Read Matthew 21:18-22 and Mark 11:12-14 and 20-26. Jesus stayed in Bethany, probably at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, then He went into Jerusalem. He would then leave the city, return to Bethany and go back into Jerusalem in the morning. Matthew and Mark both record the incident of the fig tree for us. While Matthew’s account to us seems to say that this all happened on one trip (i.e., the cursing of the tree, the withering, the questions and our Lord’s answers), it took place over two days, as is seen more clearly in Mark’s account. We must remember while today, we usually place things in chronological order, expecting it to be this way and to be so noted if it is not, there was not such as strong an expectation in Matthew’s day. A writer might place things in any order to suit his intentions without noting it did not occur in the order given. Matthew is looking at the event as a whole and places the two days together. When Matthew states the withering took place at once, it certainly did, whether it happened within seconds of our Lord’s curse or over a few hours. A few hours certainly is “at once” as far as withering a tree is concerned. What seems evident is that the disciples did not notice this result, however quickly it occurred, until the next day on their way into town.
1. If this were not the season for figs, why would Jesus expect to find fruit on the tree?
There were leaves on the tree. While it was not the time for ripe figs to be present, neither was it the expected time for the tree to be in full leaf. However, it would not be unusual for a tree to leaf out early. If it did, it would not be unusual to find fruit as well. Another possibility would be that this tree kept its leaves through the winter; again, there would be the possibility of fruit left. The fact remains, from whatever circumstances, the tree had leaves, and, having leaves, our Lord expected there might be fruit on it.
2. When Peter states that our Lord cursed this tree, it does not mean our Lord used strong language or profanity. To curse something here means to pronounce that something bad or unfortunate will happen. The curse upon the tree was that “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.”“No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” and “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” This passage seems to portray, to our way of thinking, that our Lord was disappointed or angry that there were no figs and spoke these words in response to those feelings. Why do you think our Lord pronounced this curse upon the tree?
Our Lord lived a perfect life before God in every respect. While we do know He became angry, we also realize that never did His anger control Him. His response to not finding fruit was a controlled response. As He did in the rest of His ministry, He used this as an opportunity to teach His disciples lessons. Knowing that what He said would visibly come to pass and realizing the disciples would see this effect, He sits up a teaching opportunity.
3. What lesson or lessons do you think Jesus was teaching His disciples?
Indeed, one lesson He wished to teach concerned prayer; that is, its effectiveness and the need to have faith that God will answer. Another lesson perhaps is that He wanted them to clearly understand the power that He could summon, calling upon His Father in heaven. He curses the tree, and it dies. Now He will soon be arrested by the authorities, be brought to trial and then executed as a criminal. The fact that this takes place does not mean He was powerless as some in the multitudes witnessing the crucifixion believed; instead, although He had unbelievable power at His disposal, power to cast mountains into the sea, He did not use it to prevent His own death. The disciples would then know He chose to die willingly. Mark also adds that our Lord taught on this occasion about forgiveness. This the disciples would need to understand as well. His death at the hands of his own people could make them bitter and resentful against many. Just as Jesus forgave those who put Him to death, so must also the disciples!
This action of cursing this tree by our Lord could also be an object lesson, as many have pointed out, of and for the nation of Israel. They, like the fig tree, have the outward trappings implying or suggesting they possessed fruit. But like the tree, they had no fruit. The faith of the nation was empty, dead, devoid of the fruit God expected. And like the fig tree of another parable (Luke 13:1-9), if the nation had no fruit, it would face judgment.
4. Given this truth, why is it, do you suppose, that very few mountains are moved?
We simply do not believe that our God will move them!
Read Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48 and 21:37-38. Jesus drove the merchants from the Temple twice in His ministry. The first time was at the beginning of His ministry (See Unit 5 and John 2:14-22.). Now at the end of His earthly ministry in His first advent, He again does this. This was on Tuesday, the day after the crowds hailed Him into Jerusalem with shouts of “Hosanna!” Our Lord visited the Temple on that day but did not do anything. He looked around then returned to Bethany. Without a doubt, He saw all the religious merchandising taking place but did nothing that day. In all likelihood, the reason was that the crowds were too on edge, and He did not want to start a riot that would quickly bring down the Roman authorities. The next day He does take action and drives the merchants out. Instead of taking action against the pagan rulers, our Lord acts against the religious system itself.
5. What did Jesus do when He entered the Temple?
He drove out the merchants.
6. What was the reaction of the religious leadership?
They wanted to kill Him.
7. Why could they not do what they wanted to do?
Jesus was too popular with the crowds for them to act. They also did not want a riot and the Romans to step in and take action.
8. Are our churches today businesses or houses of prayer?
Many are indeed businesses.
The Applications:
What are the applications of these passages to our lives today? Identify as many as you are able.
1. Certainly, one application of the incident of the fig tree is our response to God when we come to Him in prayer. Many times as James says, we have not because we ask not! We do not ask because we do not believe that God will answer by granting what we desire. And then, many more times, we do come in prayer and ask, but yet deep down inside, we still do not think He will grant the request. The result is the same; we receive what we believe we would receive.
The statement is sometimes made that the verse, “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.” is an absolute promise; and that if we do not receive the answer we asked for, it was due to our unbelief. While it is certainly true that many, if not most of the time, our unbelief keeps us from receiving God’s blessings, it is not the only principle at work. There are other factors as well. For example, James also states that we ask and do not receive because we ask with wrong motives, so that we may spend it on our pleasures. Not only is our faith an issue, but our motives as well!
One should also remember that Paul requested three times that his thorn in the flesh be removed. Do we dare think that Paul did not ask in faith? I think not! Do we dare think he was asking with the wrong motives? Again the answer is no. Why did God not grant Paul’s request? It was to demonstrate to Paul, and us as well, that God’s strength is sufficient, especially in our own weakness. God may not grant what we ask because He has something much better in mind for us.
Is the verse, “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.” an absolute promise? I would instead regard it as a general principle of faith. It is how God has chosen to respond to us. But it is not a means to get what we want or cause God to answer as we wish. God alone is sovereign; He cannot be manipulated or controlled. He will do what He will do, and we can only praise Him for it.
Our Lord’s statements to the disciples were indeed to teach them about the importance of faith. It is the general principle by which God works in our lives. But it is not a means to obtain what we wish from God. He cannot be put into a box.
2. Unfortunately, we have done exactly what these leaders in our Lord’s day did and have surpassed them in our commercialization of religion today in our nation. Christianity, today in our culture, is big business, very big business. Although there are many exceptions, of course, for the most part, churches are business organizations that market a product.
Just as with Herod’s Temple, so too today, billions of dollars have been spent on huge, beautiful buildings not so much to the glory of our Lord but to the pride and credit of the leaders and members of those congregations. Church leaders realize that a large and beautiful building attracts people, and more people mean more giving!
Much of a church’s activity today is directed towards fundraising, increasing attendance, and giving. The vending of Christian music, clothing and devotional material is widespread and profitable. Services today are directed toward entertainment and building up good emotional feelings more than the proclamation of the truths of God’s Word. They are directed toward getting the attention and the attendance of those outside the church than the building up of those within it. If people feel good and enjoy the service, they will come back. Salaries and benefits for ministers and staff of churches are, for the most part, good. In larger churches very good!
The church today has come far from what it was in the early days following our Lord’s death, resurrection and ascension. God did not give many details concerning how local churches are to be structured, how services are to be carried out, when, where or how often they meet. This freedom allowed the church to adapt to different cultures and different ages. In its evolution, however, it has become something other than what God had intended. We have become what our Lord reacted against when He cleansed the Temple.
The local church is a fellowship of believers who encourage and build up one another. It does not need a building to function properly, as is witnessed by the success of the early church and the success of the underground church in those countries where public churches are banned. The giving of the early church was not primarily to pay the salary of hired clergy or staff who would do the work God called all the saints to do but to meet the needs of the saints in that local church or other churches. Those in the church carried on the work of the ministry, with pastors and evangelists serving many different churches, teaching the individual members of these churches how to carry on the ministry given to them.
Today, however, we market faith in Jesus Christ or at least a form of religion. The success of a church today is almost always measured in the number of members it boasts, the size and cost of the sanctuary and physical plant it has or by its annual budget. Our Lord, I am convinced, uses a different set of metrics. Perhaps we should change ours!