The last week before the arrest 2 studies
Historical notes 3 studies
The last week before the arrest
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PER282
Cursing of the Barren Fig Tree
On Monday, March 28, AD 33, on the road from Bethany to Jerusalem, the Messiah Jesus curses a fig tree covered with leaves but bearing no fruit, and it withers at once. This act, reported by Matthew and Mark, is a miracle-parable symbolizing Israel: a great show of religion, but no real fruitfulness. Framing the cleansing of the Temple in Mark, this episode announces divine judgment on a barren piety.
Mark 11.12-14 (King James Version) :And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER291
The parable of the vinedressers
The parable of the vinedressers (Matt 21.33-46; Mark 12.1-12; Luke 20.9-19), spoken on Holy Tuesday in the courtyard of the Temple, illustrates the history of salvation allegorically: God sends prophets and then his Son, whom the religious leaders reject and kill. The vineyard is transferred to the Church, without however closing the door to the Jewish people, who can enter into the faith.
Luke 20.9-19 (King James Version) :Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
Historical notes
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INF004
The Romans
This article traces Roman rule over Israel from 63 BC to AD 135. It presents the key figures of power at the time of Jesus’ ministry: Pontius Pilate, Herod Antipas and Caiaphas. It mentions the destruction of the Temple in 70 and the transformation of Jerusalem into Aelia Capitolina under Hadrian, providing essential historical context for understanding the Gospels.
Luke 23.12 (King James Version) :And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
INF011
The land of Canaan
The land of Canaan, corresponding to present-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and parts of Jordan and Syria, is described in the Bible as 'the most beautiful of all lands'. Inhabited by the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites and Philistines, it is the land promised to the Hebrew people. Two stages, separated by 470 years, mark its conquest: Abraham's arrival, followed by Joshua's conquest after captivity in Egypt and wandering in the wilderness.
Ezekiel 20.6 (King James Version) :In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
INF063
The Jewish Prophetic Tradition
The Jewish prophetic tradition rests on the writings and teachings of the prophets, messengers of God chosen to guide the people of Israel. It is characterized by social criticism, the call for justice, the denunciation of idolatry and messages of eschatological hope. The great prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel profoundly influenced Jewish theology, biblical literature and universal ethical values.
Hosea 1.1 (King James Version) :The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org