The Fig Tree

The barren fig tree withered shortly after Jesus spoke to it.

“In the morning, as Jesus was returning 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.
“May you never bear fruit again!” He said.
And immediately the tree withered.”   Matthew 21:18-19  (Mark 11:11-17).

That was a parable and a prophetic action.

It showed what was about to happen to the religious system of the Scribes and Pharisees and their followers.

Jesus had their spiritual condition view when He spoke the parable of the barren fig tree.

“A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.  He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none.  Cut it down!  Why does it waste the soil?’  He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.  If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’ ”   Luke 13:6-9  (Isaiah 5:1-7).

Several thousand years earlier, Hosea pictured Israel as a fig tree.

“I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness.  I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at its first season; but they came to Baal Peor, and consecrated themselves to the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved.”   Hosea 9:10.

The Mountain

“As they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots.  Peter remembered it and said, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree You cursed has withered.”
“Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them.  “Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.””   Mark 11:20–25.

Earlier Jesus told His disciples about that mountain of deceptive doctrine taught as truth.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.  By their fruits you will know them.  Do you gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”   Matthew 7:15-20.

In Matthew 23:1-39, Jesus spelled out the errors of the Scribes and Pharisees and how they imposed them on the people of the old covenant.

Yeshua went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them,

“You see all of these things, don’t you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down.”   Matthew 24:1-2 WMB

~ Bill Bremer

Bill Bremer is Founder and Managing Director at Kingdom Relationships Colorado.

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