Monday was a full day that began early and ended late. Initially we find Jesus on the road to Jerusalem from Bethany, where the previously cursed fig tree is now completely dead. 

Shortly, Jesus arrives in the temple court and begins teaching. Immediately the religious leaders challenge his right to do so, claiming that he needed authorization to teach. Jesus did not submit himself to their authority but gave several parables pointing to their waywardness. Jesus continued to teach the people after the religious officials left in defeat. 

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Two sidelights are of interest. First, we can discover something about the crowd that had formed in the temple courts from the attitude of those who challenged Jesus. For example, the officials feared being stoned if they went against the views of those present. Apparently, it was a volatile group, easily swayed in their commitment. They currently supported the Galilean rabbi, not because they were committed to him, but because he stood against those they disdained. Last, in some who were not followers of Jesus, there was openness to truth. Again, those who opposed Jesus were not a unified group with common motives. They were a coalition of groups that otherwise opposed each other for power.

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