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I often look at people and misjudge them, I think I like this person and later I find out I am not so keen on them, or I meet someone and I don't like them and then as I get to know them I like them more. It may be because we walk around in masks, hiding our reality from people, our broken-ness for fear of being found to be not so great. I think in this passage Jesus is telling the pharisees that they aren't honest about themselves and their need for God. People who need God aren't particularly concerned with the approval of men. The 'people of God' had said already 'yes' to all God had asked of them, but didn't do it. Be careful about making judgements about the righteousness of others.

"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' " 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. Matthew 21:28-32

Perhaps they are merely holding onto their position and not prepared to accept change. But who was bringing about the change, was he a young upstart or the 'Ancient of Days'? If he is the 'Ancient of Days' then they should be worshipping him and not challenging his authority. He responds with a question that asks who gave John his authority. The reason for the temple is now in the temple but the temple keepers don't recognise him, all they see is a young man. How important is your position to you? Will you give way?

Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this authority?" Jesus replied, "I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John's baptism--where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?" They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, 'From men'--we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. Matthew 21:23-37

Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked. Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:18-22

What do you find among your gathering - love, patience, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfullness, self-control or malice, deceit jealousy, wickedness, envy, strife, immorality? The former group are good things, good to the spirit, good for others - they are evidence of godliness. Jesus arrives at the temple to find the latter group - people who are unhappy that Jesus is so loving; unhappy that they are losing face. The once blessed city is now cursed and the fig tree is symbolic of that. Somethings seem like mountains compared to the fig-tree and far more threatening but Jesus shows the disciples that the solution is not within ourselves as some self-help manuals will tell you.

The bible is not afraid to tell the truth - here the hypocrisy of the 'holy one's' is made apparent. The story of the bible is about God loving people and not forcing them, giving them time to change. If Jesus was God, did he not belong in the temple? Why do they get rid of him, because he is a bad man or because he exposed their hypocrisy? Jesus has nothing bad in him but those who hang onto power, wealth, or reputation do not like him, then and today. Do you have something that Jesus wants you to let go of, then you'll probably want to kill him. He won't be able to spend the night in the temple but will have to go outside.

Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.' " The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, " 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise' ?" And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night. Matthew 21:12-17