what is the lesson of the fig tree

20-25). We have a hunger for true worship, and if we go to a dead temple looking for spiritual fruit, we’re going to be disappointed and left hungry. God brought revival. He saw a fig tree in leaf, but when he got to it, he saw no figs. Jesus wants his disciples to see this. Was Jesus hangry? 28 “Take a lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its branches grow tender and its leaves sprout, you know that summer is near.” 29 So also, when you see these things happening, you know that the Promised One is near, right at the door. The Problem Jesus stood in the outer court of the temple, the only place Gentiles could go to find God. We have to be bearing much fruit, not just give an appearance of religiosity. Maybe he’s cleaning some of us out right now. The lesson of the fig tree is that we should bear spiritual fruit ( Galatians 5:22-23 ), not just give an appearance of religiosity. For us, the lesson of the fig tree is that religious profession, rituals, ceremonies, and appearances are not what we will be judged by. But stories and songs trick them and go around—kind of like Jesus’ stories and lessons. Let me propose something for us here at Refuge. How much do we care? That’s why I’m thankful for a song like Andy Gullhorn’s “I Haven’t Either.” C.S. He cares only that you come. “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32). 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. With constant prayer, frequent sacraments and daily sacrifices, as we lay our lives down again and again, subjecting everything within us to his authority and to his mercy. You get everything Jesus deserves. How does it have any relation to the fig tree and to the temple? The only question remaining is simple: do you want to come? The British pastor Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “every institution tends to become it’s opposite.” The temple became a place where it was hard to find God. There is yet another connection between the withering of the fig tree and the quality of faith. The only thing keeping some us from him right now is our prideful religiosity, our false conception of ourselves, our self-righteousness. The Old Testament said this would happen (Isaiah 34:4, Joel 1:7-12, Amos 4:9). God is glorified by the fruit of our efforts for His kingdom, and He expects us to “bear much fruit”. But we know the kind of good King he is, don’t we? When a church becomes a place where it’s hard to find God, it becomes something other than what God intends. That matters because as he goes into the temple, it’s not just another man going there. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. monetization of National Catholic Register RSS feeds is strictly prohibited. And it will be quite a tribulation; the imminent destruction of the Temple would also mean the massacre of a million Jews during the siege of Jerusalem by the Romans. The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree. Let’s pick it up in verse 12. Because you and I have a great need to be near to God. And there was a curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, representing the distance between the Holy God and sinful man. 34 “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. a lesson from the fig tree – mark 13:28-31 Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on February 19, 2017 under 2016 | Preached Sunday, February 19, 2017 from Mark 13:28-31 Jesus’ answer is to have faith in God. We also explore related Bible Verses & Scripture Quotes to further illustrate the meaning and application of this important parable. We will have to open our hearts to those not like us. It's coming back to life, when the tree is coming back to life; He said you know it is near. Look at verse 18. CatholicMom.com and EndowGroups.org. They decided, together, that they would rip up the carpet and the pews before they would again hinder one of these young beach kids from worshiping God. Sermon preached for the Third Sunday in Lent, preached on March 3, 2013. The lesson of the fig tree. And if you look closely, they all have teeth marks. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city. The fig tree symbolizes the deadness of Israel’s worship. 15-19), True worship has faith in God (vv. The temple was amazing. But he does love sinners. The temple in Jerusalem was much the same. Like this fig tree, the nation of Israel has a deceptive appearance. 28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. The fig tree represented the temple, especially her leaders. The Lesson of the fig tree is that He comes to each of us looking for corresponding fruit. That’s what Jesus saw when he entered the temple. It withered. The three entities in the story all have clear symbolic significance. But true worship of God in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit is life giving. We can look at the temple and see the hypocrisy. These first couple of verses serve as the opening illustration into the main point later on. Baptism Makes Us Sons and Daughters of the Father, Becoming Beacons of Light Like the Wise Men, Saying ‘Yes’ Like Mary This Advent, As We Prepare for the Christ Child, Buffalo’s New Bishop Focuses on His Faith as He Addresses the Challenges That Await Him, Scottish Bishop Asks Catholics Worldwide to Join Him in Marian Consecration, Influential German Jesuit Behind Synodal Path Finally Steps Down. That’s the question. Do we realize what God has done in Jesus Christ? 21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. If people leave the church because the Bible makes it hard for them to worship God, that’s between them and God. He will come to you not with cursing but with blessing. As a result, Jesus cursed the fig And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”. But you have made it a den of robbers.” Where was it written that it should be a house of prayer? And like Adam and Eve after the fall, this fig tree, though full in leaf, was useful only to cover nakedness. This is Jesus’ offer to come into your dead religious heart and drive out what doesn’t belong. But it wasn’t his final resting place. Christianity is not about dreary outward appearances but fruit bearing life the makes us rejoice and brings glory to God. Notes on John 8:12; John 10:1), we may think of the words as illustrated by a living example.Both time and place make this probable. Posted on Aug 22, 2014 by Darris McNeely Estimated reading time: 9 minutes. Sunday, Nov. 18, is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. As Jesus’ body was torn on the cross, the temple curtain was also torn, as Matthew tells us “from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51), meaning, God tore it. He is available to us all, right now, and every moment from now until we stand before him in heaven. We need only look to the cross to find that truth. Israel is the Fig Tree. In this case the fig tree story helps us to understand what Jesus is doing clearing the Temple. Gullahorn’s song ends like this, showing just how foolish our self-deception is. Give me one reason not to do church his way. In depth inductive Bible study of Jesus' parable of the fig tree in Matthew 24:32-44, Mark 13:28-32, and Luke 21:29-33 are good for small group studies. They started coming to church. Parable of the Fig Tree Speaking with his disciples about WHEN his Second Coming would take place, Jesus said: “Now learn a parable of the fig tree ; when its branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near: So likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it … How did the temple get to this point? All you need is honesty and openness to admit that your Christianity has been a show, and ask him for the real thing. (We don’t know it is a millenium until Revelation.) We will have to let Jesus rule in our church. The temple was the center of life and worship. And, believe it or not, he actually wants to be near to us. And in Jesus, it could not be easier. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Instead, He teaches on prayer, informing His followers that believing prayer … In this case, it’s true worship. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus teaches about “those days” after the coming tribulation, days of a darkened sun and a dull moon, falling stars, shaken heavens. There seems to be a petulance in it.” New Testament scholar T. W. Manson said, “It is a tale of miraculous power wasted in the service of ill-temper.” Bertrand Russell, the philosopher who wrote an essay called “Why I Am Not A Christian,” used this narrative as one reason he didn’t believe. We have the advantage of hindsight. He can now tell you, though, that no matter how good they look, they’re fake. And from his purity, he makes us clean. By his death that day on the cross, Jesus brought a robber to heaven. If you look at Leviticus, you find the directions Jesus refers to in the parable. When Jesus died, the temple died too. It was where God dwelt on Earth with man. His leaves never whither and his fruit never fades for those who need it. Didn’t do anything. It was like the fig tree—full of leaf but without fruit. Your sin isn’t too big for him. Jesus tells us right here. But he doesn’t only reveal what’s there; he does something about it. Jesus was hungry. Jesus was there in Jerusalem for that very purpose. You get his life of obedience. Lesson from the fig tree Lk 13:6-9 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. All he did was state a truth about it. He says “this” mountain. Well, no, but it’s also not necessary. Maybe you’ve made your heart a den of robbers. Show me the verse about shoes! This parable of a barren fig tree is meant to teach us a vital truth. He was done looking. And so must we. How free we are? The temple was an amazing place. And like Adam and Eve after the fall, this fig tree, though full in leaf, was useful only to cover nakedness. But it wasn’t God’s final solution for communion with him. Login or Create an Account. Robert George Discusses Capitol Riots and the Nation's Polarization, The Poison of Polarization: DC Violence Highlights America’s Deep Divisions, Alex Trebek and ‘Jeopardy!’ Have Given Us a Potpourri of Popery Over the Years, After Georgia Senate Setbacks, the Pro-Life Movement Prepares to Play Defense, Confidentiality Dispute Piles Pressure on Cardinal Accused of Mishandling Abuse Cases. 20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. Everyone has a chance to meet Jesus. No one eats from it again. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. He remains pure no matter what we bring to him. God judges fruitlessness, and expects that those who have a relationship with Him will “bear much fruit” (John 15:5-8). We need another tree from which to eat. The temple had four main sections. What happens when Jesus shows up to people like that? We need intimacy. The temple in Jerusalem was much the same. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. They were hypocrites. Renew or manage your subscription here. No doubt they were dumbfounded by his answer: This will happen in their own generation. How could Jesus raise it up again in three days? Still, we are given signs, and if we are wise, we will consider them and “learn a lesson from the fig tree” (Mark 13:28), as Christ points out. Chuck Smith was a pastor of a little church in Costa Mesa, California. LESSONS OF THE FIG TREE As Jesus and His disciples were traveling from Bethany to Jerusalem the day after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus saw a fig tree having leaves, but upon closer inspection He saw it had no fruit “for it was not the season for figs” (Mark 11:13). They have a bowl of pears on the coffee table in the living room. He had something better. Finally, We look at the parable of the Barren Fig tree in the Bible ~ The Parable is taken from Luke 13:6-9. As soon as the twigs get tender, what is the tree doing? b. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. User’s Guide to Sunday, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. God’s glory was at stake. Jesus doesn’t love hollow religiosity. EWTN News, Inc. is the world’s largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, We don’t have to set up elaborate trading floors with international exchange rates. What appeared full of life was actually lifeless. It's coming back to life, meaning that the tree is being revived. And when he saves you, he cleanses you, and sends his Spirit to live inside you. When they were stepped on, they stuck to the bottom of their feet. We need life. The fig tree illustration is important because what he says to the tree becomes true the next day. This lesson escapes the Twelve, who are more amazed at the speed with which Jesus’ words come true (Matt. Pre-figs, as it were. SubscribeStart your Register subscription today. Why did God do that? So when they passed by the fig tree again and it had withered away to its roots. That generation is over, the fig tree (The Jewish nation) is dead. He showed us the kind of forgiving heart God has. They looked so good to him. That’s what Jesus wants for his disciples. He poured out his Spirit. One day, Chuck Smith showed up to find a sign hanging on the door. Who of us hasn’t? In fact, it’s the only time in the Gospels where Jesus uses miraculous power for wounding rather than healing. Jesus is the Tree of Life we need. He is the meeting place. He blocks more harm from getting in. Just looked around. On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. The lesson of the fig tree is that we should bear spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), not just give an appearance of religiosity. The Jews could enter the next level. For what? This is something Jesus is willing to fight for, and ultimately, die for. So much is packed in here. What’s going on? We have two options: we can make rules to exclude or remove barriers to include. He’s doing something much better. On the beach, there were oil deposits. God loves to revive his people. Jesus becomes the very center of our life and worship. The Fig Tree: A Lesson in the Patience and Judgment of God. He can bring you too, no matter how far you are from true worship right now. But if they leave the church because we make it hard for them to worship God, that’s between God and us. Then, he was willing to wait another year while the vineyard keeper fertilized the tree before exercising final judgment on the tree. They made it a den of robbers by establishing costly buying and selling and money-changing procedures for the sacrifices. The test of true worship doesn’t reside in showy religiosity but in God-glorifying life. It’s a dead tree, no matter how full the leaves are. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 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