AUGUST 30, 2015
THE BARREN FIG TREE
INTRODUCTION:
1. Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem exactly as the prophet Zechariah had predicted that the King Messiah would come in. (Verses 7-10; Zech. 9:9)
2. The manner in which He entered signaled that this King was not after the usual order of royalty. He came in lowly, and was riding on the foal of an ass. There was no royal entourage or coronation. His initial destination declared that His Kingdom was not of any earthly sort. He went not to the court or palace, but rather to the temple court.
3. His conduct was most interesting. He observed the goings on at the temple, but spoke not a word. He looked all around, and then retired with His disciples to Bethany for the night. He would keep His actions and words in reserve until His return the next morning.
4. Our Lord’s first acts were emblematic predictions of the curse that was coming upon the fruitless pretense that the Jew’s religion had become; and of the renovation and reformation that was at hand.
I. JESUS CURSED A BARREN FIG TREE AS AN EMBLEM OF THE ACCURSED STATE OF JERUSALEM AND THE JUDGMENT THAT WAS COMING. (VERSES 12-14)
A. A DAY OF EXCITEMENT WAS FOLLOWED BY AN EVENING OF QUIET RETIREMENT AND REST.
1. Jesus’ triumphal entrance into the city was one of great celebration; however, the day had ended sorrowfully for the king. Though Jesus spoke not a word, the defilements of His Father’s sacred house were grievously beheld by Him.
2. He went from there to more pleasant environs, to a village that He loved, to a home where He always received a loving welcome.
3. Our Lord was always in perfect peace, having His heart stayed on His Father, and delighting to do His will. Our sleep is often restless due to anxiety over what the morning might bring. Yet, there is no doubt that Jesus’ sleep was peaceful and restful, even knowing what the coming day held in store for Him.
B. THE DAWNING OF THE NEW DAY FOUND JESUS UP AND ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF THE DAY. (VERSE 12)
1. He was probably up before any of the others, so that He might have time alone for prayer and communion. This would account for why He was hungry.
2. All was exactly according to His purpose. We can be quite sure that His kind friends would have been happy and honored to provide Him a good breakfast, but it was needful for sake of the object lesson which He was now about to give them that He be in need of food.
C. HERE WE HAVE THE SYMBOLIC ACT OF JESUS CURSING A BARREN FIG TREE. (VERSES 13, 14)
1. Being hungry, Jesus spotted a fig tree covered with leaves. Thus, even though the time of figs was not yet, according to the nature of fig trees He had good reason to expect to find fruit. Since with fig trees fruit begins to appear before leaves, and since this tree was covered with leaves, the expectation for fruit was reasonable.
2. When Jesus came to the fig tree covered with leaves, He found “nothing but leaves.” Jesus promptly cursed the fig tree for its pretense and hypocrisy, and “presently the fig tree withered away.” (Matt. 21:19)
3. The fig tree represents Jerusalem which was verdant with religious pretense and very forward in vain externals, but was destitute of repentance, faith, and holiness. This act was intended as an object lesson. As Jesus came to Jerusalem, He found nothing but leaves, and therefore it was worthy of the same swift judgment that the pretentious fruitless tree received!
4. Remember, true believers are known by the fruit they bear.
a) Mere profession is not enough. True saving faith is always verified by its fruit.
b) Mere religious activity is not enough. We must have more than just leaves. There must be the internal fruit of a pure heart and love for things holy.
5. Jesus Himself is the appointed judge, and He has assured us that every plant that the Father has not planted shall be uprooted. (Matt. 15:13; See Luke 13:6-9)
II. JESUS AGAIN CLEANSES THE TEMPLE, DRIVING FROM IT THE MONEY CHANGERS, AS SYMBOLIC OF THE RENOVATION AND REFORMATION THAT WAS NOW AT HAND. (VRS. 15-18)
A. IN THE BEGINNING OF HIS MINISTRY JESUS HAD GONE INTO THE TEMPLE AND CLEANSED IT. (JOHN 2:13-17)
1. The first cleansing demonstrated the reform that was needed, and now He proceeds to carry it out.
2. Remarkably, on that occasion His authority (of which His small whip was but a token) went unchallenged until after the place was cleared of all merchandising.
3. But, shaken as the buyers and sellers were then, they had come back in force, and the operation was running full scale.
a) Reform will not continue long without careful oversight and maintenance.
b) With respect to the “temples” of our bodies, the same truth applies. We must exercise continual diligence and discipline.
B. NOW, IN THE LAST WEEK OF HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY, JESUS REPEATS THE SAME ACTION, WITH THE SAME HOLY JEALOUSY FOR HIS FATHER’S HOUSE. (VERSE 15-17)
1. He now references the prophetic scriptures, which He had alluded to before. (Verse 17; Isa. 56:7)
2. Our Lord was angered on two accounts.
a) They were making “merchandise” of the holy precincts. (John 2:16) They were buying, selling, changing money – all quite lawful practices – but they were “ill-timed” and “ill-placed.” Even lawful things may not be appropriate in the house of God.
b) They were making dishonest gain. “You have made it (My Father’s house) a den of thieves.”
(1) Money changing was a service for public convenience, supplying shekels for the sanctuary in lieu of Roman coin. Yet they were making dishonest gain for their service.
(2) Selling doves and pigeons seems licensed, since these birds were required for sacrifice, but these merchants were not serving God in this trade, but themselves.
3. This event supplies a good barometer by which to determine how the Lord looks upon those who make merchandise of the “Gospel ministry.”
4. Jesus did not contend with His enemies, or any wicked influence, without “the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (Verse 17)
a) This prophecy had a special relation to the court of Gentiles, which is here being so grossly desecrated. “Mine house shall be called a house of prayer FOR ALL PEOPLE.” (Isa. 56:7)
b) Jesus likened His Father’s house, when occupied by these buyers and sellers, to those caves in the mountains where robbers were want to lurk and hide. “Ye have made it a DEN OF THIEVES.”
C. THE SCRIBES AND CHIEF PRIESTS WERE EXTREMELY VEXED AND FLUSTERED BY THIS. (VERSE 18)
1. They hated Him, and hated to be reformed by Him, and yet they feared Him.
a) For one thing, they were helpless to withstand Him. Now twice He had “cleansed” the temple, and they could do nothing to stop Him.
b) For another thing, they feared that He would next overthrow them. They knew how they had profaned and abused their offices, which was a worse defilement than what the merchandisers were doing.
2. They saw what great interest He had with the people. Everything that He said was an oracle of God, and a law to the people, and they were astonished at His doctrine. They therefore sought how they might kill Him.
a) What fools they were! They sought not how they might be at peace with Him, but how they might kill Him.
b) A desperate attempt, and one which one would think that even they might fear was fighting against God.
c) These wicked rulers represent all men and women who for sake of retaining lordship over their lives and destinies, say “We will not have this man to rule over us,” thus, in effect, saying, away with Him, let His blood be on our heads.
III. JESUS TEACHES A VALUABLE LESSON IN FAITH TO HIS DISCIPLES UPON OCCASION OF THE WITHERING AWAY OF THE CURSED FIG TREE. (VERSES 19-26)
A. THAT THE CURSED FIG TREE WAS SO SOON WITHERED WAS A MATTER OF GREAT SURPRISE. (VERSES 20, 21)
1. Although they had passed it the night before (the same day on which the curse was pronounced), the darkness prevented their seeing that it was withered. However, the next morning, as they were returning to the city they saw that it was dried up. Whatever or whomever Christ curses is cursed indeed. He had said to it, “No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever!!” To make certain of it, the tree was “dried up from the roots.”
2. This is what comes of rejecting Christ, and being rejected by Him. Let us therefore be certain that our faith is not mere outward profession, but is such as bears real fruit.
B. JESUS SAW IN THIS INCIDENT AN OCCASION FOR INSTRUCTING HIS DISCIPLES IN THE EXERCISE OF TRUE FAITH, AND WHAT AMAZING THINGS CAN RESULT. (VERSES 22-26)
1. He taught them to pray in faith and to expect a lively active result. They admired the power of His words, but He assured them that a lively, active faith would put great power into their prayers. (Verses 22, 23)
2. Truly, whatever things a Christian might legitimately desire, (not such as might be consumed on fleshly lust, see James 4:3) can be confidently asked for and granted. (Verse 24)
3. To this promise is added the necessary qualifications of prevailing prayer, that we freely forgive those who have trespassed against us, and be charitable with all men. (Verses 25, 2 6)
4. Clearly, a forgiving spirit is essential if we will have God’s forgiveness. (Matt. 6:12; 18:21-35)
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