say that it doesn't, 598 00:37:47,100 --> 00:37:49,700 it doesn't say automatic just do this when you get this. 599 00:37:52,100 --> 00:37:55,900 But rather the refusal to forgive others will stand in the 600 00:37:55,900 --> 00:37:58,400 way of you being forgiving and verse 26. 601 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:04,500 Our final verse But if you do not forgive, neither will your 602 00:38:04,500 --> 00:38:08,700 father in Heaven? Forgive your trespasses. 603 00:38:10,300 --> 00:38:14,100 You know, we've studied about trespasses on Wednesday evening 604 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:20,100 and we did discuss, the very fact that it was sins is talking 605 00:38:20,100 --> 00:38:21,700 about. If your brother's overtaking in 606 00:38:21,700 --> 00:38:26,000 a trespass in any trespass, with all my sin, you that our 607 00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:28,200 spiritual which is just a faithful, Christian go, help 608 00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:30,900 them, right? You know, it's amazing though. 609 00:38:30,900 --> 00:38:35,600 Is this work trespass? Means more than just gigantic 610 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:39,800 big sins, it does. It means more than someone 611 00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:44,900 that's overtaken in a big sin. That Galatians is talking about 612 00:38:44,900 --> 00:38:47,800 Galatians 6. It means more than that. 613 00:38:47,900 --> 00:38:50,800 This word is defined further. You know what, it also defined 614 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:56,200 as trespasses means to actually fall alongside it even means to 615 00:38:56,200 --> 00:38:59,700 make a false step. That means a little thing, a 616 00:38:59,707 --> 00:39:02,100 little bump in the road. Do you get the picture? 617 00:39:02,100 --> 00:39:06,200 If you won't forgive your brother or your sister, then 618 00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:09,400 you're not even going to be forgiven the little false steps 619 00:39:09,400 --> 00:39:11,600 you make in your life. Not even that. 620 00:39:15,300 --> 00:39:17,300 What a powerful? Powerful sermon. 621 00:39:18,900 --> 00:39:23,200 In closing, let me say. It's Monday morning 6. 622 00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:27,200 A.m. they came to a tree has leaves. 623 00:39:27,500 --> 00:39:30,400 Jesus is the inspector. He's the fruit inspector. 624 00:39:30,500 --> 00:39:34,100 He goes to inspect the tree for fruit because it has leaves and 625 00:39:34,300 --> 00:39:36,100 fruit comes first. So it should have fruit. 626 00:39:36,200 --> 00:39:38,300 Nope, not fruit. No curses it. 627 00:39:39,200 --> 00:39:42,800 The next day on Tuesday morning. They're walking by Peter says oh 628 00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:46,300 look at that, there it is. Why is it withered so fast and 629 00:39:46,300 --> 00:39:50,000 all the disciples are amazed Jesus says have faith in God. 630 00:39:50,400 --> 00:39:55,100 A You will faith in God that relies on God teaches a lesson 631 00:39:55,100 --> 00:39:56,900 about prayer. Says, if you can have the right 632 00:39:56,900 --> 00:39:59,000 kind of Faith, you can move mountains, you can take 633 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:00,700 mountains and throw them into the Dead Sea. 634 00:40:02,500 --> 00:40:07,000 But while you're doing that, Have a humble heart, and a 635 00:40:07,000 --> 00:40:10,600 forgiving heart of others, because if you don't forgive 636 00:40:10,600 --> 00:40:13,500 others, it doesn't matter all this faith and strong belief 637 00:40:13,500 --> 00:40:14,600 that you have. It doesn't matter. 638 00:40:14,600 --> 00:40:17,300 You're getting nothing from the Lord and you won't be forgiven 639 00:40:17,400 --> 00:40:22,600 even of your little false steps. I'm through. 640 00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:27,400 By the way, we're going to be on Tuesday, for a long time. 641 00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:31,500 Well, for quite a while, there's more recorded on Tuesday. 642 00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:36,500 There's more recorded in the last week on Tuesday than any 643 00:40:36,500 --> 00:40:39,900 other day, except for Friday. There's more on Tuesday says, a 644 00:40:39,900 --> 00:40:42,700 whole lot that Jesus does on Tuesday. 645 00:40:42,700 --> 00:40:45,400 Next, we're going to find the cleansing of the temple and also 646 00:40:45,600 --> 00:40:49,600 the day of questions or also known as the day of controversy 647 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:54,300 that's coming up. We thank you for listening to 648 00:40:54,300 --> 00:40:59,100 our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. 649 00:40:59,100 --> 00:41:02,700 Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional 650 00:41:02,700 --> 00:41:05,900 information, or you would like to receive a free Bible 651 00:41:05,900 --> 00:41:11,400 correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at her 652 00:41:11,400 --> 00:41:13,800 Church of Christ Bakersfield.com. 653 00:41:14,500 --> 00:41:19,700 Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 654 00:41:19,700 --> 00:41:24,200 Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us. 655 00:41:24,700 --> 00:41:26,900 We would love for you to be our honored guest.