Holy Tuesday
by Pastor Gene
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?
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As I contemplate on this Tuesday and read the parables it once again brings to mind how much Jesus loved people and tried and continues to reach them where they are at. He reminds me that I am valuable to Him and I am like that precious coin the widow lost and that pearl of great price and that lost sheep who went astray. I see Him eyes that burn like fire yet are full of gentle compassion to me. He borrowed a grave for 3 days but overcame the grave and rose again !!!
What beautiful encouragement I draw from the knowledge that what we “render unto Caesar” is the stuff which will mean nothing in the eternal day. I am consistently challenged by Him to hold lightly these temporal bits of what matters beyond all else to the world. I ask myself daily with sober and necessary circumspection, “Am I prepared for my Bridegroom?” I pray each morning to live in fervent expectation that today could be THE day!
That was some serious teaching in one day. Right to end the Lord, as He did throughout His ministry, preparing the disciples for the time when they will take the baton and rebuking the religious leaders for their unbelief. He also gave them an opportunity to turn to Him in repentance and faith. We know God’s ultimate plan in this whole scenario and that should cause us to rejoice and praise God for choosing us to be included in His plan, Eph. 1:4-5