We should remember that well-deserved punishment from the Lord often ends in blessing. But, punishment does sometimes come from the hand of the Lord. Matthew 21:18–22, Early in the morning, as He was on his way back to the city, He was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then He said to it, May you never bear fruit again! Immediately the tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. How did the fig tree wither so quickly? they asked. Jesus replied, I tell you the Truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea, and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
The episode of the fig tree is hard for many people to understand. According to Mark 11:13, "Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to find out if it had any fruit. When He reached it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs." It was not the season for figs. Why then, people ask, did Jesus curse the tree for not having any fruit?
At that time in that region, the fruit of the fig tree does not ripen until May. This even actually took place during the passover season in the month of April.
Notice, what is the more important here is because the fig tree already had its leaves, it gave the appearance of having something which it did not really have, this deceived people because its outward appearance gave an impression which was not true. Read Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
This miracle is different than all of the other miracle of Christ. That is another reason why people sometimes have a hard time understanding it, e.g when people brought their sick to Jesus, He healed them. Or when people had nothing to eat in a deserted place, He satisfied them.
But Jesus cursed the fig tree so that it would never again give any fruit for people to eat.
So then, this miracle is different from the rest of Christ’s miracles because the others all brought BLESSING while this one is a miracle of PUNISHMENT.
You should know that the cursing of the fig tree is the ONLY MIRACLE of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels which is a miracle of punishment, because it did not produce fruit.
A fig tree has just one purpose, that is to give fruit, if it does not fulfil this purpose it is only taking up ground which might otherwise produce fruit.
The tree is worthless and deserves to be CUT DOWN. See Luke 13:6–9, Then He told this parable: A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard. For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil? Sir, the man replied, leave it alone for one more year, and I’ ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down. See also Matthew 7:15-20, Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Let’s think for a moment about the word FRUIT. Remember that John the Baptist had taught "you" people to produce fruit. Matthew 3:8, Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
So then, we should know that the fruit which God expects in us is a CHANGED LIFE.
Some people sabotage themselves by seeking spiritual solutions to their predicaments, they do not take note of what John the Baptizer preached. They look around at everybody as suspects for their predicaments, when their greatest demons they cast out everyday is within them.
God bless you.
The episode of the fig tree is hard for many people to understand. According to Mark 11:13, "Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to find out if it had any fruit. When He reached it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs." It was not the season for figs. Why then, people ask, did Jesus curse the tree for not having any fruit?
At that time in that region, the fruit of the fig tree does not ripen until May. This even actually took place during the passover season in the month of April.
Notice, what is the more important here is because the fig tree already had its leaves, it gave the appearance of having something which it did not really have, this deceived people because its outward appearance gave an impression which was not true. Read Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
This miracle is different than all of the other miracle of Christ. That is another reason why people sometimes have a hard time understanding it, e.g when people brought their sick to Jesus, He healed them. Or when people had nothing to eat in a deserted place, He satisfied them.
But Jesus cursed the fig tree so that it would never again give any fruit for people to eat.
So then, this miracle is different from the rest of Christ’s miracles because the others all brought BLESSING while this one is a miracle of PUNISHMENT.
You should know that the cursing of the fig tree is the ONLY MIRACLE of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels which is a miracle of punishment, because it did not produce fruit.
A fig tree has just one purpose, that is to give fruit, if it does not fulfil this purpose it is only taking up ground which might otherwise produce fruit.
The tree is worthless and deserves to be CUT DOWN. See Luke 13:6–9, Then He told this parable: A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard. For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil? Sir, the man replied, leave it alone for one more year, and I’ ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down. See also Matthew 7:15-20, Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Let’s think for a moment about the word FRUIT. Remember that John the Baptist had taught "you" people to produce fruit. Matthew 3:8, Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
So then, we should know that the fruit which God expects in us is a CHANGED LIFE.
Some people sabotage themselves by seeking spiritual solutions to their predicaments, they do not take note of what John the Baptizer preached. They look around at everybody as suspects for their predicaments, when their greatest demons they cast out everyday is within them.
God bless you.