Greetings dear friends:

 

    

With the parable found in Matthew 21:18-22 we move into the last week of the life of Jesus and the parables become more denouncing [for lack of a better word] toward the nation of Israel and contain warnings for the church lest we fall into similar patterns. Look at Isa. 28:21-22 – “The Lord will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim, He will rouse himself as in the valley of Gibeon – to do His work, His strange work and perform His task, His alien task. Now stop your mocking, or your chains will become heavier; the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has told me of the destruction decreed against the whole land.”

 

The fig tree symbolized the nation of Israel. Hosea 9:10 summarizes both the idea that Israel was the fig tree and that it would be cursed. “When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your fathers, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.”  In verse 16 Hosea continues: “Ephraim is blighted, their root withered, they yield no fruit.”

 

There are some who red this parable of the cursing of the fig tree and it raises two difficulties in their minds. First, some say it was an act of injustice since it was not the season for figs. If that is true, why was the tree filled with leaves? This would indicate something wrong with the tree.

The second difficulty some people have is that they say Jesus smote the tree in anger because of his hunger. A careful reading does not give validity to this. When you read the response of the disciples they did not ask why He cursed the tree but they asked how it died so quickly? It obviously was not a problem with them.

 

As we read scripture we notice there is a law of responsibility and privilege. For example, Luke 12:48 – “From the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” From the beginning of the nation of Israel they were God’s chosen nation.  With that privilege came responsibilities, one of which was not to worship any other God.  Israel however continually violated that responsibility and received the penalty accordingly.

 

There are a number of scripture passages that refer to the fig tree or to fruit bearing responsibility of a tree. Here are a few of them.

1. Matt. 7:19 – “Every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

2. John 15:2-6 – The branches must be connected to the vine in order to bear fruit.  “Apart from me you can do nothing.”

3. Heb. 6:8 – “Land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. in the end it will be burned.”

 

As we look at the parable before us it is not the leaf Jesus was looking for, but the fruit that the lord seeks in his people: not the display, but the reality. This was a message to the Jews and us and can be summed up in this statement – profession without practice is condemned. Jesus came to his people expecting to find fruit and found nothing but outward adornment. Though the judgment would be issued to the nation of Israel, it would be about 40 years before being carried out by the Romans in the destruction of the temple.

 

Just briefly let us note the connection Jesus makes with prayer. That connection would be faith. Lacking faith, the nation was perishing despite its outward appearance.  Interestingly, most every great nation throughout history did not fall to an invading, more powerful army. They fell from within. Babylon fell to the Persians who fell to the Greeks who fell to the Romans who fell.  It isn’t outward appearance that counts, it is what’s inside. Yet possessing faith, even though the deck seemed to be stacked against them, they would be victorious.  Why had the nation failed? Because it lacked a fruit-bearing faith in God.

 

     What is the fig tree telling us today? First, God has dealt with and continues to deal with Israel.  They are His chosen people and still have an important part to play in God’s history. Secondly, the message of the fig tree to us today is not to be so concerned with outward adornment but with inward quality. An inward quality that is empowered by the Holy Spirit of God. Individually we need that personal relationship with Jesus Christ and need to live a life empowered by His Holy Spirit.  The same holds true for the church.  The church is precious in the eyes of God since He gave the life of His Son to purchase the church. The church needs to maintain her personal relationship with Jesus Christ and be empowered by the Holy Spirit of God.

 

Are we bearing fruit, or are we all dressed up and doing nothing and going no where?

 

Pastor Bill

 

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