Jesus Curses a Fig Tree - Matthew 22:18-22
18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 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.
20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Reflection: There are three things I would to point out in today's passage, that might seem a little odd to some. First, we see the humanness of Jesus. After leaving the city after the incident in the temple, he spent the night in Bethany. He was so busy working that in the morning he was hungry. There was no one around to make the Son of God breakfast, so he went to eat a green fig from the fig tree. But he found nothing on it, but leaves. Jesus cursed the fig tree and it withered. The tree was supposed to bear fruit, but it had nothing but leaves. Notice another instance of judgment from Jesus, which has wider implications for the people he came to serve.
Second, as I just mentioned Jesus used this to teach us what the abundant life is all about. In another passage, he says good trees bear good fruit, and bad trees bear bad fruit or no fruit at all. And at the heart of productivity and fruit bearing is connected to the True Vine, see John 15 for the full teaching. Because Israel had rejected the Vine that was among them, they were in line for the same destiny as this fruit tree. This little pericope reminds us that we are made to bear fruit. That is our purpose. We don't bear fruit merely by our own effort but as we we see, by being connected to Jesus.
Finally, the disciples as usual are more interested in the supernatural occurrence of the fig tree withering before them. They miss the deeper theological point Jesus is making. But instead of berating them, Jesus uses this as an opportunity to teach them about one of the greatest means of grace on this side of heaven, prayer. Jesus again uses figurative language to say through prayer we can say to this mountain go throw yourself in the sea. Does he mean it literally? No, he is using hyperbole to teach us it is as we believe and trust in Him, we can do all the things He has called us to do!
Are you bearing any fruit? Of course, this is not about being prideful. We can only bear fruit as we maintain an authentic relationship with Jesus and abide in Him through prayer. So maybe a better question is how is your relationship with Jesus? Do you get up early to spend time with him in prayer? Are you in His word, where He can speak to you? Jesus is the key to an abundant life, which He desires for all of us. Let's not be that withering fig tree, but the one that bears fruit that will last for eternity.
Jesus we come to you this morning. We know from your Word, as we abide in you and you us in us, we will bear much fruit. Prune out the things in our lives that keep us spending time with you. Amen.
20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Reflection: There are three things I would to point out in today's passage, that might seem a little odd to some. First, we see the humanness of Jesus. After leaving the city after the incident in the temple, he spent the night in Bethany. He was so busy working that in the morning he was hungry. There was no one around to make the Son of God breakfast, so he went to eat a green fig from the fig tree. But he found nothing on it, but leaves. Jesus cursed the fig tree and it withered. The tree was supposed to bear fruit, but it had nothing but leaves. Notice another instance of judgment from Jesus, which has wider implications for the people he came to serve.
Second, as I just mentioned Jesus used this to teach us what the abundant life is all about. In another passage, he says good trees bear good fruit, and bad trees bear bad fruit or no fruit at all. And at the heart of productivity and fruit bearing is connected to the True Vine, see John 15 for the full teaching. Because Israel had rejected the Vine that was among them, they were in line for the same destiny as this fruit tree. This little pericope reminds us that we are made to bear fruit. That is our purpose. We don't bear fruit merely by our own effort but as we we see, by being connected to Jesus.
Finally, the disciples as usual are more interested in the supernatural occurrence of the fig tree withering before them. They miss the deeper theological point Jesus is making. But instead of berating them, Jesus uses this as an opportunity to teach them about one of the greatest means of grace on this side of heaven, prayer. Jesus again uses figurative language to say through prayer we can say to this mountain go throw yourself in the sea. Does he mean it literally? No, he is using hyperbole to teach us it is as we believe and trust in Him, we can do all the things He has called us to do!
Are you bearing any fruit? Of course, this is not about being prideful. We can only bear fruit as we maintain an authentic relationship with Jesus and abide in Him through prayer. So maybe a better question is how is your relationship with Jesus? Do you get up early to spend time with him in prayer? Are you in His word, where He can speak to you? Jesus is the key to an abundant life, which He desires for all of us. Let's not be that withering fig tree, but the one that bears fruit that will last for eternity.
Jesus we come to you this morning. We know from your Word, as we abide in you and you us in us, we will bear much fruit. Prune out the things in our lives that keep us spending time with you. Amen.
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