2026 Reading Plan Reflections - Day 32

Some passages feel so familiar that we assume there’s nothing left to discover. Palm branches. A donkey. Tables overturned. A fig tree cursed.

But Scripture doesn’t go stale—we do.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that "God’s Word is living and active" (Hebrews 4:12). And today, Matthew 21 proved that again.

Matthew opens this chapter by grounding Jesus’ triumphal entry in the prophets—Isaiah and Zechariah. That’s expected. Matthew loves showing us how Jesus fulfills Scripture.

What’s easier to miss is how Matthew also points us to history—specifically to David.
In 2 Samuel 5, David captures Jerusalem and establishes it as the capital of Israel. The Jebusites mock him, saying even the blind and the lame could keep him out. David wins anyway. Jerusalem becomes the city on a hill. Eventually, it becomes the home of the Temple.
But somewhere along the way, that insult stuck.

The Temple—the very place meant to reflect God’s presence—became a place where the blind and the lame were no longer welcome. And then Jesus arrives.

After cleansing the Temple—driving out those who had turned worship into commerce—Jesus does something even more disruptive:
"People who were blind and lame came to Jesus in the temple, and he healed them." (Matthew 21:14 CEB)

This wasn’t a footnote. It was the point. The cleansing wasn’t just about corruption or money. It was about exclusion. Jesus restores access to those who had been pushed aside and, in doing so, calls the entire purpose of the Temple into question.

The structure was still standing. The rituals were still being performed. But the fruit was gone. Which brings us to the fig tree.

Jesus approaches it looking for fruit and finds none. His response is prophetic, not petty. The tree looks alive—but it isn’t fulfilling its purpose. This is also true of the Temple. And Jesus is naming what Israel’s leaders refuse to see: even systems established by the faithful—by Moses, by David—can drift from God’s original intent.

Holiness that forgets mercy isn’t holiness.
Worship that excludes isn’t worship.
Tradition without fruit is already dying.

What have we inherited that no longer reflects God’s heart?

Not everything old is bad—but not everything old is sacred either.

Jesus doesn’t destroy for the sake of destruction. He prunes so life can return.

Examine the Fruit, Not Just the Form. Where in your faith life do things look healthy but lack compassion, justice, or transformation? Ask God to show you the difference.
Notice Who’s Missing. Who feels unwelcome—intentionally or not—in your church, your circles, your assumptions? The places Jesus restores first are often the places we’ve ignored longest.
Hold Tradition with Humility. Give thanks for what you’ve inherited—but refuse to treat it as untouchable. God’s goal has always been holy love, not mere preservation.
Pray for Cleansing Before Comfort. Invite Christ to overturn what needs overturning in you. It’s disruptive. It’s uncomfortable. And it’s how renewal begins.
Ask This Simple, Dangerous Question. Is my life bearing fruit that reflects the character of Jesus—or just the habits of religion?