March 7, 2021

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A Humble Messenger of Peace

Deuteronomy 5 and Deuteronomy 6

As Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, Moses transitioned from reminding them of their past to telling them their future. He reminded them that God’s rules are intended to provide freedom and prosperity, not to limit or enslave them. He challenged them to take ownership of their covenant with God. Otherwise, they would be enticed by the pagan customs of the lands they were entering.

Moses emphasized the law by saying: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). This level of deep devotion to God required constant reminders of God’s faithfulness. Moses knew the danger of enjoying the blessings and forgetting the Blesser. He challenged the current generation to teach the next generation. Each generation had to learn from their fathers before them. 

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” - Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Mark 11:1-19

Jesus chose to ride into Jerusalem on a colt, not a mighty warhorse. This distinction was important. Jesus wanted to be seen as a humble messenger of peace, not a powerful general who would overthrow the Romans. Jesus accepted the celebration of the crowd as the fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, yet He knew that the Messiah would suffer on behalf of the people. 

When Jesus cursed the fig tree with no fruit, it brought to mind a common metaphor for Israel in the Old Testament (Hosea 9:10). Here, the fruitless fig tree signifies those who appeared to be seeking God but lacked the true fruit of righteousness. 

Jesus rebuked those who were exploiting the people from the sale of animals and materials needed to offer sacrifices. They had turned a holy place into a den of robbers.

Make It Personal
  • What does it mean to take ownership of your faith? What is one thing you can do today to demonstrate your commitment to God?
  • What blessings do you have in your life? How can you keep your focus on God while enjoying the blessings He has given you?
  • A tree cannot “try” harder to make fruit. It needs the right nutrients and sunlight. What does Galatians 5:22-25 teach us concerning the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives? 

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