The Fig Tree

11. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is as follows: 

Matthew 21:18 Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 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. 20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. 21 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. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”  

One of the issues with this text today is why Jesus would curse the fig tree because he found nothing on it but leaves.  Yes, he was hungry but was Jesus that hungry that his disappointment of no fruit angered him to the point of cursing the tree for life and could there possibly have been something else going on.  When Mark tells this same story he adds that the time of figs or the season for figs was not yet here.  Why would Jesus curse the fig tree when its season was not in?    

From my research and study of the fig tree, I have found that the leaves and fruit are synonymous for figs.  When leaves appear on the tree then the fruit should also be there or developing.   The fact that the tree had the appearance that fruit should be on it but when examined close up, it bear no fruit was an analogy of the religious leaders of the day.    They were to bear fruit and yet they were fruitless.  They had the appearance of doing the right thing yet they bear no true fruit.  The destruction of the fig tree by Jesus is viewed upon by scholars as the foretelling of the destruction of the temple and the destruction that would come to the Jews under the

The next day when the discisples saw that the fig tree had withered so fast, they asked Jesus how it died so quickly.  Physically it takes years for a fig tree to die.   Jesus responded to the disciples by saying that if you have faith, or if you really  believe in what you say then you have the power also to do what he do but even say to a mountain be thou removed and be cast into the sea.   Jesus was allegorically speaking to the power that we have when we believe and not doubt.   All things are possible if we believe.   One thing that I am learning more and more as I grow in God and read his word is that I surround myself with people who will enhance and encourage my belief system and who will cause me to dream bigger and show me that impossibilities can be accomplished through God. 

We must do whatever we have to in order that our mind can be free of doubt.   Believing God is powerful.  It brings change to our circumstances and it creates peace of mind.   Think about it , if we really believe then worry disappears. 

Be encouraged! 

God Bless!!!!!!!  Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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