Compared to Sunday and Monday, Tuesday is rather lengthy in our Bibles. Matthew begins in 21:20 and goes all the way until 23:39. Mark’s account begins in 11:20 and continues until 12:44. Luke also records this day with verses ranging from 20:1-21:4. In short, there are many more verses attributed to Tuesday than either Sunday or Monday. The reason for this is simple-the plot is thickening. Jesus is going to take His conflict with the religious and political leaders to a whole new level on this day. The number of verses alone in Matthew’s Gospel are challenging enough to summarize in a blog of this size. Taking a few moments to read the verses I’ve listed above will be a great help to get the visual imagery of the importance of this day.

The day begins innocently enough as Jesus and His followers pass by the fig tree from the day before. Jesus takes a moment to discuss the importance of faith in God with His followers in Matt 21:20-22. He encourages them to believe and not doubt. This will become increasingly important and relevant once the day begins to unfold. Jesus is getting ready to walk into a hornet’s nest. He does not waste any words with His disciples. He encourages them to forgive others who have wronged them so that their own sins will be forgiven by God as well. Considering the brevity of time He has remaining with His followers, this is no small point to be making. The disciples have no idea what is waiting on them once they reach Jerusalem. Jesus knows. Though He has already passed the point of no return, this day will heighten the hatred in ways we can hardly imagine.

Matt 21:23-23:39 is extremely difficult to summarize. The sheer volume of words and messages, alone, is daunting. The pastor in me wants to preach them…but that’s the purpose of this blog. Perhaps it is best to say Jesus goes “toe-to-toe” with the leadership in Jerusalem. Upon His arrival in the Temple on Tuesday morning, a crowd has already gathered to hear Him teach and to see what He will do next. His actions from the day before still hung in the air. But it wasn’t the just the crowd who had gathered. The chief priests, scribes, and elders immediately approach Jesus upon His arrival. They are not happy about His “cleansing” of the Temple. The reason is pretty clear–the Temple was “theirs.” Driving out moneychangers, flipping over tables, and calling the Temple “My house” had infuriated them. They challenged Jesus on the issue of authority. Who had given Him this authority to do what He had done? The Temple was their seat of authority…and everyone knew it. They demanded answers. Jesus will not only answer them…He will confuse, challenge, amaze, and even embarrass them.

It is at this point He begins to ask questions that stump them. He begins to speak in parables…some of them are “famous” and well-known to us…and many of them will ultimately point to how unfit these so-called leaders are in their roles. The parable of the two sons (Matt 21:28-32), for example, will condemn the religious authorities for not believing John the Baptist, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. The parable of the tenants (Matt 21:33-44) portrays the scribes, chief priests, and Pharisees as disobedient, thieving, and murdering tenants. The parable of the wedding feast (Matt 22:1-4) points out how the religious leaders had rejected God’s invitation to the messianic wedding banquet and how they will now be judged while the invitation will be extended to others.

As these things are taking place, another development is underway. Jesus begins to win the support and approval of the people as He is exposing the failure and hypocrisy of the ruling Jewish leadership. An effort is made to try and trick Jesus into incriminating Himself. The Pharisees and Herodians (enemies for all practical purposes) will team up in this endeavor. As the old adage says, a common enemy can unite quicker than anything. Such is the case on Tuesday. After this alliance fails, the Sadducees will make an attempt of their own in Matt 22:23-33. Later, the Pharisees will try again. What is important to know is that all the efforts fail. Jesus responds to every attempt to trick Him with wisdom that will ultimately make the leaders look even more foolish than they already have.

In Matthew 22:41, Jesus begins what many writers call a “counteroffensive.” In other words, He begins to question them. Though Jesus was able to answer and respond to their questions, they are not able to respond to His. In Matt 23, Jesus launches a lengthy, scathing rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees, in what is often called “The Seven Woes.” In this passage, Jesus warns the people of these leaders who are only serving as hypocrites and blind guides. The seven woes Jesus pronounces are very direct and they expose the wicked hearts of the men who claim to speak for God. The day started with them questioning His authority…Jesus, by this point, has all but dismantled the esteemed leadership of the nation. All of this is setting the stage for new leadership…a new leader, a new king.

Matt 24-25 takes place as Jesus is leaving the Temple for the day. The hatred for Him has heightened exponentially. He had literally “went after them.” The gloves had come off. I can only imagine the mental condition of the disciples who had witnessed all of it. Can you not picture Peter glancing over at his brother, Andrew, or the disciples, James and John, as Jesus was saying some of these things? Jesus and His disciples stop to rest on the “Mount of Olives.” The discussion continues from the exit of the Temple and the prophetic reference Jesus made about it’s destruction. Once they reach the Mount the disciples begin to ask more questions about the prophecy. What follows is what many of us call the “Olivet Discourse.” Here, Jesus will speak of the destruction of Jerusalem which occur in AD 70 and the inauguration of His kingdom as the world here comes to an end. Many scholars debate which verses are attributed to each event. For our purpose here, it is enough to say Jesus knows all that is going to happen.

In closing out this lengthy day and trying to offer a summary of our Lord’s words and actions, I find myself frustrated at all I could not address. Please take a moment and read the verses I opened this blog with. Try to take it in. If you read it carefully, you will be able to almost feel the hatred the leaders will have for Jesus as He leaves the Temple for the day. What we know is that everything is in place for the “final act.” Jesus’ goals, intentions, and motives are clear. The king has come for his kingdom. In addition, the goals, intentions, and motives of His adversaries just as clear. They hate Him. They loathe Him. But we must keep in mind…this is all going somewhere…a cross. But it will not end there. A resurrection is to follow. The result will be an understanding of the cost of our salvation and a message meant for the world to hear. Blessed are we indeed.