Matthew 21:18-19 Mark 11:12-14

Matthew 21:18, 19 18 Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry. 19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.

Mark 11:12-14 12 On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. 13 Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.

There are some stories recorded in Scripture that do not seem to be consistent with the Character of Jesus, or at least what we are comfortable thinking about Him.  It seems rather petty of Him to curse a fig tree that did not have figs on it when figs were out of season.  If figs were in season, it might be a different story, but this does not seem to be right to us.  When this kind of thing happens, we must either adjust our thinking about Jesus, or we must recognize that there was a bigger purpose in what He was doing.  Perhaps He has something He is striving to teach us in this process. 

LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING: From a distance this fig tree looked like it might have been very healthy.  It was full of leaves, but fig trees are not supposed to produce leaves, they are supposed to produce figs.  Jesus was disappointed not to find any figs on the tree.  There are certain people, ministries and churches that look like they are thriving.  From a distance, everyone is impressed with how everything looks.  There are impressive homes and buildings.  Programs proliferate with an impressive list of volunteers.  Attendance is booming.  Unfortunately, these things are all just leaves and there are no “figs” to be found.  The temple in Jerusalem was a thriving industry.  People were coming to visit.  The sacrificial system was stimulating the economy around the community.  From man’s perspective, it was and impressive facility, there was a strong leadership structure and business was thriving.  Jesus so the temple as a tree full of leaves but without any figs.  Jesus was not so offended by a fruitless fig tree that He decided to make it wilt.  He used the fig tree to illustrate God’s perspective on the religious system that had been established around the temple. 

LACK OF FRUIT CAN BE DESTRUCTIVE: There is an expectation that trees will produce fruit according to their species and in the proper season.  This fig tree didn’t have any fruit because it was not in the season for producing fruit.  In all likelihood, it was a perfectly healthy tree.  Jesus is just using the tree as an illustration for His disciples.  As followers of Jesus, God wants us to produce fruit all the time.  Unlike trees, people are capable of producing fruit constantly.  Failure to do so will usually result is some sort of discipline.  God has separated the nation of Israel in expectation of a certain fruit.  This was not happening.  Instead, they were proud, exclusive, legalistic and greedy.  When the people of God fail to produce fruit, or only produce bad fruit; bad things will happen.  God has called His church to produce fruit.  This reality should make us anxious to be productive at all seasons of life.  It is easy for us to be lulled into a sense of security that does not produce fruit for the glory of God.

APPLICATION: Understand the fruit that God is wanting for us to produce in our own lives as well as in the spread of the Gospel to the nations and then dedicate our lives to those disciplines.  God has given us all the gifting we need as well as the resources to produce the fruit He expects.  Be careful to avoid allowing the business of religion to replace the relationship God longs for us to develop with Him.