Bartimaeus, Figs, Temple Tax & Servant's Ear

Notes on Blind Bartimaeus
- Recorded in Matthew 20, Mark 10, Luke 18
- One of the last miracles in Jesus' ministry
- Apparent discrepancy in leaving/approaching Jericho
- Apparent discrepancy in number of blind men healed
- Bartimaeus named, perhaps notable in early church
- 'Son of David' shows faith of blind man/men
- Faith contrasted to blindness of disciples (Mark 12:35-37)
- Throwing cloak another evidence of great faith
- Went from 'roadside' to follower of 'the way'

Notes on Withered Fig Tree
- Exceptional in that it is a destructive miracle
- Paralleled in Matthew 21:18-22 (compressed)
- Fig tree was in leaf, showing appearance of life
- Closer examination showed it was fruitless
- Symbol for Israel (Jeremiah 8:13)
- Israel will never bear fruit again (anti-dispensation comment)
- Sandwich around clearing of temple is telling
- The temple would be destroyed, just like the tree
- Mountain (v. 23) symbol for temple/zion
- Sea (v. 23) symbol for gentiles
- In other words, earthly Jerusalem would be overtaken by gentiles
- This would be in answer to prayers of church, persecuted by Jewish authorities
- God answers such a prayer, ala Luke 18:1-8

Notes on Temple Tax
- In many ways, a non-categorical miracle
- Background given in Exodus 30:11-16
- Tax was for maintenance of the temple system
- Peter's response may have been unsure/false
- Jesus says they are exempt from the tax b/c of sonship
- Jesus pays the tax so as not to offend
- There are fish in that region attracted to shiny objects
- Miracle is that Peter found coin right away (Assumed)
- Miracles shows that God doesn't tax his people, instead He provides for them

Notes on Servant's Ear
- Paralleled in all Gospels, but only Luke records healing
- John tells us it was Peter, servant was Malchus
- Malchus identified, perhaps significant in early church
- Disciples still anticipated a military kingdom