Suggested Teaching Objectives:

To teach that the Bible is reliable, especially in its prophetic teaching.

To teach that Jesus knows all things. John 18:4.

To teach that Jesus claimed to be God by His acceptance of such acclaim by the multitudes.

To show that He alone is worthy of our complete confidence and trust. Hebrews 13:8.

To show how He abhors fruitlessness and hypocrisy. Vs. 12-14.

To teach that the House of God is a place for reverence and prayer.

To teach the importance and value of faith and of a righteous life. CF. Isaiah 59:1,2.

To teach that we should love the Jew and seek to win them to Christ and help our pupils understand that it is because they were set aside that we now have an opportunity to be saved.

INTRODUCTION: Jesus was now nearing the end of His public ministry. He had been teaching and serving others through His miraculous power. Now He was coming into Jerusalem, the Holy City, and would now offer Himself officially to serve as their King.

Vs. 1 -- Bethany was just outside of Jerusalem and was the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

Vs. 2-7 -- The obtaining of the colt was a revelation of Jesus' divine wisdom. He knew where the animal could be found. The purpose of securing the colt was that Jesus' entry unto the city might be in precise and minute fulfillment of a prophecy made 450 years previously by the prophet Zechariah. (Zechariah 9:9). Many today ignore prophecy but just as Jesus came in perfect fulfillment of prophecy the first time, He shall come also again. Acts 1:11. Note: This colt, though was likely never broken to ride, was submissive to Christ. The animal world is, (CF. Numbers 23:21-33) but man is not submissive and fearful.

Vs. 8-11 -- As our Lord rode westward over the Mount of Olives and down the slope towards Jerusalem, the people displayed their enthusiasm and seeming understanding omission as Messiah by laying a carpet of clothing and branches along His path and rending the heavens with shouts of homage. Notice their words. The milling mob acknowledged that the Divine seal was upon Jesus' arrival and that He represented the kingdom of David. "Hosanna" means "Jehovah Saves". Clearly these folks believed the Messiah had appeared, yet in a few days, many of these would be crying out, crucify Him, crucify Him. This shows the fickleness of Human Nature. He is the only one upon whom we can fully trust to be faithful. Actually it was not the nation that proclaimed Him as the Messiah. The leaders fiercely resented the homage paid Him and voiced their opposition in no uncertain terms. Matthew 21:46. Jesus was indeed the Hebrew Messiah and through His rejection (John 1:11) the gospel (I Corinthians 15:1-3) would be given to all people (John 1:12).

The fig tree refers to Israel as a nation. Jeremiah 24:1-6. Beholding a fig tree, He approached it in quest of fruit, for He was hungry. Normally such trees did not produce fruit until June and now it was April. But having leaves it was deceptive for it should also have fruit if it had leaves. Therefore He cursed it. The effect of His curse was evident by the next day. Vs. 20 & 21. Jesus knew the acceptance of Him by the multitude was superficial and that they actually had failed to produce fruit for Him. Therefore the cursing of the fig tree paralleled the setting aside of Israel as an instrument in God's dealing with the nations. Romans 9-11.

This was the second time Jesus cleansed the Temple of those who were commercializing the holy things of the Lord. He had done this in the beginning of His public ministry. John 2:13-16. Jesus saw enough in the Temple to fill Him with intense anger. We must not think of Jesus only as a sweet, humble, lowly person but also as a person capable of extreme wrath and these are all characteristics of God.

Vs. 22&23 -- "This mountain" did not refer specifically to the Mount of Olives as some have said. God does not busy Himself doing silly, unnecessary things. "Removing mountains" was a Jewish figure of speech for getting rid of a great difficulty. The disciples understood what He was talking about. He was talking about the removal of mountains of difficulty. Nothing is impossible with God and those who are in fellowship with God can act in faith assured their request will be honored.

Vs. 24 -- Faith counts the things that are not as though they are. But we need to remember that these words apply only when we delight ourselves in the Lord and so the desires of our hearts are according to His holy will (Psalm 37:4).

Vs. 25&26 -- The state of the soul has much to do with the possibility of the prayer of faith. God only promises to answer the prayer of forgiving hearts.

By the Ecclesiastical Authorities -- Vs. 27-33

These showed their spurning of His offer to serve by coming and questioning His authority in:

Accepting the acclaim of the multitudes as the Messiah

Wrecking the interior of the Temple and chasing out the money changers

He answered with a question (verse 30). If they accepted John as a prophet of God then they would have to accept Him as the Messiah for John had so acclaimed Him. John 1:26-34. They feared the people so would not answer in the negative, so Jesus said, "neither will I answer you". They knew in their hearts He was the Messiah but they rebelled and rejected Him.

B. Prophetically Revealed as the Future Action of the People and Nation -- Ch. 12:1-12. CF. 15:11-14

The certain man in the parable is God. The vineyard is the house of Israel (Isaiah 5:7) The husbandman were Israel's spiritual and physical leaders. The servants were the prophets. His Son was Christ. This parable foretells that Israel would fully reject Jesus and cast Him out. Outside the gate, He was crucified.

Vs. 9 -- Refers to Israel being set aside and the gentiles being given an opportunity to be saved. CF. John 1:11, 12; Ephesians 2:12-14.

Vs. 10 -- The Stone refers to Christ. I Peter 2:8 and Psalm 118:22.

CONCLUSION: Jesus the Great Servant officially offered to serve Israel but they refused. Now He is offering Himself as a Saviour to all people. Revelation 3:20 and I John 2:1,2. What have you done about His offer and what are you doing about seeing that others know of His offer?