Jesus and the two fig trees

Jesus and the two fig trees

Fig tree restored: Luke 13:6-9

Jesus also spoke this parable; “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none, cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But the keeper answered, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it, and if it bears fruit, good; but if not after that you can cut it down.’”

Fig tree cursed: Matthew 21:18-22; also study Mark 11:12-14, 20-24

Now in the morning as Jesus returned to the city, He was hungry and seeing a fig tree by the road He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away. When the disciples saw it (the next day), they marveled saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” Jesus said, “Truthfully, I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the tree. But also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and cast into the sea,’ it will be done. Whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

With the first fig tree Jesus is teaching the people in parables about the Kingdom of GOD and how to live life in the earth; this is a parable of restoration, of second opportunities. Before we are saved GOD sends many to plant seed and water us so that we can produce the fruit of His Kingdom through salvation. We can resist His working in our life to the point of being reprobate and destined to be cut down and thrown into the fire.

When we are saved a planted seed of faith grows in us and it is destined to bring forth the fruit of GOD’s Kingdom in and through our life. But, things happen and we do not always produce the fruit or sometimes any fruit as we are destined too. So GOD’s Holy Spirit works in us digging up the hard soil of our heart and understanding, He feeds us with the life giving Word of GOD and nurtures us so that we produce the fruit of GOD’s Kingdom that we are called too. He will do this until it is clear that we will not produce GOD’s fruit then, our life will be judged by fire.

The second fig tree is not a parable but an example of obedience and faith. In Mark’s account he notes that it was not the season for figs, so this is not a story of Jesus being hungry and frustrated that the tree had no fruit. Jesus used this event to teach His disciples an object lesson in faith. If we walk in obedience to GOD’s will for us as Jesus did we will be able to exercise our authority over the earth as we were created to from the beginning. Adam gave our responsibility and authority to satan when he disobeyed GOD’s only restriction. Jesus restored our responsibility and authority in the garden, on the cross and by His resurrection. When He ascended to Heaven He sent His Holy Spirit to live in believers and to instruct and guide us through our life as a child of GOD.

In both fig tree lessons we are the one that is to be producing the fruit of GOD’s Kingdom in the earth and Holy Spirit is the One working in us the ability to produce that fruit. He is the seal of our salvation but the fruit is the evidence to the world and satan.

Also study John 15:1-17; 16:1-15