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NASB | Matthew 21:19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He *said to it, "No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you." And at once the fig tree withered. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 21:19 Seeing a lone fig tree at the roadside, He went to it and found nothing but leaves on it; and He said to it, "Never again will fruit come from you." And at once the fig tree withered. |
Bible Question:
In both Matthew 18-21 and Mark 11:12-14,20-24 Jesus curses the fig tree. In Mark 11:12-14 Jesus 1) Is hungry 2) Sees a fig tree in leaf 3) Goes to it to find it fruitless because it was not the season for figs 4) Curses it saying, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." The next day, He and the discples return to find it withered. Assumption: Jesus, who often spoke in agrarian terms, would likely have known that figs were not in season. Question 1) Why then does He curse it to death? Question 2) Why does He say, "Have faith in God", then apply a teaching on the power of faith and prayer to the death of the fig tree? Colin |
Bible Answer: Greetings Colin, Excellent question! Shelly gave a good answer that I will expound upon: "And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once." Matthew 21:19 [ESV] Normally, the fruit and the leaves on a fig tree appear at the same time. Jesus cursed the fig tree because it had the "appearance" of being fruitful, but it did not bear fruit. If Christians do not bear fruit, even though we may have the "appearance" of Godliness, then we are 'cursed' as well, and He will say that He never knew us. "21:19 ... Jesus' cursing of the tree was a purposeful divine object lesson, not an impetuous act of frustration. The fig tree is often employed in Scripture as a symbol of Israel (Hos. 9:10; Joel 1:7)- and the barren fig tree often symbolizes divine judgment on Israel because of her spiritual fruitlessness .. despite an abundance of spiritual advantages (Jer. 8:13; Joel 1:12). Jesus' act therefore illustrates God's judgment against earthly Israel for shameful fruitlessness, exemplified in the rejection of their Messiah. One of Christ's parables taught a similar lesson (Luke 13:6-9)." (1) Blessings to you, Makarios (1) The MacArthur Study Bible, 1997, Word Publishing, John MacArthur, pg. 1432 |