Wrath Upon A Fig Tree Series

Background to passage, Matthew 21:18-19: Last week of Jesus’s life. Major confrontation with the religious establishment. Two demonstrations of his messiahship publicly, and now one with the disciples even more pointed than the first two. With this prophetic parable, Jesus completes his claim as the Lord of Jerusalem, Lord of the Temple, and Lord of the people of Israel predicting their destruction.

Explanation: At first glance this may seem like a very strange miracle performed by Jesus. Most of Jesus’s miracles are for healing and wholeness, where this one is for destroying, one of only two in the gospels. A couple of things going on here and can’t be divorced from the major conflict between Jesus and the religious establishment. This is the third of three living parables teaching that Jesus is King of the city, of the temple, and of all Israel. Explain why this tree was unique--has leaves, no figs, by the road toward the city.

This was an object lesson, a living parable of the nation. Jeremiah, Hosea, Micah, Luke, and others speak about the nation as a fig tree and equate fruitfulness with walking with God. Jesus was prophesying about the judgment coming upon Israel. He knew that upon his death the veil would be torn symbolizing the end of the sacrificial system and priesthood. Then the Romans would come in 70 AD and flatten the city ending the building that symbolized God’s presence.

Matthew 7:15–19 ESV

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

James 2:18 ESV

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Luke 6:46 ESV

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

Philippians 1:11 ESV

11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Colossians 1:10 ESV

10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Jude 1:12 ESV

12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;

Illustration:

Application: Spiritual fruitfulness, Jesus expects fruit to be on the leafy trees. There is a principle throughout scripture that bad trees produce bad fruit, and are cut down and thrown into the fire.

Prophecy of the role and Israel in God’s narrative of salvation.

Isaiah 5:3–5 ESV

3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.

4 What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?

5 And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.

God’s judgment and accountability upon those who forsake God and the purpose for which they were called.

1 Peter 4:17 ESV

17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

2) A Disciple with No Doubt (v. 20-22)

Matthew 21:20–22 ESV

20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?”

21 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.

22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

2) A Disciple with No Doubt (v. 20-22)

Explanation: Jesus is asking about intercessory prayer, prayer that advances the kingdom, prayer that is a petition for some blessing. This is not a cover all pass for everything you could pray for. We are told that if we are praying selfishly and for the wrong things, we have no right to expect answer and blessing. Communing with God through prayer is equally as important, but is for another day.