Jesus spent last friday with friends in Bethany, and to be anointed by mary with oil for His burial to come. There is no good info in scriptures on saturday on what Jesus did , and as customs were at the time, Jesus probably stayed there over the weekend continuing to fellowship with friends. It’s monday now, Jesus is on his travels to the temple, but before arriving he stops along the way for breakfast at a nearby fig tree.....
The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.” Mark 12:12-14, Matthew 21:18-22
Before we start---have in mind---when reading anyone of the gospels of Jesus, you have to know every incident written of Jesus--- there was one or more lessons from everything He did. There is much background you can study on the fig tree as it was not generally in season this time of year. Without getting into too much details here, there were leaves on this tree and therefore should have been fruit as well, but there was no fruit on the fig tree.
Israel often was represented by the fig tree. Today Jesus would curse this tree for finding it had no fruit, and later dump tables and chairs at the temple. He was taking serious notice to the spiritual condition of Israel. The fig tree was a symbol to Israel of good times...of blessings....of prosperity. To have the fig tree die, showed judgement and rejection of Israel. In short: Israel was religious on the outside & dead on the inside. Like a fig tree with leaves and no fruit--you walk up to knowing it should have fruit, and once you look inside the tree you find it bears no fruit. Israel was faking their fellowship with God.
Interesting note: while Matt. 21 shows the curse & death at the sametime. Mark 12 shows the death happen the next day when they traveled again to Jerusalem. It died from the the roots to the top, a good illustration that Israel was spiritually dead, and it started from the roots up. I’m sure Jesus knew this message would be prevalent for us today with our spiritual walk in Him---so please take a moment and LQQK at your heart condition...... on we go with their travels to the temple....
When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace.He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-17, Luke 19:45
Same teaching at the temple only Jesus as much more outward attitude shown. The gentiles were selling animals for sacrifice, charging unfair prices, overall everyone was there was worshiping their profits, and not worshiping God with prayer. As always Jesus works in unthinkable ways to us. There are multiple lessons to be learned here. Jesus made a scene to cleanse the temple of what was going on at the moment--trading God for pagan....He was also announcing His coming judgement on Israel, his actions show that He had the power to back it up. Ask yourself--who comes in to the holy temple...... in front of the people, priest & the temple guards.......wrecks the place, and walks away un-touch. The Master of the Universe= Jesus thats who !!! However those against Him..who have the most to lose...are now stepping up there evil plans to have Jesus murdered.......
What do we take away here: God wants His trees (christians) to bear much fruit. Not to have beautiful green leaves and then no fruit ,or a religious show for the world. This is what Israel did here, and its not working out so well for them. LISTEN--the world will come to your fig tree, because they see the green leaves (your outward christian appearance) and expecting figs there because their hungry (their conscience is pushing them), and they will want the figs for food (the gospel message), when they look inside and find the tree bears no figs for food (your true heart toward God),they will leave, and never want to come back to this tree for food. This is how we lose the lost to the world. This is the message Jesus was trying to teach, This is why he cleansed Israel, this is why He will cleanse your heart if its not right.
Soldiers---today search your heart--find out what kind of true growth in Jesus you have. If you find some deadness--cleanse it before Jesus does a house cleaning of His own. Go to your brothers and sisters for prayer..... Go to Jesus before he comes to you, pray..seek forgiveness..and produce a great crop for fruit (the gospel)...those that are hungry (the lost) will come LQQKing for it.
If you don’t know Jesus...i hope you will click here steps 2B saved, and see just how much Jesus loves you more than anyone else on the planet.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible,NLT & ESV Translation Use discernment (Acts 17:11, 1 Thes. 5:21).
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