Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

Matthew 21:25-27  The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?  26  But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.  27  And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.  The chief priests and scribes demanded to know who gave Jesus the authority to teach God's Word to the people and to heal them. Jesus' reply was that He would answer both their questions if they answered one question from Him. Jesus asked them if John the Baptist's ministry was from God or of men. They refused to answer Him and therefore, Jesus refused to answer their questions. However, in the next paragraph Jesus gave a parable to show the scribes, Pharisees and priests their grave error. Thus, this parable is a continuation of Jesus' s...

Matthew 21 began with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and Jesus receiving loud "Hosannas" and praise from the people and from children. He healed very many people and the scribes and priests expressed their extreme displeasure. Jesus replied that if He silenced the loud shouts of praise that the stones would cry out. On the way to Jerusalem the next morning, Jesus saw a very healthy looking fig tree and looked for fruit on it, however, the tree was barren. We noted that this pictures Christ examining our lives to see if His fruit is being produced in how we think, speak and act. The barren tree was judged for lacking any figs and it soon withered from the roots up. What happens next is when Jesus and His disciples arrived in Jerusalem that morning so that He could teach the scriptures to the people. Predictably, the chief priests and elders of the ruling council confronted Jesus. Matthew 21:23  And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders ...

Matthew 21:18-20  Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.  19  And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.  20  And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!  We learned that the barren fig tree is a picture of Jesus examining our lives to see if we are producing fruit for His kingdom. A fig tree with full foliage but no fruit, pictures a religious hypocrite.  It is a person who professes faith in Christ or has some external religious appearances but lives just like the corrupt culture that surrounds us. Those who are barren fig trees are consigned to remaining barren and they will hear the Lord say "Depart from me ye workers of iniquity." Those fig trees who bear fruit for Christ's kingdom will hear the Lord say "Well don...

After His triumphal entry and cleansing the Temple of God at Jerusalem, Jesus healed all the afflicted ones who came to Him for help. He accepted the loud  "Hosannas" of the children and with His disciples, returned to Bethany for the night. Matthew 21:18  Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.  Jesus went to and from Jerusalem each day. In the evening He went to Bethany, or to some part of the Mount of Olives, and there abode all night.  Jesus then returned at dawn to Jerusalem, and taught in the temple. Matthew tells us that Jesus was hungry, and we may tend to overlook this detail. Each of the gospels record notes of manhood in Jesus that prove He was a man like us, with the exception of having no sin nature. John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  John's gospel tells us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and ...

Matthew 21:12-13  And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,  13  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.  In our last lesson, we saw Jesus give strong condemnation of money changers and profiteering sellers of animals, who operated in the House of God. The zeal of Christ for His Father's house led Him to cast them all out of the temple precinct. We found the foundation for Christ's words and actions rooted in the law of God and in the prophets Messianic words.   We also noted that this was the second time Jesus cleansed the temple of money changers and sellers of sacrificial animals. Buying and selling inside the temple of God desecrated this holy place and Jesus restored its holiness with His actions. The Father's temple is a house of prayer not...