The chief priests and the elders of Israel approach Jesus and challenge His authority (to cleanse the template, teach in the temple, and accept worship). They want to know what authority He has and who gave it to Him. As was Jesus’ pattern, He doesn’t simply answer them but shines a light on their character and motives. Jesus poses them a question and promises to answer their question if they’ll answer His. He asks them where John the Baptist’s authority to baptise came from, was it from heaven or from man. The chief priests and elders are in a tough spot because if they answer that John’s baptism came from heaven, then they have to explain why they did not believe him, but if they say it came from man (which is what they clearly think) then they would have to deal with an uprising of the people who believed John to be a prophet. So they cop out and say they don’t know. If they weren’t prepared to be ensnared by His question, Jesus refuses to be ensnared by their question.

Jesus then challenges their position through a parable of two sons. A man had two sons whom he asked to go and do some work in his vineyard that day. The one son refused to go but later had a change of heart (repented) and went and worked. The other son agreed to go but didn’t. Jesus asked the leaders which son did the will of his father? The leaders replied that it was the first son. Tax collectors and prostitutes (sinners) were going into the kingdom of heaven before the religious leaders because they had not obeyed God, but at John’s call for the nation to repent, they were making a change. The religious leaders, even though they were the ones meant to be doing God’s work, weren’t. And even after hearing John’s message they did not change their minds and believe him.

How often do you find yourself like the second son, saying “Lord I’ll obey” or “Lord I’ll go” or “Lord I’ll do” but then don’t? Thankfully God is full of grace and love and always ready to restore relationship with those who turn and say, “sorry,” and then do what He asked them to do. Let’s make the switch like the first son today.

Jesus has been welcomed in as the expected conquering king who would free the Jews from oppression but the first thing He does is take on the religious leaders of His own people. He cleanses the temple by throwing out all who were using the template to make themselves wealthy. God had intended the template as a place of worship and the religious leaders had made it a place of selfishness and greed.

While the cleansing of the template might not have been a sign people expected of the Messiah, healing people was. He healed all the blind and lame who came to Him in the temple. The children around the temple continued the singing of the people, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” The religious leaders were upset because Jesus was comfortable to receive the praise they were singing to Him. Jesus replies by quoting Psalm 8:2 that it is from the mouths of children and babies that perfect praise comes. Then Jesus left Jerusalem, because He had not received the welcome that was due Him, and He went and stayed in an outside town of Bethany.

What is your worship like? Is it the pure and perfect praise of a child or has it been warped and distorted into something selfish and ultimately detestable to God? Would Jesus accept your praise or want to clean it up a bit like He needed to clean up the temple?

The next morning as Jesus returned to Jerusalem, he was hungry and saw a fig tree. Because of the leaves and the time of year, He expected little green figs to eat but the tree had only leaves. He cursed the tree because of its lack of fruit. The tree was symbolic of Israel who had often been compared to a fig tree and cursing the fig tree was a symbol of judgement against Israel. Israel had not produced fruit and so it could not be blessed by Messiah. The disciples marvel at how quickly the fig tree withered. Jesus explains that unlike Israel who had no faith, the disciples would need faith to see God work in their lives. If you desire to serve God and pray with faith, you will experience God working in your life (Psalm 37:4).

As they approached Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead to the village and asked them to find a donkey and its colt and bring them to Him. He also told them that if they were stopped, they should say that the Lord needs them and they will be released. This is another small moment that reveals Jesus’ omniscience (that as God He knows everything). The disciples did what Jesus asked and brought the donkey and colt to Jesus, laid their cloaks over them (like saddles) and Jesus sat on them (He probably rode alternating between them). This was all done to fulfil the prophecy from Zech 9:9 (and Isa 62:11) that Jesus would come in lowliness and meekness. Horses were a symbol of conquest and victory while donkeys represented peace and humility (Solomon rode a donkey into Jerusalem to claim his throne because he was to be known as a king of peace rather than of war like his father, David). Jesus came as the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6).

Most of the crowd laid their cloaks down on the road in front of Jesus and others cut branches and laid them down creating a “red” carpet for Jesus to enter Jerusalem on. The crowds led and followed him shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David” which means “Save us we pray, Son of David” (Ps 118:25). They also shouted, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Ps 118:26). As the crowd entered Jerusalem, the entire city was stirred and people asked who this was. The crowds declared Jesus as the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee, probably believing Him to be the prophet Moses had prophesied would come (Deut 18:15-18).

The crowds were excited and called out to Jesus to save them, but they were focussed on temporal things. They wanted salvation from the oppressive rule of Rome. We too can be caught up in temporal things like calling out to Jesus to save us from the pandemic of Coronavirus and returning our lives back to “normal”. Jesus did come to save Israel, and you and me. But He came to save us from what really counts, the wrath of God against our sin (Rom 5:9). Jesus didn’t do what the crowds expected back then, He did something better. Today, Jesus might not do what you want of Him but He’s probably doing something better (Isa 55:8-9; Rom 8:28-29).

As Jesus and His disciples leave Jericho and head toward Jerusalem they travel past two blind men. These men cry out for Jesus to have mercy on them. They refer to Jesus as the Son of David showing that they recognise His authority as the king of God’s coming kingdom. The crowd tell them to be quiet. They clearly don’t see these two men as important enough for Jesus to be bothered with them. The crowed are focussed on a triumphant entry into Jerusalem with Jesus and want to keep things moving. The men call out again for mercy. Jesus stops and engages with the blind men. Jesus’ mission was never for the triumphant entry, although that’s what He always deserved as the rightful king of Israel. Jesus had come for the weakest and so He asks them what they want Him to do for them. When they ask for their eyes to be opened He takes pity on them, touches their eyes and restores their sight. Now there are two more on the road with Him to Jerusalem.

It can be very easy for us to be like the crowd, too full of our own importance and ignoring those who are poor and destitute. But Jesus cares for everyone and wants us to care for the poor and destitute as well (Mat 25:40). Who do you need to stop for and help so they can join you in following Jesus?

The last thing Nehemiah had to deal with was people who had intermarried with foreigners, another thing they had promised not to do (Neh 10:31). God had forbidden intermarriage with foreigners because He knew that they would lead them to worship their gods instead of Him. It was clear that the foreign cultures were winning because their children could only speak the foreign language and not the Hebrew language of Judah. Nehemiah confronted them, called down curses on them from God, he even beat some of them and pulled out their hair (probably from their beards). Clearly Nehemiah was serious about this issue. He knew that God’s judgement would be far more severe and that was his ultimate concern. He reminded them about how even Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, was led into sin through his marriages to foreign women.

God requires that as a believer, you only marry a believer (2 Cor 6:14). Today we see far too many disregarding this requirement from God. An unbeliever will always pull a believer towards sin quicker and stronger than a believer has any hope of influencing the other way. Take God seriously in this issue and make sure that your closest relationships are only with believers. Yes, we must befriend unbelievers in order to win them for God but the relationships that have greatest influence on us must be influencing us to be more Christ-like.

Another thing that had happened while Nehemiah had been away was that the Jews had begun to disregard the Sabbath. They were working their fields and vineyards, pressing grapes, loading their donkeys and bringing their produce into Jerusalem to sell it, all on the Sabbath. There were also foreigners who were bringing in fish and other goods to sell on the Sabbath within the city. Nehemiah confronted the leaders about their wickedness. They had broken God’s law and gone against their covenant they had made only a few years earlier (Neh 10:31). Nehemiah prays for God’s help again and then confronts the problem. He has the doors to the city closed the Friday night before the Sabbath and gave orders that they remain shut until after the Sabbath. The merchants camped hopefully outside the gates but Nehemiah chased them away and threatened to use force if necessary, so great was his conviction that this needed to stop. He then stationed the Levites to guard the gates and keep the Sabbath day holy.

We may no longer be required to keep the Sabbath but we can consider some principles from this. The Sabbath was given to the Jews to give them an opportunity to rest and to give them a dedicated time to worship God. Both of those things are still very important today. Consider if you are setting aside adequate time to rest and focus on God or are you allowing the cares of this world like homework or work crowd out your time that should be dedicated to God?

Nehemiah had returned to the service of King Artaxerxes and then, after some time, he returned to Jerusalem. At the time he returned, they read from the Law of Moses and the people heard that no Ammonite or Moabite should be part of the Jewish community. The reason for this was because when they were entering the land of Canaan, the Ammonites and Moabites hadn’t helped them with safe passage, bread, and water, but instead had hired Balaam to curse them—God had turned that curse into a blessing (Num 22-25). When the people heard God’s word, they separated themselves from all those of foreign descent. Once again we see decisive action when God’s word is heard. Are you reading God’s word with the expectation that it will bring change into your life?

On Nehemiah’s return, he found that things had started to slip quite badly. Despite the covenant that had been signed (Neh 9:38; 10:39) the people had not done all they had promised to do and the leaders who remained had not held the people to uphold God’s law. Tobiah, one of the leaders of the opposition against the rebuilding of the wall, had been given a place to stay in the temple complex. Eliashib the priest was related to Tobiah and had allowed him to take residence in the chambers where they should have been keeping the tithes and offerings for the Levites, singers, gatekeepers and priests. Those things weren’t stored there because the people had neglected to bring in those tithes and offerings. Because of this, those temple servants had to go and work their own fields leaving the temple under-serviced. Nehemiah spoke with the officials and again stationed the temple workers. The people brought in the tithes again. Nehemiah prayed to God, “Remember me, O God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for my God and for his service.” Nehemiah was not praying that what he had done be remembered like we are reading about it today, but a prayer that God help ensure that what he had put in place would not be undone by the people’s neglect. Unfortunately, our sinful nature means we too easily slip into bad habits and sinfulness if we are not constantly reminded of God’s word and what God expects of us. What can you do to make sure you don’t slowly slip outside of God’s will for your life?

Nehemiah again showed his leadership strength by being the first to put his name on the covenant the people made to obey the Law of Moses. This was followed by the names of priests, Levites and the heads of families representing all those who had separated themselves from the people of the lands around them to obey God. They agreed by oath and understanding that they would be cursed if they reneged on their agreement.

They agreed to remain set apart as God’s people, to observe all his commands, rules, and statutes, to keep the Sabbath holy as well as the seventh year Sabbath rest. They agreed to give to the worship system of the temple, for sacrifices, the showbread and the wood needed to keep the alter burning. They agreed to bring in all the required offerings and to dedicate the firstborn of their sons and animals. They also agreed to regular burnt offerings to make atonement for the sins of Israel. Their agreement was summarised at the end, “We will not neglect the house of our God.”

Israel had been led by Nehemiah, Ezra, and the priests and Levites to place a higher priority on spiritual things, including taking care of the restored temple which was much more important than the task of restoring the city walls. How much focus do you put on spiritual things in your life? Practical issues like food, school, and such are important but your spiritual health is so much more important. Do you place enough emphasis on spiritual things in your life?

Israel’s wandering in the desert didn’t teach them the lesson they needed to learn about obeying God. God was long-suffering and merciful and gave them the land He had promised them. “Nevertheless, they were disobedient” and so it continued. Israel rebelled and ignored God’s law and even killed the prophets God had sent to warn them of their sin. So God handed them over to their enemies who made them suffer. In their suffering, they cried out to God who heard them from heaven and by His mercy, God sent saviours who rescued them. But as soon as they had rest from their enemies, what did they do but sin again. And time and again they sinned, God punished them, they cried out to God and He saved them, only to sin again 🤦‍♂️. Verse 33 brings this cycle of sin, punishment, remorse, and restoration to the time of Nehemiah where they admit that God has been righteous in everything He has done against the nation because He was faithful and they had acted wickedly. Now they found themselves as slaves in their own land and all the goodness of the land God gave them was being paid to the kings God set over them as taxes because of their sins.
Because of all of this, they resolved to make a firm covenant in writing that they would obey the Mosaic Law.

Israel’s history is a history of a nation that was inconsistent and wavered in doing what they knew they should have been doing. Israel’s history is also a history of a God who never changed. God remained righteous and faithful in spite of their seesaw from disobedience to obedience and back again. So many people say they can’t believe in a God who allows pain and suffering, yet the picture we see here is of a nation that repeatedly brings suffering on itself, while God patiently and lovingly waits, wanting to bless them but is unable to because of their sinfulness. Where are you on the obedience/disobedience cycle? Perhaps you need to start anew again today. Don’t wait until the full weight of your sin comes to bear and you have to cry out from your suffering. God is always willing to forgive when we readily repent (1 John 1:9).

Israel’s continued prayer now admits that they have a history of rebelling against God. God had remembered them and brought them out of Egypt but they refused to obey God and did not keep in mind the wonders that He had performed amount them. Instead, they stubbornly appointed a leader to lead them back to their slavery in Egypt. In the midst of their rebellion and sinfulness is this beautiful sentence, “But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.” Even though they had made an idol in the form of a calf, declared that the god that had brought them out of Egypt and blasphemed against God, He did not forsake them and leave them. No matter how grave your sin, no matter how grave your return to sin, God abounds in mercy and steadfast love and will not forsake you!

Instead of abandoning Israel in the wilderness, He led them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He instructed them by His spirit, He fed them with manner and provided water. For forty years He sustained them in the wilderness and they lacked nothing. Their clothes didn’t wear out and their feet didn’t swell. Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years because of their sin. God didn’t ignore their sin. They didn’t receive the fulness of His blessing but He continued to look after them very well.

Then God led His people into the promised land and they took possession and grew as a nation as promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They took possession of cities, land, and houses. They were given everything they needed including houses full of good things and established orchards and vineyards. They arrived and had everything they needed. They enjoyed the good things of life and delighted in God’s great goodness.

Think back over your life. How has God continued to show you His goodness and blessing in spite of your sinfulness? God isn’t about dwelling on the past but about moving you forward and conforming you into the image of His Son (Psalm 103:10-12; Romans 8:28-29).