Last week’s sermon looked at one of the most curious and somewhat controversial acts of Jesus; the cursing of a fig tree (Matt 21:18-22). The reason Jesus does this is he is acting out a parable to explain his cleansing of the temple (Matt 21:12-17). Jesus hates empty religion.
Like the leafy fig tree, the Jewish leaders at the temple looked good. They were busy performing religious duties like reading the Scriptures, offering sacrifices and paying their temple tithes. Yet like the fig tree, the religious leaders were producing no fruit. There was no prayer, no delight in God, no substance to their religion. They were spiritually diseased. For this, Jesus declares he will one day bring such empty religion to an end. That occurred for the Jews in AD 70.
Yet there are many today who claim the name of Christ who are nothing more than leafy fig trees. They are very busy attending church or mass every Sunday, praying the Rosary, giving to charity, following the 10 Commandments, or even wearing a cross around their neck. Yet as the cursing of the fig tree declares, looks aren’t enough. God doesn’t want empty religious practices; he wants our heart.
So how is our relationship with King Jesus? Are we trying to put him in our debt through religious actions, or are we just happy that he has given us his heart? Do we come to church to show him how committed we are, or do we come to church just to delight in him with our church family? For as Matt 7:21-23 says, even some who perform miracles may one day hear Jesus say ‘away from me you evildoers’. What Jesus wants are people who have given them his heart, and whose heart is transforming to be like his. So may our good deeds not be done to earn Jesus’ heart; but rather as a response to us giving him our heart.
