Judgment and Hope (Mat 21:18-22)

Class Outline:

Sunday September, 21 2025

 

Intro: The King presented Himself to Israel.

 

Witness with awe how God treated Israel and believe with the fear of the Lord and joy in Christ.

 

The church is the age of grace and eternal life to all who believe - be thankful to know that your faith will do the impossible - be like Christ.

 

Text: MAT 21:18-22

 

Israel failed to produce fruit.

 

Israel’s failure under the Mosaic Law explains their failure to recognize Christ.

 

Their failure, ironically, was in not seeing their real failure. The Law revealed several things, one of which was sin and need for a Savior (GAL 3:24).

 

The need for a Savior pervades all dispensations (LUK 13:1-9)

Gospel - faith in Christ as Savior. Why? All born in Adam (Jew and Gentile).

 

Leaves (fruit came before the leaves - should have been something there): Israel concluded that the outward show was good enough.

This thinking stemmed from another error - being born in Abraham was security with God.

 

They had the promises and the temple: JER 7:9-10. JER 7:11 (“I have seen it.” Christ went to the fig tree and saw it.”)

 

Israel’s failure under the Law explains their failure to recognize Christ.

 

God hungers for righteousness (MAT 5:6; HEB 1:9)

 

God sees all of you (HEB 4:13; HEB 4:12 gives you a backstage pass)

 

God judges (HEB 2:1-2, neglect your salvation and reap what you sow - the flesh, not loss of salvation but the fruit of it).

 

We witness the three things above in His Word and marvel (hopefully, MAT 21:20) and from there God calls us to faith (MAT 21:20-22).

 

Church age is the age of grace and eternal security (not a nation under a law, but a body of individuals, all saved and secure under the Head, under the law of the Messiah - greater!).

 

Church age is faith to do the impossible: move mountains (MAT 21:21) = to be like Christ by faith, Word, the power of the Holy Spirit within.

 

We can fail like they did, though we will not lose what they did (1CO 10:11).

 

We can fail to do the impossible (EPH 5:1, 8).

 

We will be like Him in eternity - loss of rewards in time and eternity (God loves you and will give you: supernatural conviction, conscience, discipline).

 

We can be leaves and no fruit (form of godliness)

 

The errors of mankind, of believers, are universal over the ages.

Church is an age of faith to do the impossible - to be like Him.

Example: Paul, John, Peter go through very similar tests as our Lord and handle them in the same way (before Sanhedrin) - move mountains.

 

Judgment on Israel (70 AD) - Jewish War

 

Withered fig tree “never” shall there be fruit. Is that the end of Israel?

Messiah presented Himself, Israel as a collective said no (leadership, many followed)

 

Not the end: unconditional covenants (“I will” not “If you will” conditional.)

 

Abrahamic, land, Davidic, New Covenants.

 

God is faithful to His covenants and will be faithful to you. Follow Him.

 

Example to us: application.

 

Faith, prayer, impossible (HS works where there is faith and worship).

 

Israel example: 1CO 10:11. Beware and go for it. Rejoice.