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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. |
Subject: Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? |
Bible Note: Greetings Colin, Mark 11:12-14 and 11:20-24 parallel the passage of the barren fig tree spoken of in Matthew 21:18-22. Both accounts place the event after the Triumphal Entry, and around the 2nd time that Jesus cleanses a temple, but before Jesus's authority is questioned by the chief priests and elders of the law.. As you have noted, in both passages, Christ gives a following explanation of this 'fig tree' event by saying that whatever we ask for in faith, that we will receive (Mark 11:23-24; Matt. 21:21-22). So, with this application given to us by Christ, which follows two events that are seemingly of judgment (withering of the fig tree [Mark 11:12-14] and the cleansing of the temple [Mark 11:15-19]), how are we to interpret the 'barren fig tree' event with the explanation that Jesus gives, which is an illustration of faith or believing prayer? Excellent in-depth and confounding question! If we look at what is said in Mark 11:21, the fig tree is both cursed and withered away. (In Matthew, both the cursing and the withering happen almost simultaneously.) Jesus goes on to emphasize the power of true faith. Therefore, here is how I interpret these passages: 1) Mark 11:12-14 - Jesus curses the fig tree because its appearance was "misleading": suggesting great productivity with its leaves, but without providing any fruit. (Matthew 21:18) 2) Mark 11:20-24 - Jesus says, "Have faith in God", which could be taken as a gentle rebuke for the disciples' lack of faith in the power of His word. Therefore, when the disciples say "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You have cursed has withered away", that statement may not be seen as an "accusatory" statement, meaning "why did you curse the fig tree?", but rather a statement of wonder saying "Wow! The healthy, vibrant (or so it seemed) fig tree has now withered away"... So, in that sense, Jesus could reply to that with, "With faith you can move mountains.." :-) I do appreciate you sharing your interpretation of the whole fig tree event, even though I'm not quite in agreement with you that this passage is a 'foreshadowing' of the "future power" of the disciples. And the reason that I say that is is that the disciples were not "empowered" by anything but the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). The disciples were not to receive the Holy Spirit and power, but power THROUGH the Holy Spirit. The "power" and the Spirit are the same. Our Lord before His ascension said to His disciples, "..stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). That word "until" is a 'time-word'; it indicates a point in relation to which everything is either before or after. So the experience of the disciples could be stated like this: Up to that point they 'had not' received the power; at that point they 'did' receive the power; after that point they 'had' received the power.. That same power, still active in the Church, has enabled her to exist for twenty centuries. That power, which is nothing less than the power of God Himself, is the Holy Spirit. Blessings to you, Makarios |