5 Comments

1. darrin coolie says:

   January 21, 2010 at 11:11 pm

   This was a teaching lesson for his people.
2. Rkrejcir says:

   January 22, 2010 at 2:12 am

   This passage may seem strange; for, why would Jesus curse a fig tree? But, it was meant to illustrate a very important point. The fig tree refused to do as it was designed to do—to produce fruit. All it was doing was making leaves. The Jewish leadership was refusing to heed their call, just as the tree was. They were corrupt and diseased, just as the tree was. Both the leadership and the tree were fruitless, and worthless to fulfill their purpose to glorify our Lord. This passage continues Jesus’ attack on the Temple, and His calling it “a den of thieves.” A Christian leader who refuses to be fruitful is a very heinous sight to our Lord! Causing others to stray from the Truth is perhaps the very worst thing a person can do, especially for a leader, and extremely wicked! Jesus is exposing wickedness and showing His authority to do so. He is the Living God of the Universe!

   The illustration of the fig tree and fruit is the archetypal model of one who is in Christ. It is about aligning oneself either with Him or with oneself and other false belief systems and sin. It also shows what your call and your potential is. One will either move forward in Christ or move backward in pride. We all have the choice to live our life as we please. But, is this the best way? Perhaps His way is best; after all, He is God, and omniscient, while we are fallen and limited. So, the choice is ours to live out Galatians 5:19-21 or Galatians 5: 22-23. The choices are ours to either be filled with the Fruit of the Spirit or with the stain of corruption, to either be prepared by man or to be equipped by the Holy Spirit. The solution is simple; we can, by His grace and Spirit, make a determination to receive Him and allow His will to work out in us (Phil. 2:12-13).

   http://70030.netministry.com/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=34856&columnid=3803&contentonly=true
3. chriswyn says:

   May 23, 2010 at 11:18 am

   I do not understand the above explanation, because the passage very clearly says “IT WAS NOT THE SEASON FOR FIGS”.

   “Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs”

   When it was not the season for bearing fruites (figs), how one can expect fruit in the tree. Pls explain the reason, as I feel this strage. Pls let me know at my Email ID : chriswyn@rediffmail.com

   Thank you,

   Christopher
4. Rkrejcir says:

   May 24, 2010 at 5:01 pm

   Jesus used this as an illustration and example to get out attention…

   This time of year, figs would be just forming leaves and have small, green, uneatable fruit. Apparently, this tree had nothing but leaves, displaying only self-interest. The readiness of the fruit was not the issue; it was the willingness to make the fruit. A tree that has leaves at that time of year should also have fruit, even though it would not be ready to eat. It was cursed because it refused to produce.

   Here, also, is a picture of Jesus’ sovereignty and an allegory of judgment. The fig tree represents Israel and its apostate leaders (Hos. 9:10; Nah. 3:12). This passage also, in context, foretells the judgment and destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. (Jer. 24:1-8). This tree promised, but did not deliver; it was just a display having no real intention, impact, or worth.

   In this passage, the emphasis is for us not to doubt or to hold back, lest we lose out on what is best for us and those around us! The awareness of God’s will has more to do with our character and faith then what we do for a living! As Christians, we operate from heaven as God’s ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20).

   Consider this, making leaves is essential for a tree; but, unless it also produces fruit, it is useless. The fig tree only cared about itself, whereas the other fig trees produced fruit before their leaves. We need to take a deep look into our lives and see ourselves as God sees us. Perhaps you can consider yourself as a tree—are your roots strong and healthy? That is, are you being fed, then carrying His nutrients to all the parts of your being? Is your trunk strong? That is, how is your relationship with Christ? Are your branches supporting the nests of birds? That is, are you nurturing and exhibiting good character? Are your leaves healthy and strong? That is, how is your personality and disposition? Do you attract people or are you revolting to them? And, are you producing fruit or just leaves?
5. pluimville says:

   June 9, 2011 at 11:14 am

   There is an alternate interpretation for this story.

   It can also be viewed that it was past the time for fruit, however because of the gleaning laws, some should have been left behind for peasants and hungry travellers. However the owner was greedy and stripped the tree bare, so Jesus was in fact punishing the owner by preventing future harvests by cursing the tree. This can be paralleled to the greed of the money changers in the next set of verses who were making a profit on those who needed to change their money for one acceptable for worship (Mark 11:15-17).

   I personally struggle with which interpretation to go with, however within the context Mark has set it in, one must make some kind of parallel to the money-changing story that is set in the middle of the fig-tree cursing. And I don’t know that the assertation that the tree refused to make fruit adequately accounts for the deviation within the narrative.

   Just my thoughts, respectfully submitted,
   Adrienne