Holy Tuesday

Today is Holy Tuesday (actually reckoned from Monday evening to Tuesday evening).

Holy Tuesday was a day of conflict and a day of teaching for our Lord. It was VERY busy!

According to Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus again returned to Jerusalem where He was confronted by the Temple leadership for His violent actions in the Temple the day before – overturning the tables, chasing folks out, forbidding anyone to pass through the area, etc.

Against their accusations and questions, He repeatedly defended His claim that He is the Messiah. Mark gives us the most detailed account of this confrontation (Mark 11:27-13:37).

Also on Holy Tuesday, Jesus taught the crowds of people extensively and shared a number of parables. Any of these are worthy of our reading and reflection. They include:

The parable of the vineyard (Matthew 21:33-46).

The parable of the wedding banquet (Matthew 22:1).

The teaching on paying taxes (Matthew 22:15).

The rebuke of the Sadducees who deny the resurrection (Matthew 22:23).

Apparently, Tuesday is the last day that Jesus entered the Temple to teach. No further debate with the Jewish leaders was necessary or would be profitable.

On the return to Bethany the disciples had many questions. So Jesus, sitting on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Temple, answered them in what we call the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24 and 25, cf. Luke 21:5ff.). This discourse includes some of the Lord’s most astonishing (and troubling) end-time prophecies.

As the day came to a close, Jesus pronounced a devastating curse on the city. He described the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple because the Jewish authorities had rejected Him.

Event	Location	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
Disciples see the withered fig tree	Mount of Olives	21:19-22	11:20-26	21:37-38	—
Jesus’ authority questioned by leaders	Jerusalem	21:23-27	11:27-33	20:1-8	—
Parable of the two sons	Jerusalem	21:23-27	—	—	—
Parable of the vinedressers	Jerusalem	21:33-46	12:1-12	20:9-19	—
Parable of the wedding feast	Jerusalem	22:1-14	—	—	—
Pharisees question: paying taxes	Jerusalem	22:15-22	12:13-17	20:20-26	—
Sadducees question: resurrection	Jerusalem	22:23-33	12:18-27	20:27-40	—
Scribe’s question: great commandment	Jerusalem	22:35-40	12:28-34	—	—
Jesus’ question: David’s Lord	Jerusalem	22:41-46	12:35-37	20:41-44	—
Woe to the scribes and Pharisees	Jerusalem	23:1-39	12:38-40	20:45-47	—
Poor widow’s mite	Jerusalem	—	12:41-44	21:1-4	—
Prophecy of destruction of Jerusalem and the Lord’s coming	Mount of Olives	24:1-51	13:1-37	21:5-36	—
Parable of the ten virgins	Mount of Olives	25:1-13	—	—	—
Parable of the talents	Mount of Olives	25:14-30	—	—	—
Parable of the sheep and the goats	Mount of Olives	25:31-46	—	—	—

(Chart constructed by William Stewart)

Prayer Point

Consider the priority that Jesus gave to teaching throughout His ministry. Is hearing from Him your greatest priority? Think of how much He taught just on this day, even though He was in the shadow of the Cross!

Remember how Jesus told Martha that sitting at His feet and hearing His voice was the “one necessary thing” she must do each day (Luke 10:38-42)?

I think it’s fair to say that it’s the “one necessary thing” that we need to do each day as well!

Today, on Holy Tuesday, why not ask God to renew your devotion to hearing from Him consistently, daily?