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The Fig Tree Part 1
Written by on April 21, 2015
I am posting again ya’ll…. God has really been working on me, and I preached this subject. This study is for all the believers, Jesus is examining our lives.
We are going to study the Fig Tree in Mark 11: 12-14, 20-21. Typically, every time I hear this scripture taught, faith is the subject.
12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
The text tells that Jesus is hungry. As He walks Jesus sees a “fig tree afar off”. The tree is in full leaf, so Jesus goes to it hoping to find some figs to eat. When He comes to the tree, He finds nothing but leaves. Then the text tells us that “the time of figs was not yet”. In order to understand what is happening here, need to examine these verses a little closer and understand fig trees.
Understanding Fig Trees
Fig trees were and are very common in Israel. The common fig, which is mentioned over 60 times in the Bible, is one of the most important trees in the Word of God. When mentioned, in parables it represents Israel. In the natural, fig trees can grow to a height of 20 – 30 feet with a trunk some three feet in diameter. The spread of a fig tree’s branches can be 25 – 30 feet. In other words, fig trees can grow very, very large.
The first crop is produced on the “old” wood. Early in the year, green knobs or buds appear at the end of the branches. They are called paggim and while this fruit is not as juicy and rich as the later fruit it is still quite edible. After the paggim appear, the fig tree will begin to grow its leaves and new growth.
Another interesting fact about fig trees is that it can be in full fruit, full leave and full bloom all at the same time. The first crop becomes ripe in June, the second in September. Rarely, December, another crop may come.
Jesus’ Expectation
Since the fruit grows as the tree produces its leaves, it was reasonable for Jesus to assume that there would be fruit on the tree when He came to it. Yet, when He searched the tree, He found it was all leaves; there was no fruit to be found. This fig tree was deceptive because its leaves promised something the tree could not deliver.
A fig tree in full leaf in April should have been covered with early fruit. Since this tree had no early fruit, it was a sign that there would be no sweet fruit when the time for harvest arrived. This tree had nothing to offer and it was, therefore useless! This tree was fit for nothing but to be cut down and fed to the fire.
Are you this fruitless fig tree? Israel at the time of Jesus had all the signs of spiritual life, but they had no fruit. They were keeping the letter of the Law. They were carrying out the ceremonies. They were religious in every detail, but they had no spiritual fruit.
Application
We can also look at the fig tree to represent us as believers. We have been adopted into Abraham’s inheritance and family, through Jesus Christ. This day and age, as believers, we have everything we need for a spiritual bumper crop, but many of us still remain fruitless.
Let’s face the truth today. We have been given every spiritual advantage God has to offer. We have His Word, His church, and His Spirit. He has blessed us in abundance. There is no excuse for us being fruitless.
What about in your individual life? Are you all leaves, or do you have fruit? Let’s take a minute to examine ourselves before the Lord. Ask yourselves the following questions.
- Jesus really the first priority in your life, or is His will, His worship and His work just an afterthought?
- Do you have all the trappings of religion and salvation, but no real commitment to God?
- Do you shout, testify and pretend to worship while you hold things in your hearts against others?
- Do you plan your life around all the things you want to do but don’t see the need to plan around the Lord’s work?
Fruit is always the evidence of genuine salvation. When a person is saved by God’s grace, they will bear fruit for His glory! (Ill. John 15:5 – The fruit on the vine is evidence of life within the branch. As the branch yields to the vine and as the vine lives through the branch, fruit happens.) Fruit such as:
- A changed life – 2 Cor. 5:17
- A vibrant witness – Acts 1:8
- The evidence of inward life – Gal. 5:19-23
Not everyone bears the same amount of fruit, John 15:1-8. But, everyone who is saved bears some fruit! In truth, every life, saved or lost, bears some sort of fruit, but only those in a right relationship with God will bear His fruit, Matt. 7:18.