Jesus Puts a Curse on a Fig Tree
December 12, 2019
Commentary
Jesus began to drive the money changers out of the temple and the blind and lame came to him to be healed (vv. 12-14) The priests and religious leaders saw His miracles and were indignant (vv. 15-16). God desires that His name be honored and that His people be treated well (v. 12). He then returned to Bethany for the night (v. 17).
On Monday morning, Jesus was hungry on his way back into the city (v. 18). He noticed a fig tree by the side of the road that was covered with leaves but lacked any fruit. Figs normally came before the leaves, so here was a profession of bearing fruit when there was no fruit. In the Old Testament Israel often was likened to a fig tree. Just as this tree had leaves but no fruit, so Israel had a show of religion but no practical experience of faith. Jesus cursed the fig tree, and it withered (v. 19). The curse was not because He was angry but to teach several lessons. God wants to produce fruit in the lives of His people. This tree was just taking up space and doing no good. Struck dead by the word of Jesus, the tree began to dry up from the roots. We too must beware of the peril of fruitlessness.
The disciples were amazed at how quickly the fig tree withered (v. 20). The same power is available to us by faith when we share the gospel and watch the miracle of new birth take place in others. Then Jesus assured them that if they had faith and didn’t doubt, they could have whatever they ask for (vv. 21-22). The same power that killed the tree could have also given it new life and fruit. It is easy to just sit, soak and sour on the word and not be a fruit bearing Christian.
Application
According to this passage it is dangerous not to be a fruit bearing Christian. To be a Christian and never bear fruit puts me in the same position as the fig tree. What reason would the Lord have for leaving me on this earth?
Matthew 21:12– 22 (NET)
12 Then Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying in the temple courts, and turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. 13 And he said to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are turning it into a den of robbers!”
14 The blind and lame came to him in the temple courts, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the experts in the law saw the wonderful things he did and heard the children crying out in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant 16 and said to him, “Do you hear what they are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of children and nursing infants you have prepared praise for yourself’?” 17 And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.
18 Now early in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry. 19 After noticing a fig tree by the road he went to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. He said to it, “Never again will there be fruit from you!” And the fig tree withered at once. 20 When the disciples saw it they were amazed, saying, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 And whatever you ask in prayer, if you believe, you will receive.”