The Fig Tree
The Fig Tree
18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
Matthew 21:18-19
I love figs. It looks like Jesus liked them too. On one of his travels between towns he saw a fig tree in the distance and, being hungry, you can imagine a smile on his face as he walked towards it to eat. That smile quickly disappeared when he realized that while it had big beautiful leaves, it was void of any fruit.
Out of nowhere, that stricture angrier face of Jesus was shown. Not seeing any fruit, Jesus cursed the tree to never bear fruit again and it instantly withered away.
Jesus often used plants and farming in his parables. Often we are the plants in the story and the fruit is the fruit of the Spirit. In another parable, the farmer gave the fruit tree one more season to bear fruit. If it didn’t, he would cut it down. In this event however, Jesus makes the tree wither right away.
In this event, Jesus makes a different illustration however, possibly because of the questioning disciples.
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” 21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Matthew 21:20
Instead of putting humanity as the plant, Jesus puts us in his shoes. If you have what I have, you will be able to do the same and even more than this. What an amazing promise from Jesus! And what is it that Jesus had that we too can have? Faith!
Whatever we ask in prayer with the condition of faith and believing can be a life changing part of your life. Throughout our lives we try and develop who we are, growing in knowledge, strength and character. Don’t forget faith. With faith in our God, all things are possible.
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto