Mat 21:12-22 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Matt 21:12-13: 21:12-13 The close association of the Temple cleansing (see John 2:13-16 ) with the cursing of the fig tree (Matt 21:18-19 ) reveals Jesus as the Messiah who confronted Israel and warned that God judges those who reject the Messiah and his message. 21:12 Buying and selling took place within the Temple complex, in the Court of the Gentiles. • Money changers profited from the exchange of money from other currencies into official Jewish currency. Jesus criticized the commercialism that profaned the holiness of the Temple (see Mark 11:11-18 ).

Summary for Matt 21:12-13: 21:12-13 ^a The close association of the Temple cleansing (see John 2:13-16 ^b) with the cursing of the fig tree (Matt 21:18-19 ^c) reveals Jesus as the Messiah who confronted Israel and warned that God judges those who reject the Messiah and his message. 21:12 ^d Buying and selling took place within the Temple complex, in the Court of the Gentiles.

• Money changers profited from the exchange of money from other currencies into official Jewish currency. Jesus criticized the commercialism that profaned the holiness of the Temple (see Mark 11:11-18 ^e).
21:13 ^f Jesus’ actions were justified, because God’s glory was being desecrated through financial exploitation.
21:15 ^g The Jewish leaders’ stubborn refusal to believe is contrasted with the exuberant faith and praise of little children (see 18:1-14 ^h; 19:13-15 ⁱ).
21:16 ^j Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? Jesus put this penetrating question to opponents who did not perceive the fulfillment of messianic promises in his ministry. See also 12:3 ^k, 5 ^l; 19:4 ^m; 21:42 ⁿ; 22:31 ^o.
21:19 ^p there were only leaves: Mark observes that “it was too early in the season for fruit” (see Mark 11:13 ^q). It was spring (just before Passover); figs form in the spring but ripen in the fall.

• immediately the fig tree withered: Matthew has apparently compressed the story (cp. Matt 21:18-22 ^r; Mark 11:13-14 ^s, 20-23 ^t). The cursing of the fig tree is a symbolic gesture depicting God’s judgment on Israel for rejecting the Messiah (see Matt 3:9 ^u; 8:11-12 ^v). Like a fig tree that shows promise but no fruit, the Israelites (especially the hypocritical leaders) did not bear the fruit of receiving the Messiah (see 21:33-46 ^w).
21:22 ^x Jesus was exhorting the disciples to trust in God and to pray accordingly. He was not offering God’s unconditional endorsement of all that they might desire (1 Jn 5:14-15 ^y).