Matthew 21: 19- Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up
to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
It is Tuesday of Holy Week, Jesus is on his way back to the
city to visit the Temple. It is a NO work day based off of Jewish law. He is hungry
and sees a fig tree by the road but there is nothing on it. No fruit. He then
curses the tree and it dies. The disciples are amazed, and Jesus uses the
teaching moment to tell them about faith and their ability to move mountains!
Faith: complete
trust or confidence in someone or something.
If I said I have read this passage a hundred times it would
be an understatement. I always glean the portions about faith and what can be
accomplished. I never thought about that fig tree before. Just a tree, not
producing fruit. A fig tree does well in climates that experience droughts.
They have a dense and complex root system. They grow well in rocky locations
and even in poor soil. Their roots go deep in search of water. They are a known producer of nutrient rich
fruit but this tree bears nothing.
Jesus speaks about the true vine and fruit bearing in John
15.
John 15:4-6 “Remain in me, and I will remain in
you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you
cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine, you are the
branches. Those who remain in me and I in them will produce much fruit. For
APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. (emphasis added) Anyone who does not remain
in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are
gathered into a pile to be burned.”
We cannot produce nutrient rich fruit without remaining on
the vine. Receiving His goodness and direction can only happen if we stay connected.
Admitting the authority Jesus has in our lives, which the Chief Priest could
not do later in the temple, keeps us in the position to be influenced and guided
by His Holy Spirit. When we are too prideful to do so, we wither. And
eventually are cut away so other branches can grow. I find the single inspection
of the fig tree interesting. Jesus did not give the fig tree time to get it
together. He did not say the soil was bad. He did not check to see if it had
water. He literally examined the tree, saw no fruit and cursed it. Oh Lord, don’t
let me be found lacking fruit when I am examined!
Be Blessed, and remember Sunday is Coming.
