Daily Devotions
Matthew
Returning to Teach in Jerusalem Each Morning
Text: Matthew 21 : 17 - 22
Each night, Jesus would leave Jerusalem after a long day of teaching, preaching and healing. He would walk the three odd miles to Bethany to rest for the night and then walk the same distance to Jerusalem each morning. One of the main ways in which Jesus moved from one location to another was by walking.
“Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany,
and He lodged there.
Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry.”
MATTHEW 21:17-18
A number of things may be said to explain why Jesus went hungry.
1. The habit of Jesus to get up very early in the morning
It was customary for Jesus to get up early in the morning to spend time with His Father in meaningful prayer.
2. An Early start
He had a three mile journey to make to Jerusalem. If He walked very fast, He might have made it there in just half an hour. However, if He were to take His time to walk to Jerusalem, talking to His disciples along the way, that same distance may take up to an hour to cover.
Walking in the early morning hour would be preferred. Thus Jesus would probably have missed breakfast.
3. No trouble to the host
It was already very good of the host to have Jesus and His disciples to stay in his home(s). To feed twelve hungry men would be another proposition altogether. The disciples would probably be having the evening meal in the home of their host in Bethany. It would not be unreasonable to assume that Jesus, not wanting to put the family to further inconvenience, would have chosen not to have breakfast.
4. Simple food along the way
How would they survive? The disciples knew just how to survive. They ate corn found in the fields. There were also fig trees along the roadside. Israel’s kind laws allowed the poor to pluck ears of corn for food, or figs if these trees were to be found.
“And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it
and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it,
‘Let no fruit grow on you ever again.’
Immediately the fig tree withered away.”
MATTHEW 21:19
AN OBJECT LESSON
It is important that we do not misinterpret this text. Let us ponder over the following thoughts.
1. Jesus was not being vindictive
Jesus must have had moments when He felt hungry! His sojourn in the wilderness for forty days must have left Him famished! He must have suffered occasional pangs of hunger! He was NOT a person given to whims!
Some may plead for “a second chance”. Israel had numerous chances! God had sent many of His servants, the prophets to speak to the nation. The people turned a deaf ear to the Lord.
Jesus was not being vindictive. He was merely declaring what God Himself had already decreed! He was pronouncing the inevitable judgment. This word of warning was also touched upon by John the Baptiser.
“And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree which does not bear fruit is cut down
and thrown into the fire.”
MATTHEW 3:10
2. A special lesson intended
Jesus never did anything without thought or reason. Why did he pronounce such a solemn declaration on the fig tree?
a) The fig tree was one of the national trees of Israel
The fig tree was used to symbolize Israel. The nation was essentially barren. It had not borne fruit for a long time! (The vine, the olive tree were also regarded as symbols of the nation of Israel).
b) The symbolic significance
The symbolic significance of this act cannot be missed!
i) Israel was being judged.
ii) Israel who had not borne fruit all this while now suffered the anger of the Lord.
It would henceforth not bear fruit!
THE DANGER OF BEING UNFRUITFUL
One word from Jesus was sufficient. The tree as it were, acknowledged the power and authority of Jesus! (Why hadn’t the chief priests and scribes recognized Jesus for who He really was)? The tree obeyed! It began to wither away!
Jesus’ power was extraordinary! First, He calmed the wild waves that threatened to capsize the boat in which Jesus lay sleeping! Now He pronounced a curse upon the fig tree and it soon withered away!
Why had not Israel appreciated the identity of Jesus? The Son of David stood in their midst and they could not recognize Him. Just as the fig tree was condemned for being unfruitful, so the nation of Israel had proven itself unfruitful!