When a church becomes a place where its hard to find God, it becomes something other than what God intends. The vineyard owner's solution to this unproductive fig tree was blunt: "Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?" The Parable of the Budding Fig Tree is a parable told by Jesus in the New Testament, found in Matthew 24:32-35, Mark 13:28-31, and Luke 21:29-33. He started to call a lot of young people to himself. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. And, believe it or not, he actually wants to be near to us. He is available to us all, right now, and every moment from now until we stand before him in heaven. Why is the Navier-Stokes equation hard to solve? 21:19-21; Mark 11:13,20,21). 15And they came to Jerusalem. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: Nathanael said to him, From where know you me? The tree hasn't had the proper care and feeding and is just there, marking time. Is it too much to ask of people to wear shoes to church? When there is sufficient faith on the part of someone petitioning him, Jesus is able to heal; when there is a definite lack of faith on the part of those around him, Jesus is unable to heal. After reading about it in her Bible, my daughter-in-law once asked me why Jesus cursed a fig tree. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He doesnt care about how you come to him. These new God-seekers walked into the church building with oil on their feet and it got all over the carpet. How can Jesus move the mountain of dead worship in the temple? And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. True worship bears fruit, and the temple, though it looked good from afar, didnt, which leads to our next point. It was a gift. Look at verse 18. And since were already talking about food, this passage comes at us like f a sandwich in three parts: fig tree/temple/fig tree. August 7, 2022. Neither you nor I want to be on the receiving end when God's patience runs out. Jesus curses the fig tree Why is there a curse associated with hanging on a tree? What is the purpose for you drawing breath, eating food and taking up space on this planet? There is hope and every expectation that the wise and capable attention of the keeper will produce a new burst of productivity so that the next harvest will see fruit on the tree. We have a hunger for true worship, but a dead tree doesnt bear fruit. In the Old Testament, the fig tree was a symbol for the nation of Israel. But only the priests could go inside the Holy Place. In John 2, Jesus said, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up (John 2:19). [9] And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that you shall cut it down. Every one of them. It was definitely identified as Jerusalem in Matt. So it was with the nation of Israel. 13And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. Have faith in God. We have an amazing capacity for self-deception and self-justification. The first figs normally begin to appear before the leaves, but as the foliage increases, the . The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. And if you look closely, they all have teeth marks. The Old Testament said this would happen (Isaiah 34:4, Joel 1:7-12, Amos 4:9). You get his atoning death. If people leave the church because the Bible makes it hard for them to worship God, thats between them and God. Along with the vine, to sit under the plentiful shade of your own fig tree is the epitome of safety, peace and wellbeing in many Biblical passages. Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is described as God's vineyard, tree, or planting ( Judges 9:8-15; Isa. That matters because as he goes into the temple, its not just another man going there. Symbolically, the fig tree represented the spiritual deadness of Israel, who while very religious outwardly with all the sacrifices and ceremonies, were spiritually barren because of their sins. He had something better. Throughout the Old Testament, the fig tree held spiritual value as a symbol for Israel, serving as a metaphor for their standing with God. He is the meeting place. "Jesus's Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree (Mark 11:20-26)." Learn Religions. Do you know the purpose for your life and what it can become? This is Jesus offer to come into your dead religious heart and drive out what doesnt belong. As a result, the temple was dead and worthless. The cursing and withering of the fig tree are interpreted in the Byzantine tradition as an expression of "foolishness." Of a "shady understanding of Scripture which does not bear good fruit." The fig tree is a shrub of the Moraceae family, one of the many species of the genus Ficus. Comment: The fig tree was deceptive due to its leaves. Isaiah 56:7. When Jesus told the parable of the fig tree, He was trying to get our attention because He is the master gardener. American King James Version). Maybe youve made your heart a den of robbers. As Jesus body was torn on the cross, the temple curtain was also torn, as Matthew tells us from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), meaning, God tore it. 3:14; 5:1-7; Jer. 1. They were human, with weaknesses and strengths like everyone else. But if not, after that you can cut it down'" (Luke 13:6-9 Luke 13:6-9 [6] He spoke also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. It means that through this announcement a new order of life is at hand and we need to obtain a mind-set that fits. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Every day we hear news reports of accidents, natural catastrophes and attacks that take innocent lives. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. 19952023 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. It is possible to be outwardly religious and inwardly dead. The significance of the Breba crop The church had just installed new carpet and new pews. Answer: The account of Jesus cursing the barren fig tree is found in two different gospel accounts. It means to stop going in one direction of life, a direction that can be self-destructive, and to turn around and go anotherin a way that's productive and even godly. And the plan is next week to look at the second one, the cursing of the fig tree, which comes right before and after this temple story. And in the morning, after they left Bethany, He (Jesus) became hungry. Your sin isnt too big for him. The keeper of the vineyard answers the owner: "Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. God brought revival. 1. It was where the sacrifices were made to grant purification and forgiveness. American King James Version). They made a profit on the worship of God. But God is also a God of judgment, and Christ is warning here that a time of final judgment will come on a lifeespecially a life that has had opportunity, warning and the benefit of the doubt. The keeper asks for one more year in which to work with the treeto turn it around and make it useful and productive. And just as it cost Jesus, it might cost us. Jesus answered and said to him, Before that Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.American King James Version). Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/jesus-lesson-of-the-withered-fig-tree-248733. When are figs in season? Galatians 5:22-23 Galatians 5:22-23 [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, In the Jewish scriptures, the people of Israel are sometimes represented as figs on a fig tree ( Hosea 9 :10, Jeremiah 24 ), or a fig tree that bears no fruit ( Jeremiah 8 :13). It withered. Commentator William Barclay said this story does not seem worthy of Jesus. The three years in this story represent John the Baptist, Jesus, and their ministry as they preached repentance to the nation of Israel. Jesus isnt putting himself in a genies bottle. We have two options: we can make rules to exclude or remove barriers to include. His point was that we understand this and do what we can and should do, realizing that time and chance could unexpectedly strike at any time. 24:32ff), etc. Between the tree of life in Genesis and in Revelation, how are we to live? Only the High Priest inside the Most Holy Place, and that was only once a year, on the day of Atonement. Fig leaf aprons are the foolishness of human works. So, thankfully, the fig is not cursed. Clearly, Jesus is trying to teach his close followers and us in the process something very important. He showed us the kind of forgiving heart God has. What does a fig tree represent? It means to stop doing something thats not productive or taking you in a wrong direction. Jesus is not cursing the fig tree. What is the significance of fig trees in the bible? The fig tree could be understood as symbolic of Israel Joel 2:2125. We will have to open our hearts to those not like us. So from Genesis to Revelation, the fig features strongly in scriptural symbolism. So today we look at the first of these stories, when Jesus made a scene in the temple, found in Mark 11:15-19. https://www.learnreligions.com/jesus-lesson-of-the-withered-fig-tree-248733 (accessed March 2, 2023). Some scholars suspect that verse 26 was added at a later time in order make the connection even more explicit most translations omit it entirely. Fig trees have no blossoms on their branches. And, of course, later on, it would grow ripe figs. It takes time and care to nurture and develop. He shows up with sturdy gloves and an eye for detail. Why should it use up the soil?, Sir, the man replied, leave it alone for one more year, and Ill dig around it and fertilize it. The Jews could enter the next level. (Mark 11:20-22) Now it probably seems strange that Jesus cursed a tree just because he was hungry and was disappointed, but we'd be missing out on what Jesus was teaching His disciples if we didn't look closer. He is patient and grants us time to change and bear fruit. Jesus cared so much about removing barriers to worship that he lost his life over it. This end-times warning system with the fig analogy is picked up again in Revelation 6:13. The GOOD Olive Tree represents Israel, the WILD Olive Tree the Gentiles. This is something Jesus is willing to fight for, and ultimately, die for. There seems to be a petulance in it. New Testament scholar T. W. Manson said, It is a tale of miraculous power wasted in the service of ill-temper. Bertrand Russell, the philosopher who wrote an essay called Why I Am Not A Christian, used this narrative as one reason he didnt believe. So lets look at each part, and notice how to spot the real thinghow to spot true worship of God. Fig. Israel was just like this fruitless fig tree. Its interesting, though, that God will only forgive someones trespasses if they forgive the trespasses of others. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. "The normal habit of the fig tree is that fruit begins to form on the fig tree as soon as leaves appear. These fruits are frequently small, acidic and inferior in texture, but may be useful for preservation. And though we can see that clearly now, it wasnt so easy to see in Jesus day. When it doesn't, He declares that no one will eat from it again. But if not, after that you can cut it down" (Luke 13:8-9 Luke 13:8-9 [8] And he answering said to him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.. When linked to the earlier statement "unless you repent," we learn that there's a way to avoid being "cut down" and considered of no value. Later still, following the minor prophets we can see warnings to the nation of how God would bring destruction and failure of crops as part of his judgement against them, specifying empty fig trees that were stripped bare and fruitless. Jesus answered and said to him, Before that Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. And in Jesus, it could not be easier. Like a tree! That can sound scary, but its really a wonderful thing. Thats why Jesus says in verse 17, Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? He ordered Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree to avoid death, and they disobeyed Him. At the beginning of Luke 13 we see where Christ had been informed about some "Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices" (Luke 13:1 Luke 13:1There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.American King James Version). 'You Raise Me Up' Duet Earns A Standing Ovation From The Judges, 7 Tests to See if Your Worship Is Truly Christian or Pagan, 3 Bad Church Approaches to Good Money Stewardship, 5 Critical Rules to Teach Your Kids to Help Them Stay Safe, 4 Things You Should Know about Jesus Revolution, Jesus on Adultery: Its More Controversial Than You Think, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. Craig Evans, suggests this means that the tree is cursed "forever" although in the light of Romans 11 . If Herod could move a hill to establish a place of refuge, could God not move a mountain? The trees roots spread, thicken and set. Just as my Father has loved me, I too have loved you; so stay in my love. And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." The next morning, Jesus returns to Jerusalem. Mark 11:13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if there was any fruit on it. It was the place to worship. Thats the question. Unless a person remains united with me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up. We will have to let Jesus rule in our church. There will be no grapes on the vine. The question then becomes, upon whom or what is the judgment declared? Some take this to mean that Jesus expects the end of the age before the next fig-harvest, but the phrase "end of the age" always has an eschatological sense. Thats what Jesus wants for his disciples. Later he curses the fruitless fig tree, representing unfruitfulness (Mark 11:12-21), and then uses the fig as a metaphor of how we should recognise the signs of the times (Matthew 24:32). The harvest of ripened fruit is the reason the tree is taking up valuable real estate. Fig tree is a symbol of safety and independence. John 15:1-11 says: I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. Those arent up for discussion. Why not later? Bethphage, which adjoined Bethany, derives its name from its being a fig region"House of figs." afar off having leavesand therefore promising fruit, which in the case of figs come before the leaves. The temple in Jerusalem was much the same. But the Jewish people were offended at the idea they needed to repent. Every year, we take a trip to Kansas City to visit our best friends. The fig tree you cursed has withered!" "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 21:18-21." If this is this meant to be the answer about Matthew 24:32-35 you should say so. Jesus uses his miraculous powers to place a curse on the fig tree. The man who checks bags for bombs on our transport system was eating juicy figs and gave one to me with a smile. The only thing keeping some us from him right now is our prideful religiosity, our false conception of ourselves, our self-righteousness. On His morning walk to Jerusalem, Jesus has approached a fig tree to see if it has any fruit available to eat.