There are some truths to be learned from the incident with the fig tree.  If the fig tree represents Judiasm, then it is full of leaves, but has no fruit.  The fig tree withered quickly.  Judiasm came quickly to an end.  They were given a chance to accept Jesus as the Messiah and bear much fruit for the kingdom.  They rejected Him and so figuratively speaking, Judiasm withered quickly.

Ponder this concerning the parable of the two sons.  The first son represents sinners who repent and accept Jesus as Savior, then go to work for the kingdom..  The second son represents "cradle Christians", those who grew up in the faith who practice "churchianity", but never do any real work for the kingdom. What if the man had three sons and the third son, said yes and then followed through with doing work for the kingdom?

The following verse leaped off the pages of the Bible for us when we read it. This is what could be referred to as a "rhema" word from the Lord.  That is when the Holy Spirit "quickens" a word or phrase or verse and gives new understanding.

Matt 22:2
"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.

God is the King who is preparing a wedding banquet for His Son, Jesus and Jesus’ bride (that would be us!) This gives us a foretaste of the banquet that is to come, the heavenly banquet as we prepare to take up residence in our eternal home. Our temporary life here should be lived in anticipation of our eternal life to come. In light of the uncertainties and uneasiness of the political climate of today, the most important thing is to keep our eyes on eternity. For additional writing on how to live our lives as Christians in a fallen world email us for the writing Kingdom Living in a Foreign Land.

See the book These Last Days for other details on the heavenly banquet to come.


The religious leaders continue to prod Jesus with questions, hoping to trap Him into making a seditious statement against the Roman authorities.  Jesus continued to astound them with His answers.

When Jesus was asked by one of the teachers of the law about the commandments, He, in effect condensed all ten commandments into two.  The first four commandments concern our relationship with God.  Jesus condensed those four into "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."
The last six commandments concern our relationships with others.  Jesus condensed those six into "Love your neighbor as yourself."  
Keep in mind that Jesus has only a few more days before the crucifixion.  He's wrapping up the law.  Judiasm has only a few final days. Isn't it interesting that this particular teacher of the law answered by acknowledging that all the law really boils down to these two.  Jesus responded to that revelation by saying, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."  The teacher of the law is almost there but not quite.

Jesus had no problem condemning self-righteousness, false religion, legalism, injustice, hypocrisy, and persecution.  All those words sound sinful in nature, descriptions of non-believers...right???  Not so!   Jesus was speaking of the religious leaders of the day. Jesus said the religious leaders were like white-washed tombs.  They looked good on the outside but were full of dead men's bones.  The religious establishment was full of spiritually dead people. Any connections to today???

A very crucial verse is the one that tells us that Mary anointed Jesus in Bethany six days before the Passover.   This little verse establishes the entire timeline of Holy Week. Scripture tells us the next day (Saturday, not Sunday) was the triumphant entry.
For clarification see the website writings A Biblical View of Holy Week.
http://www.philandpatti.com/abiblicalviewofholyweek

Bethany was the home of Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and also Simon the Leper. It was about two miles from Jerusalem.

Many in the crowd that met Jesus and shouted Hosanna to Him were expecting a conquering Messiah. They were expecting a political ruler who would free them from the oppression of the Romans (among others).

John 12:16
At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

The disciples still do not understand. Many people think of the disciples as being well versed in Jewish law and scripture but they may not have been. They may not have been regular worshipers at all and may have know very little of the prophecies of the Messiah. That may explain why they did not understand so many things, even after Jesus explained things to them. They didn’t understand many things until Jesus was glorified.

The Pharisees were worried that "the whole world has gone after him!" Since there were people from all over the known world, they perceived Jesus to be a real threat to them.

"The next day as they were leaving Bethany...". Jesus and the disciples left Jerusalem on that Saturday (the Triumphal Entry) and traveled back to Bethany. The next day would have been Sunday when they arrived back in Jerusalem and Jesus cursed the fig tree.

Jesus was very indignant when he overturned the tables of the moneychangers in the temple. He did the same thing at the beginning of His mission. Since Jesus lived a perfect life, His actions tell us that righteous indignation is not a sin.

When Jesus quoted scripture, He was quoting from the law which the chief priests and teachers of the law knew very well. They knew the law. Jesus knew they knew the law. That’s why He quoted it!

The crowd said they had heard in the Law that the Christ must remain forever. This is why they were confused when Jesus said He must be crucified. The Law in this case means all of the Old Testament writings, not just the first five books of Moses or just the Ten Commandments.

When Jesus say “Father, glorify your name!” a voice spoke from heaven. Some said it thundered, others said an angel had spoken. Why the difference? Could it be that non-believers heard thunder, believers heard an angel? Why would people have thought they heard thunder? Was there a presence of dark clouds?

Are we as believers listening for the voice from heaven? If we are, maybe, just maybe we may hear it!

Since we could write a “book” on each day’s reading, we are going to try to pick out only a few selected verses to write about.

Concerning divorce: Jesus left no questions on this one A "no-fault" divorce is not scriptural. Modern day Jews however have something known as a "get" which is basically a "no-fault" divorce. 

The rich young man was keeping the old law. Jesus tells him, there's more.

When Jesus talks about the "renewal of all things", He is speaking of the Millennial Kingdom when the earth will be renewed. That is when the disciples will rule the twelve tribes of Israel. Couldn't help but think about missionaries concerning leaving everything behind. Not only will they receive eternal life, but will receive a hundred fold.

When speaking to the disciples about His soon-to-come crucifixion, Jesus said men would condemn Him to death and...
Mark 10:34
who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."

Jesus makes it pretty clear that He will rise in three days (three full days and three full nights), not three “parts” of days.

Mark 10:38
"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"

This baptism has nothing to do with water. Salvation happens when a person becomes a believer in Jesus. Being water baptized is an outward symbol of an inward change. The real baptism is baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus asked the blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?” Kind of a rhetorical question, don’t you think? But it illustrates an important point. Even though God knows what we need before we ask Him, He still wants us to ask. Amazing!

For details concerning the parable of the minas, see Parables to Ponder on the website.
http://www.philandpatti.com/biblestudies

One of the most important verses in Scripture for understanding the timeline of the last week of the life of Jesus is the following:

John 12:1
Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

For details concerning the timeline of Holy Week and the anointing of Jesus by Mary, see A Biblical View of Holy Week on the website.
http://www.philandpatti.com/abiblicalviewofholyweek

Let's ponder this verse today, the question that Jesus asked blind Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” and think about all we ask Jesus to do for us. How about directing that verse to Jesus and ask Him what He wants us to do for HIM!

When Jesus learned that Lazarus was sick, he delayed two more days. Why? By the time Jesus reached Lazarus' tomb, he had been in the tomb for at least three days. Mary and Martha would have already been back after the customary three days to permanently anoint his body. They knew Lazarus was dead. See the website writing A Biblical View of Holy Week for details on the importance of the three days. 

KJV says he “tarried”. How often when we are in distress and call out to God, does He “tarry” in His answer? But look at why He tarried in the story of Lazarus. He tarried so that they would believe. Could He tarry with our answers to prayer to bring about an even deeper faith or that we may grow spiritually?

When Jesus was returning to raise Lazarus, the disciples knew that He was in danger by going there, yet they said they were willing to die with Him. What happened later when Jesus was arrested? Were they willing to die for Him then?

When Jesus saw them weeping over Lazarus, he was deeply moved in spirit. KJV says he “groaned in the spirit”. He was troubled not only because they were sorrowful, but also troubled that they didn’t understand the “cocoon”. We can equate our life on earth as the life of a “caterpillar”. It isn’t until we go into the “cocoon” of death and spend a time that we are able to emerge as beautiful “butterflies” in the resurrection. Too often we want to remain a worm! Stay tuned for Phil's newest book - Butterfly Living in a Caterpillar World.  We have been promising this book for several years now. Maybe next year....

When the Sanhedrin met, they were concerned about what Jesus was doing and wanted to stop Him. Notice what Caiaphas prophesied. Jesus avoided them after that and retired to Ephraim, a city sixteen miles northeast of Jerusalem on the borders of the wilderness. 

Jesus rebuked the disciples concerning the children. In fact, He was indignant! He said they should not hinder them. Does that tell us how Jesus feels about little children? Does that tell us how important is the teaching of children?

Even adults should enter into salvation with the innocence and faith of little children and with the temper and spirit of a child with a teachable, mild, and humble spirit, free from prejudice.

The rich young ruler had been keeping the old law, but Jesus is telling him there is more.
“Jesus looked at him and loved him”. Put your name in there. See how it sounds?

Love of possessions. Having wealth won’t keep you from heaven, making wealth your god, (instead of making Jesus your God) will.

There is much debate on the camel and eye of the needle. Many think camel may have been mistranslated and it should have read rope instead of camel. It would be harder for a rope to go through the eye of a needle. Others think the eye of the needle was a small gate going into the Jerusalem wall. In order for a camel to get through this gate, all the baggage heaped upon the camel would have to be removed and the camel to go down on it’s knees to get through. This sounds like we must get rid of all the “baggage” of sin that we carry with us, or anything that hinders us and get down on our knees to enter heaven. Or Jesus may have meant it exactly as it is written, for a camel to go through the eye of needle, a profound and comical illustration.

Jesus tells the disciples they will sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

James and John, the sons of thunder, the bold and the loud, want Jesus to do whatever they ask of Him. They were thinking earthly. They were asking to be on either side of Him in His kingdom. How they must have felt to know about the two criminals on either side of Him at the crucifixion.

“…you will drink the cup I drink…”
Jesus is telling His disciples that “the cup” is His death and that they will also drink of “the cup”.

When blind Bartimaeus shouted out to Jesus to have mercy, Jesus asked him what he wanted. Jesus knew what he wanted! The man was blind!  He wanted to see! Jesus wanted him to ask. Just as God wants us to ask even though He already knows what we want before we ask Him.

In response to the question, “Are only a few people going to be saved?”, Jesus responded by telling them that it is a narrow door and many will try to enter and not be able to. Many say, “I came to church, I took communion, I served, I listened.” But did they really? Was it just “lip service”? Delusional involvement? What does God say about that? 

Each one of us must weigh in our hearts what God wants us to do. “For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” We speak and act from an attitude of our hearts.

For many of us, serving may not mean serving inside the walls of the church, it may be serving and witnessing on the job, in our homes, in our families, in our neighborhoods.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
These words are found also in Psalm 118 the center chapter of the Bible – the heart of the Bible you might say. It is a prophecy of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the beginning of Holy Week. He enters through the east gate of Jerusalem. Jesus calls Himself the gate. Psalm 118 says we will enter the gates of righteousness which Jesus will open for us.

In the parable of place of honor Jesus is teaching basic humility.

Jesus says to invite the poor, etc. and you will be blessed. If we give expecting something in return and get it we have already received our reward, but it is better to give not expecting anything in return, then our reward will come later.

Parable of the Great Banquet
Jesus is making the illustration of salvation and the invitations given to us. We have all received the invitation. The master of the banquet says to the servant to go to those who have been invited (the Jews) and tell them to come, everything is ready. But they are too busy with things of this world. Then the master says to go into the streets and bring in the poor, etc. (the tribes of Israel). The servant does so and they come to the banquet but there is still room for more. The master says to go into the country lanes (everybody else, the rest of the world) and make them come in until his house is full.

The first invitation was to those who were directly and selectively invited- the Jews. The second invitation was to bring in (to lead into) the people in the streets and alleys (the other tribes of Israel). This invitation was a little more persuasive. The third invitation was to make them come in. This word "make" means "to compel, to necessitate with an implication of distress". In other words, this invitation came with an exclamation mark! The objective was to fill the house. There is a certain number of souls to be saved. There is a finite number written in the Book of Life. John 1:35-51. 

What did Jesus mean when He said we must hate our family or we can’t be His disciple?
To hate in this case means to love less. Compared to our love for God it should be so much greater than our love for anything else that is off the scale. We must love everything else less than our love for Jesus.

What does it mean to carry his cross?

We may not be called to die for Jesus, but to live for Him!

Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin
Jesus says there is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents, and there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of heaven over one sinner who repents. The only time the Bible says the angels sing is when they sing the new song. (KJV records the angels say)

Parable of the Lost Son
The son wanted his reward now. He still is the son of his father and will inherit but his rewards will be less. Our salvation is secure. We can store up treasures in heaven or use them up here on earth. The lost son was not removed from the family, even though the older son thought he should be. The older son could be compared to “cradle” Christians who have been Christians most of their lives and have lived for Him and served Him.

Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man - also known as a midrash
There are a couple of lessons to be learned:
1. There is no second chance! When the door is shut, the door is shut!
2. Someone needs to go evangelize those who are not saved and are facing eternal death.
3. There are some who will not believe even if someone rises from the dead to tell them about it.

…the kingdom of God is within you.” The Holy Spirit dwells within every believer.

Parable of the Persistent Widow
Jesus is telling the disciples they should always pray. God will bring about justice for his chosen ones who pray to him.

Parable of the Vineyard Workers
Many come to salvation at the 11^th hour, but still receive salvation. “Cradle” Christians should not look down on “criminal on the cross” conversions.

When all is said and done, what matters is that we find that narrow gate to eternal life with Him!

Scripture says that Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. His entire being was focused on the job He had to do in Jerusalem.

When the people in a Samaritan village refused to welcome Jesus, the disciples James and John (the sons of thunder) wanted to call down fire from heaven but Jesus rebuked them. Jesus had no problem rebuking even His disciples.

The ten lepers according to Jewish law had to go show themselves to the priest to be declared to be officially clean, by going through ceremonial washing. This declaration of being clean was not made easily or quickly. See the Leviticus rules. They are specific and lengthy.

The man who came back to thank Jesus was the only Samaritan of the group. Isn’t it ironic that the only one who came back was a Samaritan? It was a Samaritan village who had not welcomed Jesus and the disciples.

When the 72 returned they were filled with joy.
“…rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Jesus was full of joy through the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ spirit testifies to their spirits. Their joy was genuine for all the right reasons. They had been obedient!
Just imagine, if we are full of joy through our obedience, then Jesus is full of joy because of it and He praises God, the Father. Filled Jesus with joy lately???

“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
This sounds like a contradiction. Didn’t He earlier say that we must take up our cross and follow Him? How then can it be easy and light? The word "easy" means it is "well fitted". Whatever He asks us to do is a job well fitted just for us. He never asks us to do anything that He doesn't "fit" us to do. If we are well fitted for a job, the burden is not burdensome. It is light. 

In the story of Mary and Martha, what was it that Jesus valued most? Martha was busy “doing”. Mary was devoted in her "listening" to the words of Jesus. We do that today through worship, Bible study, and prayer.

“…everyone who asks receives…”
What was He referring to in the asking? Later on He says “…how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Asking doesn't always mean physical, earthly things.

Solomon’s Colonnade was a two-story roofed portico (porch) on the east side of Herod’s Temple. It was a part of the outer courtyard. This was most likely the place where Jesus later stood during His trial before the crucifixion when He looked at Peter when Peter denied Him.

“…no one can snatch them out of my hand…”
Praise God our salvation is secure with Him!

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Jesus was the light of the world at the beginning as He will be at the end. “And God said, ‘Let there be light…” Genesis
“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”  Revelation
Jesus tells us that while He was walking on this earth, He was the light of the world. He no longer walks on the earth as a human man. When He left earth He promised His disciples He would send them the Holy Spirit. When we have the Holy Spirit living in us, we are the light of the world.

Jesus had no problem telling the Jews the way things really were with them. He rebuked them openly, even saying to them that they belong to their father, Satan.
“When he lies, he speaks his native language.”

“…before Abraham was born, I am!” Jesus establishes himself as the Divinity. He has no past tense, no future tense, but always the present.
Jesus is the “I AM” of the Old Testament. Jesus is not the “I was” or the “I will be”. He is the “I AM!” And always will be!

Jesus heals the blind man but notice the man doesn’t believe in Jesus at first. In fact he seems to not really know who Jesus is. When he is questioned by the Jews he is beginning to believe. “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” The Jews threw him out of the temple. They not only threw him out of the building, but by implication, excommunicated him. When Jesus finds the man he asks if he believes. This is the first time the man has actually seen Jesus. When Jesus healed him, the man had to go to the pool to wash before his sight was restored. The man’s response to Jesus’ question, “Lord, I believe.” Not only did Jesus open the man’s eyes, but He opened his “eyes” of understanding as well.

“…the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.” Only through Jesus is salvation. He makes it pretty plain!

“The watchman opens the gate for him…” God, the Father, is the watchman.

“…He calls his own sheep by name…” He knows us and calls us by name.

“…his sheep follow him because they know his voice…” We know Him and know His voice and follow Him. If we really know Him, we will be able to recognize false teachers and false teaching.

Jesus identifies himself as the gate. He tells us that He has come that we might have life abundant. That doesn’t just mean everlasting life. He has come so that we may have an abundant life here on this earth.

“…but I lay it down of my own accord…”
Jesus willingly allowed himself to be arrested and crucified. Are all of us as Believers in Jesus willing to lay down our own lives in service to Him?