Red Letter Bible Study--Matthew 21:12-17 (Jesus curses a fig tree)

 Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, 20-26

The morning after the temple fiasco, Jesus and the disciples are walking back to Jerusalem from where they are staying in Bethany.  It's about a 1.75 mile walk, and along the way Jesus sees a fig tree.  He's hungry, and the tree is full of leaves.  Jesus stops to get some fruit, but the tree has none.  He says to the tree that it will never bear fruit again.  The next morning the disciples, having heard what Jesus said to the fig tree, notice that is withered all the way to it's roots.  Jesus tells His disciples that they have the same power with faith and prayer.  

I think it was when we did the 1 Kings study, I did a short side study on trees and their meanings.  To say that we can't even begin to cover the Biblical meaning of a fig tree in a short blog post is an UNDERSTATEMENT!!  But to put it in context with the rest of the Red Letters--Jesus has been hounded for 3 years by the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees.  The religious and legal leaders of Israel.  A fig tree is symbolic of Israel throughout most of the Bible.  (Like I said, this is by no means an exhaustive study 😓) So this tree seems to represent to Jesus all that's wrong with His beloved people, Israel.  Both the tree and the leaders look right on the outside--leafy and inviting.  But when Jesus inspects both more closely, there's no fruit!  What's the point of a beautiful tree with no fruit?  The hungry aren't fed,  physically or spiritually.  So Jesus is done with the leafy, fruitless fig tree and He's done with ritualistic, fruitless religion.  When the disciples express surprise at His power to wither the tree, He tells them they will also have the power to wither trees and move mountains.  This should be read figuratively (the disciples will have no need to wither trees and move mountains literally).  Jesus is preparing the disciples as keepers of the New Covenant, ushered in by His coming sacrifice.  They too will be able to discern between fruit-bearing and fruitless followers.  This discernment is both a gift and a discipline, kept sharp by spending time in prayer and growing in faith.  

These verses change me when I put myself in the story--as the fig tree.  The thought of Jesus walking up to my life, leafy and healthy-looking, but finding I'm just an ornamental plant, withers me to my roots.  I pray that I can move the mountains of ritual and self-reliance, and trust in Him alone to grow me.  And while I'm praying, I will forgive as I'm forgiven. This is the formula that Jesus Himself sets up for His keepers of the covenant, both then and now.  For our good and for His Glory.