Sermon Recap: "3 Signs We’re Misaligned with Jesus" (Matthew 21:12-22)

When Jesus entered Jerusalem in Matthew 21, he didn’t quietly blend in. He marched into the temple, flipped tables, and made a bold statement: the people who were supposed to be aligned with God—his own people—had lost the plot.

That moment is more than a dramatic scene; it’s a mirror held up to us. The religious leaders thought they were doing everything right. But in reality, they were ticking God off. The question we have to ask is: could the same be true of us?

Jesus’ actions in the temple expose three signs that we might be out of alignment with him:

1. We Prioritize Convenience Over Christ’s Mission

In the temple, worshipers needed to exchange money and buy animals for sacrifice. That wasn’t the issue. The problem was where these services were being offered right in the Court of the Gentiles, the only place where non-Jews could come to pray. By prioritizing convenience for insiders, they pushed outsiders out.

Jesus quotes Isaiah to say the temple should be “a house of prayer for all nations.” But the leaders had turned it into a place that served themselves.

Today’s warning? Churches and Christians can do the same—designing everything around insiders, forgetting the spiritually curious, and losing sight of the mission. When we do that, we’ve hijacked God’s mission.

2. We Neglect Compassion

After clearing the temple, Jesus immediately begins healing the blind and the lame—those historically excluded from the temple since David’s conquest of Jerusalem (see 2 Samuel 5:8).

This isn’t just a healing story; it’s a symbolic reversal. The very people pushed aside are now front and center in Jesus’ kingdom. Compassion, especially for the marginalized, is not a side project in God’s kingdom…it’s a hallmark.

Neglecting compassion is a sure sign we’re misaligned with Jesus. That’s why serving those in need through tangible acts of love—both individually and as a church—is at the heart of discipleship.

3. We Pretend to Be Something We’re Not

The fig tree Jesus cursed had leaves but no fruit. In that region, leaves meant that fruit was also present. But this tree was a pretender. It looked alive, but it was barren.

That fig tree became a symbol of the temple and its leaders—impressive outwardly, but spiritually hollow. Jesus uses it to say: God sees through the façade.

Jesus is condemning hypocrisy. Hypocrisy isn’t struggling with sin. That’s called being human. Hypocrisy is pretending we’re more spiritual than we really are. Putting on a show. That kind of playacting doesn’t impress Jesus; it offends him.

So What Does Alignment Look Like?

  • Prioritize God’s mission. Live out your calling to reach people far from God. Start with prayer, live with intentionality, and practice BLESS rhythms.

  • Practice compassion. Move toward the hurting. Partner with ministries that serve the vulnerable. Serve in ways that stretch your comfort.

  • Be real. Be honest about your struggles. Drop the mask. Invite others to pray with you.

Jesus cleared the temple to reorient their hearts to God’s purpose. Let’s allow this passage to do the same for us.