On Holy Tuesday, the day before the midpoint of Holy Week, several significant events in the life of Jesus Christ occurred according to the New Testament accounts:
- Jesus returned to Jerusalem from Bethany, passing by a fig tree that he had previously cursed for bearing no fruit. The tree was found withered, and Jesus used this as a teaching moment about faith and the power of prayer to his disciples
- In the Temple, Jesus engaged in confrontations with the religious leaders-Pharisees, Sadducees, chief priests, and scribes-who challenged his authority. Jesus responded with teachings and parables exposing their hypocrisy and pronouncing woes against them
- Jesus taught important lessons about faith, devotion, and the coming judgment. He also spoke the Olivet Discourse, a prophetic teaching about the end times and the coming of God's kingdom, delivered on the Mount of Olives
- The day included Jesus' commentary on the widow’s offering, highlighting genuine generosity over ostentation
- It is also traditionally believed that on this day Judas Iscariot negotiated with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus
- After a day of intense teaching and confrontation, Jesus and his disciples returned to Bethany to rest
Holy Tuesday is sometimes called "Fig Tuesday" because of the fig tree episode and is observed by many Christian denominations as part of Holy Week, focusing on Jesus' teachings and the increasing tension leading to his crucifixion
. In summary, Holy Tuesday is marked by Jesus' authoritative teaching in the Temple, his prophetic warnings, the exposure of religious hypocrisy, and the deepening plot against him by religious leaders, setting the stage for the events of the remainder of Holy Week
