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Events in the Last Week #3 Jesus Curses a Fig Tree Introduction:
Matthew 21.17-20 and Mark
11.11-14, 20-24 gives the account of Jesus cursing a fig tree. Early in His
ministry Jesus acted in anger as He entered the temple and cast out the money
changers. We might call this “righteous indignation” for they were abusing
God’s house. In the last week, Jesus taught daily in the temple and spent the
nights at I)
Jesus Sees the Fig Tree and Approaches Looking For Figs A)
Facts about the fig tree 1.
Fig trees that do not bear fruit are useless 2.
Fig trees put on figs and then their leaves; this tree already had leaves
meaning it should have had fruit. (Do not be fooled by the point, it was not yet
time for figs. This tree was showing signs of having fruit.) 3.
Jesus had every right to expect to see figs but upon inspection found none. 4.
Jesus judged and condemned the tree for its lack of fruit B)
How does this relate to the events in 1.
The Jewish nation claimed to be God’s people.
a. God had protected and nurtured them. The law had been
revealed to them, Romans 3.1-2
b. They had a way to approach God and offer sacrifices, Hebrews
9.6-7
c. They had the
d. They had the outward appearance of religion: clothes, language,
rituals, etc. 2.
Jesus had every right to expect a fruit bearing people
a. They had every reason to expect the coming of the Messiah
b. Messianic prophecies pointed toward this time, the place of His
birth, the manner of His birth, His work, and sacrifice; were all
delivered to the Jews. 3.
Upon inspection the Jewish nation was not a fruit bearing tree. Jesus found only
leaves. (Hypocrisy, human traditions, blind guides, white washed tombs, etc.) 4.
Why? They did not have faith, Romans 1.17 5.
As such they were about to be judged by God,
Matthew 3.10 II)
How Does This Relate To Us? A)
There are at least two lessons in this passage 1.
Profession without practice is condemned
a. Many are Christians in name only
b. At least the ungodly that do not wear the name are not guilty of
hypocrisy 2.
The judgment of God will be severe, 1
Peter 4.17-18
a. This fig tree was condemned and died
b. The Jewish nation suffered through the destruction of
c. Can we expect to receive less? B)
Jesus asked the question in Luke 18.8b “When the Son of Man comes, will He
really find faith on the earth?” 1.
When something is real we say it is genuine, the real McCoy.
a. Or will Jesus find the profession of faith without the fruit of faith?
b. This is a question we should really thing about in how we are living. 2.
Will He come and find a fruit bearing people?
a. The absence of evil is not the same as the presence of good, John
15.2; Matthew 12.30
b. When good people do nothing, nothing gets done,
Matthew
25.18,25
c. “When good people do nothing, evil triumphs” – Edmund Burke
Ephesians 5.11
d. To be good one must do good. After all we are in Jesus to do
good, Ephesians 2.10
e. When good people do nothing; they are good for nothing, James
4.17; Matthew 5.13 3.
Will our “fruit” be acceptable to Him? Matthew
7.21ff 4.
Will He find a people zealous for good works,
Titus 2.14
a. Is my manner of life living up to the profession of “Christian”
b. What am I doing qualifies as bearing fruit? C)
If the seed is the word of God, then faith is part of the nutrients 1.
Do we (I) have faith in God? 2.
Do we (I) have faith in God’s word? 3.
Faith requires works, James 2.17-18,26 D)
It comes down to a matter of faith, Romans 1.17 1.
There is only so much good teaching can do; after that it is la matter of our
trust and conviction. 2.
Do I have enough faith to try and teach others? Conclusion:
What will Jesus find in your life? Will He find nothing but leaves or fruit? |