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FEBRUARY 2
on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and
withered away. do not doubt, you will not only do what was
20 And when the disciples saw it, they mar- done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this
veled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the
22
away so soon?” sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you
21 So Jesus answered and said to them, ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

DAY 1:Why did Jesus cleanse the temple in Matthew 21?
This was the second time Jesus cleansed the temple.John 2:14–16 describes a similar incident
at the beginning of Christ’s public ministry.He regarded both merchants and customers as guilty of
desecrating the temple (Matt. 21:12). Items being bought and sold included “doves”and other ani-
mals for sacrifice. Currency-exchange agents, or “money changers,”present in droves, were needed
because Roman coins and other forms of currency were deemed unacceptable for temple offer-
ings. Evidently, both merchants and money changers were charging such excessive rates that the
temple marketplace took on the atmosphere of a thieves’ den (v. 13). Religion had become crass
and materialistic.
In verse 13, Jesus uses two Old Testament prophecies, Isaiah 56:7 (“My house shall be called a
house of prayer for all nations”) and Jeremiah 7:11 (“Has this house, which is called by My name,
become a den of thieves in your eyes?”) to justify His actions.When the holiness of God and His wor-
ship was at stake, Jesus took fast and furious action.The “all”(v. 12) indicates that He drove out not
only men but also animals.Yet,although His physical action was forceful,it was not cruel.The mod-
eration of His actions is seen in the fact that no riotous uproar occurred; otherwise the specially
large contingent of Roman troops in Jerusalem at that time because of the Passover crowds,would
have swiftly reacted. Although the primary reference is to the actions of the Messiah in the millen-
nial kingdom, Jesus’actions in cleansing the temple was an initial fulfillment of Malachi 3:1–3 (and
Zech. 14:20,21) that speak of the Messiah’s purifying the religious worship of His people.

6 “Your right hand, O LORD, has become
February 2 glorious in power;
Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed
the enemy in pieces.
Exodus 15:1–16:36 7 And in the greatness of Your
excellence
Then Moses and the children of Israel You have overthrown those who rose
15 sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, against You;
saying: You sent forth Your wrath;
“I will sing to the LORD, It consumed them like stubble.
For He has triumphed 8 And with the blast of Your nostrils
gloriously! The waters were gathered together;
The horse and its rider The floods stood upright like a heap;
He has thrown into the sea! The depths congealed in the heart of
2 The LORD is my strength and song, the sea.
9 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue,
And He has become my
salvation; I will overtake,
He is my God, and I will I will divide the spoil;
praise Him; My desire shall be satisfied on them.
My father’s God, and I will exalt Him. I will draw my sword,
3 The LORD is a man of war; My hand shall destroy them.’
The LORD is His name. 10 You blew with Your wind,
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He The sea covered them;
has cast into the sea; They sank like lead in the mighty
His chosen captains also are drowned waters.
in the Red Sea. 11 “Who is like You, O LORD, among the
5 The depths have covered them; gods?
They sank to the bottom like Who is like You, glorious in holiness,
a stone. Fearful in praises, doing wonders?

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