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Verses 1-11 Jesus Comes to
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1As they approached
2saying to them, “Go to the
village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied
there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
3If anyone asks you, ‘Why are
you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
4They went and found a colt
outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it,
5some people standing there
asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”
6They answered as Jesus had
told them to, and the people let them go.
7When they brought the colt
to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.
8Many people spread their
cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.
9Those who went ahead and
those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in
the name of the Lord!”
10 “Blessed is the coming
kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest
heaven!”
11Jesus entered
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Concerning Jesus coming to
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1)
What was the
progress of Jesus and his disciples in their travel up to
o
They came to Bethphage and Bethany at the
o
Bethphage and Bethany can be found on the map shown on the
following page: https://bibleatlas.org/bethphage.htm
2)
What did Jesus
do?
o
Jesus sent two of
his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you
enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie
it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The
Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
3)
Where did Jesus
tell two of his disciples to go?
o
Jesus told two of
his disciples to go into the village ahead of them.
4)
What did Jesus
say the disciples would find upon entering the village?
o
They would find a
colt tied there, which no one had ever ridden.
5)
What is a colt?
o
A colt is a young
donkey.
6)
What did Jesus
tell the disciples to do with the colt?
o
Untie it and
bring it to Jesus.
7)
What did Jesus
tell the disciples to say to those who questioned them about untying the colt?
o
They were to say
that the Lord needed it and would send it back there shortly.
8)
Who is the Lord?
o
Jesus is the Lord.
9)
What did the two
disciples find upon entering the village?
o
They went and
found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway.
10)
What happened
when the two disciples untied the colt?
o
Some people
standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”
11)
What did the two
disciples do upon being questioned?
o
They answered as
Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.
12)
Did Jesus make
prior arrangement with the owner of the colt to borrow it?
o
Yes.
13)
What did the
disciples do when they brought the colt to Jesus?
o
They threw their
cloaks over the colt.
14)
What did Jesus
do?
o
He sat on the
colt.
15)
What did people
do?
o
Many people
spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in
the fields.
16)
What was the
significance of what people did?
o
The act of spreading
cloaks and small branches on the road was generally done for a king who was
traveling.
17)
What did people
who went ahead of Jesus and people who followed shout?
o
“Hosanna!’” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of
our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest
heaven!”
18)
What does the
name ‘Jesus’ mean?
o
It means ‘God
saves’.
19)
What does the word
‘Hosanna’ mean?
o
The word ‘Hosanna’
§
Means
‘save’.
§
Conveys the
notion of special honor to the one who saves, in this case, Jesus.
20)
Whom does ‘the
Lord’ refer to?
o
‘The Lord’ refers
to God.
21)
Who was coming in
the name of the Lord?
o
Jesus was.
22)
What is the
significance of the coming
o
The coming
23)
What is the
significance of ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven’?
o
Highest honor is
accorded to Jesus who saves.
o
The coming
24)
What did the
crowd intend to express through what they shouted as Jesus entered
o
The crowd was
acknowledging Jesus as Christ who was going to
§
Deliver the Jews
from the rule of the Romans.
§
Usher in the
25)
What is the potential
danger of riding an unbroken colt that has never been ridden?
o
An unbroken colt that
has never been ridden can offer a very wild ride to the rider with the
possibility of the rider being thrown off.
26)
How did Jesus do
with the unbroken colt?
o
Jesus entered
27)
What did it say
about Jesus entering
o
Jesus acted in
humility.
28)
What was the
significance of Jesus entering
o
A king would ride
a horse to war.
o
Jesus as Christ
the king entered
29)
Was Jesus
entering
o
Yes, Jesus was fulfilling
the prophecy as recorded in Zechariah 9:9.
· Ask a volunteer to read out loud Zechariah 9:9 that
says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter
Zion!
Shout, Daughter
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
+++++++++++++++++++++
30) What is
o
o
31) Where did Jesus go after he entered
o
Jesus went into the
temple courts.
32)
What did Jesus do
in the temple courts?
o
Jesus looked
around at everything.
33) What time of the day was it when Jesus went into the
temple?
o
It was already
late.
34) Where did Jesus and the twelve disciples go afterward?
o
They went out to
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· Ask for a volunteer to summarize.
· Ask for the rest of the participants to supplement the
summary.
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Verses 1-11 Jesus Comes to
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Verses 12-25 Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the
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12The next day as they were
leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
13Seeing in the distance a
fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it,
he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.
14Then he said to the tree,
“May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
15On reaching
16and would not allow anyone
to carry merchandise through the temple courts.
17And as he taught them, he
said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all
nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
18The chief priests and the
teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for
they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
19When evening came, Jesus
and his disciples went out of the city.
20In the morning, as they
went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.
21Peter remembered and said
to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
22“Have faith in God,” Jesus
answered.
23“Truly I tell you, if
anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not
doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be
done for them.
24Therefore I tell you,
whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will
be yours.
25And when you stand praying,
if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in
heaven may forgive you your sins.”
----------------------------------------
Concerning Jesus cursing a
fig tree,
----------------------------------------
35) What happened the next day?
o
The next day as
they were leaving
36) What did Jesus see?
o
He saw a fig tree
in leaf in the distance.
37) What did Jesus find out about the fig tree?
o
Jesus went to
find out if it had any fruit.
o
When he reached
it, he found nothing but leaves.
38)
What was the
reason Jesus found nothing but leaves on the fig tree?
o
It was not the
season for figs.
39) What did Jesus say to the fig tree?
o
He said to the
tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”
40) Who were there who heard what Jesus said to the fig
tree?
o
His disciples
heard him say it.
41) Did Jesus know that it was not the season for figs and
why?
o
Yes, because fig
trees are common in
42)
Did Jesus really
intend to satiate his hunger in going to the fig tree, hoping that he would
find some out-of-season figs?
o
No.
43) What did Jesus go to the fig tree for?
o
Jesus was using
the fig tree to teach his disciples a lesson.
44) What does a fig tree in the Old Testament symbolize?
o
A fig tree in the
Old Testament symbolizes
45) What did it mean for Jesus not to find any figs on the
fig tree?
o
It meant that
46) What did it mean for the fig tree to be in leaf but
bear no fruit?
o
It meant that
47) What did Jesus’ curse of the fig tree mean for
o
----------------------------------------
Concerning Jesus clearing the
temple,
----------------------------------------
48)
Where did Jesus
go on reaching
o
Jesus entered the
temple area.
49) What did Jesus do in the temple area?
o
Jesus
§
Drove out those
who were buying and selling there.
§
Overturned the
tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.
§
Would not allow
anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.
50) Why were people buying and selling in the temple area?
o
People were buying
and selling animals in the temple area used for temple sacrifices.
o
Many people
§
Traveled long
distances to come to
§
Did not want to
bring the animals along.
§
Preferred to
purchase the animals in
51) Why were there tables of money changers in the temple
area?
o
People who
traveled to
o
Money changers
offered the exchange service.
52) Why were there benches of those selling doves in the
temple area?
o
Doves were sold
for use in temple sacrifice.
53) Which temple area was occupied for these commercial activities?
o
It was the
outermost temple area that was the court of the Gentiles.
54) Did Jesus physically drive out people who were buying
and selling in the temple area?
o
Yes.
55)
What happened
when Jesus overturned the tables of money changers and the benches of those
selling doves?
o
Coins would be
scattered and cages with doves knocked over all over the place.
56)
Did what Jesus do
cause financial loss for the business owners?
o
Yes.
57)
What happened
when people carried merchandise through the temple courts?
o
Jesus stopped them.
58)
What can we
conclude about Jesus’ physique from this incident in the temple?
o
Jesus had a
strong physique.
59)
What did Jesus teach
them?
o
Jesus quoted from
the Old Testament and said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a
house of prayer for all nations’? But
you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
60)
What was the
temple supposed to be called?
o
It was supposed
to be called a house of prayer for all nations.
61)
Which function of
the temple was usurped by commerce?
o
Gentiles from all
nations could worship God and pray in the court of the Gentiles.
o
But that function
of the temple had been usurped by commerce.
62) What made praying difficult in the court of the
Gentiles?
o
Noise from price
hackling and arguing over exchange rate made praying difficult in the court of
the Gentiles.
63)
Why did Jesus say
that they had turned the temple into a den of robbers?
o
It was because
they charged exorbitant rates for their service.
64)
Were money
exchange, buying and selling of animals for temple sacrifice bad and why?
o
These things were
not bad in themselves.
o
In fact they
provided a needed service for those who traveled to
o
What made them
bad was that they were conducted within the temple thus displacing the sacred
functions of the temple.
65)
Where should commercial
activities related to temple sacrifice be conducted instead?
o
They should be
conducted outside the temple.
66)
What did Jesus do
for the temple?
o
Jesus returned
the temple to its proper sacred use.
67)
What was the
reaction of the chief priests and the teachers of the law toward what Jesus said?
o
They began
looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was
amazed at his teaching.
68)
Why were the chief
priests and the teachers of the law afraid of Jesus?
o
They were afraid
of Jesus because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
69)
Who is said to
want to kill Jesus in chapter 3?
o
It is said in
chapter 3 that the Pharisees and the Herodians wanted
to kill Jesus.
70)
Who in the
current chapter joined the rank of those who wanted to kill Jesus?
o
The chief priests
and the teachers of the law did.
71)
How did Jesus antagonize
the Jewish religious leaders in
o
Jesus stepped on
the turf of the Jewish religious leaders in
72)
Where did Jesus
and his disciples go when evening came?
o
They went out of the city.
----------------------------------------
Concerning the withered fig
tree,
----------------------------------------
73) What did Jesus and his disciples find the next
morning?
o
As they went
along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.
74) What did Peter say to Jesus?
o
Peter said to
Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
75) What did Peter address Jesus as?
o
Peter addressed
Jesus as Rabbi, i.e., teacher.
76) Is the withering of the fig tree the continuation of
the theme of the fig tree from the previous day?
o
Yes.
77) Should the cursing of the fig tree and its withering
be considered as one single unit?
o
Yes.
78) How should we treat the clearing the temple that is embedded
within the incident of the fig tree?
o
It should be
taken together with the incident of the fig tree as one single unit.
79) Whom did Jesus say the disciples should have faith in in his reply to Peter?
o
“Have faith in
God,” Jesus answered.
80) What did Jesus say about this mountain?
o
Jesus answered,
“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself
into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says
will happen, it will be done for him.”
81) What did Jesus refer to when he mentioned ‘this
mountain’?
o
Jesus was
referring to
82) What can a mountain symbolize in the Old Testament?
o
In the Old
Testament human opposition to God can be symbolically depicted as a
mountain.
o
For instance the
Babylonian Empire that destroyed
· Ask a volunteer to read out loud Jeremiah 51:24-25
that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
24 “Before your eyes I will
repay
25 “I am against you, you
destroying mountain, you who destroy the whole earth,” declares the Lord. “I
will stretch out my hand against you, roll you off the cliffs, and make you a
burned-out mountain.
+++++++++++++++++++++
83) What did Jesus imply when he referred to
o
Jesus implied
that the Jewish religious leaders who exercised authority in
o
As a result
84) What does saying to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself
into the sea,’ mean?
o
It means overcoming
85) Was Jesus advocating a way to overcome
o
Yes.
86) Did Jesus advocate a physical way or a spiritual way
to deal with
o
Jesus advocated a
spiritual way.
87) What was the spiritual way that Jesus advocated?
o
Jesus advocated
overcoming
88) How would prayer overcome
o
Have faith in God
that what is being asked for in terms of overcoming
o
Prayer said with
such faith would be granted by God.
89) How can we have our prayer answered according to Jesus?
o
Jesus said, “Therefore
I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours.”
90)
Was Jesus referring
to prayer as the means of getting whatever our heart desires or prayer
specifically for overcoming
o
Jesus was referring
to prayer specifically for overcoming
91) But did Jesus not use the physical way to clear the
temple?
o
Yes, Jesus did
use the physical way to clear the temple but the effect was only temporary.
o
The spiritual way
of prayer is the means for overcoming
92) What did Jesus say about forgiveness?
o
If we forgive
others, our Father in heaven may forgive us our sins.
93) What if we do not forgive others?
o
Our Father in
heaven may not forgive us our sins.
94) What is the ramification for our prayer if we do not forgive
others and therefore our Father in heaven may not forgive us our sins?
o
Our prayer would
not be granted.
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· Ask for a volunteer to summarize.
· Ask for the rest of the participants to supplement the
summary.
========================
Verses 12-25 Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the
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Verses 27-33 The Authority of Jesus Questioned
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27They arrived again in
28“By what authority are you
doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”
29Jesus replied, “I will ask
you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing
these things.
30John’s baptism—was it from
heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”
31They discussed it among
themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t
you believe him?’
32But if we say, ‘Of human
origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a
prophet.)
33So they answered Jesus, “We
don’t know.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing
these things.”
----------------------------------------
Concerning the authority of
Jesus questioned,
----------------------------------------
95) Who came to Jesus when Jesus was again in
o
The chief
priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to Jesus.
96) What questions did the religious leaders pose to
Jesus?
o
“By what
authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority
to do this?”
97) What were the religious leaders talking about when
they referred to ‘these things’?
o
They were talking
about what Jesus did in the temple incident.
98)
Why did the
religious leaders ask Jesus about the authority by which he cleared the temple
and the party that gave him the authority?
o
It was because the
religious leaders had the authority to set down temple practice.
99) What was Jesus’ reply to the religious leaders?
o
Jesus replied, “I
will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I
am doing these things. John’s
baptism—was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!”
100) What did the religious leaders do before they answered
Jesus’ question?
o
They discussed Jesus’
question among themselves.
101) Did the religious leaders think that John’s baptism
was from heaven or from men and why?
o
They could care
less where it was from judging from their reply.
102) Why did the religious leaders not say that John’s
baptism was from heaven?
o
It was because Jesus
would then ask them why they didn’t believe John if his baptism was from heaven.
103) Why were the religious leaders fearful about saying
that John’s baptism was from men?
o
They feared the
people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.
104) Did the religious leaders think that John was a
prophet and why?
o
They could care
less whether John was a prophet or not.
105) How did the religious leaders end up answering Jesus’
question?
o
So they answered
Jesus, “We don’t know.”
106) What was Jesus’ reply to the religious leaders?
o
Jesus said,
“Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
----------------------------------------
· Ask for a volunteer to summarize.
· Ask for the rest of the participants to supplement the
summary.
========================
Verses 27-33 The Authority of Jesus Questioned
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