11th May 2010

Mark 11:12-26– Jesus cursed the fig tree and clears the Temple.

• A fig in Jerusalem at that time would not normally have fruit but the unripe fruit would begin to show itself. A tree in leaf would have fruit. Plus it would also be see from a distance.
• In this ‘enacted parable’ Jesus curses the fig tree which of course is a symbol of Israel because it has the appearance that promises fruit but when you get close it has none.
• Then Jesus enters the temple courts. This was the first court as was the one where gentile ‘God-fearers’ were allowed to go into. But the space was being restricted by the business that was going on there. Animals were being sold so pilgrims could but sacrifices and money was being changed so they could pay their annual temple tax in the local currency.
• There were various courts in Herod’s temple. He had wanted to build something to compete with the huge impressive pagan temples but had to work with the Biblical specs of the old Solomon temple. So although he kept to the original size that was very small compared to the pagan temples, he built additions to give it a sense of vastness and size. So his Temple precincts were enormous. A succession of concentric courts each got holier as you go closer to the proper temple.
• Court of the Gentiles – open to Jews and god-fearing gentiles adhering to the Noahide laws who would be given a place in the kingdom to come. This had in it the merchants, stalls and money-changers. The beggars and blind were here and so were children.
• Court of Women – Only Jews men and women could go in here. These courts contained the chests for tithes and the poor widows contribution.
• Court of Israel – only ritually clean Jewish men could enter here. When Jesus had come the previous evening and had a look around – he got as far as this court.
• Court of the Temple/temple approach – only priests could go here. It was so holy there were golden spikes on the roof so that birds would not settle and defile it.
• Temple Proper – you first came to the Holy Place which contained the lamp stand, the table for the bread of presence and the incense alter. Then the Most Holy Place which was separated off by a heavy embroidered curtain. Here was a single rock where the High Priest offered incense and sprinkled blood annually.
• It was built from 20BC and finished in ten years but was decorated up until 63AD
• The Jews were very proud of this place even the disciples drew Jesus attention to it. At that time Jesus prophesied it would be destroyed and it later was.
• Then they leave to go and stay with Mary, Martha and Lazarus as they did each night that week. The next morning they went back and passed the fig tree which is now withered. Jesus tells them if they have the same faith  that they could do even greater things.
• Both the temple and the tree are similar and hold a lesson to me. Appearance is not as importance as function.
• Both promised much, both drew your attention to them but only closer inspection by Jesus they were both cursed for the same reason. The figs did not provide the sustenance they seemed to offer and the temple did not provide the house of prayer for all nations because that area was being used for other reasons; the money-changers and merchants who were using it as a short cut to the Mount of Olives.
• Praying for integrity today.