"Now in the morning, as He (Jesus) returned to the city, He hungered. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it, and found nothing on it but leaves, and said unto it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” And immediately the fig tree withered away." (v.18-20)
Here we see that Jesus hungered. He went to the fig tree expecting fruit because it had leaves; but, finding no fruit, He sentenced it to perpetual barrenness. This cursing of the barren “fig-tree” represents the state of hypocrites in general; the state of the nation, and people of the Jews in particular. They were the “fig-tree” planted in Christ's way as a church but, like the tree, were covered in leaves, but no fruit - a huge disappointment to our Lord Jesus.
We too must be careful not to be a disappointment, a hypocrite, or a false witness to Christ and to those around us. May God help us to be like the tree, "planted beside rivers of water” that bears fruit in its season, ready to give sustenance to all in need, and not like the barren fig tree.
Therefore, don’t let your roots become dry. Water them daily with His Word and fruit will abound from your life to others.
The Truth: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither and whatever he does shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:1-3)
Here we see that Jesus hungered. He went to the fig tree expecting fruit because it had leaves; but, finding no fruit, He sentenced it to perpetual barrenness. This cursing of the barren “fig-tree” represents the state of hypocrites in general; the state of the nation, and people of the Jews in particular. They were the “fig-tree” planted in Christ's way as a church but, like the tree, were covered in leaves, but no fruit - a huge disappointment to our Lord Jesus.
We too must be careful not to be a disappointment, a hypocrite, or a false witness to Christ and to those around us. May God help us to be like the tree, "planted beside rivers of water” that bears fruit in its season, ready to give sustenance to all in need, and not like the barren fig tree.
Therefore, don’t let your roots become dry. Water them daily with His Word and fruit will abound from your life to others.
The Truth: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither and whatever he does shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:1-3)
