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Matthew 21:18-22
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18Early in the morning, as
Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.
19Seeing a fig tree by the
road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it,
“May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
20When the disciples saw
this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
21Jesus replied, “Truly I
tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done
to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself
into the sea,’ and it will be done.
22If you believe, you will
receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
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1)
Did Jesus go to
the fig tree for figs or something else, given that fig trees are common in
o
Jesus was using
the fig tree to teach a lesson.
2)
What did it mean
for Jesus not to find any figs on the fig tree, given that a fig tree in the bible
symbolizes
o
It meant that
3)
What did it mean
for the fig tree to be in leaf but bear no fruit, given that leaf is the
appearance of religiosity?
o
It meant that
§
Had the
appearance of religiosity.
§
But came up empty
before God.
4)
What was the
ramification for
o
5)
According to
verse 19 what happened to the fig tree when Jesus pronounced his curse on it?
o
Immediately the fig
tree withered.
6)
According to
verse 20 what were the disciples amazed
at?
o
They were amazed
at the fig tree withering so quickly.
7)
What did Jesus
refer to when he mentioned ‘this mountain’ in verse 21, given that
o
Jesus was
referring to
8)
What can a
mountain symbolize in the bible, given Jeremiah 51:24-25?
o
In the bible
human opposition to God can be symbolically depicted as a mountain.
o
For instance the
Babylonian Empire that
§
Destroyed
§
And sent
o
More than five
hundred years before Jesus’ time.
o
Is called the
destroying mountain.
o
Even though
o
· The facilitator asks a specific participant 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.”
+++++++++++++++++++++
9)
What did Jesus mean
when he referred to
o
10)
Is overcoming opposition
to God intended when a person says to a mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the
sea’?
o
Yes.
11)
What is intended
when a person says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ given
that ‘this mountain’ refers to
o
It is intended to
overcome
12)
In accordance
with verses 21 and 22 what did Jesus advocate as the means to overcome
o
Jesus advocated
prayer as the means to overcome
13)
In accordance
with verses 21 and 22 how would prayer overcome
o
Have faith and do
not doubt that the prayer request to overcome
o
Then it will be
done.
14)
Was prayer in
verse 22 the means for getting what our heart desires or for overcoming
o
Because of continuity
of context, prayer was the means for overcoming
15)
Since he had
already used the physical means to clear the temple, why did Jesus propose the
spiritual means of prayer, given that the physical means only produced temporary
result?
o
Jesus proposed the
spiritual means of prayer for result that lasts.
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Matthew 21:18-22
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