The withered fig tree

Today’s passage covers the events from Tuesday morning. The disciples discovered that the fig tree cursed by Jesus the previous day had withered. There are several important lessons in this.

(1) Jesus feeling hungry indicates that He shared a common humanity with us. The Passover is a festival in spring. Fig trees in spring bear leaves and small fruit (first fruits). Jesus likely expected to find these first ripe figs, but the tree had nothing but leaves. (2) Jesus cursed the tree, and it withered the next day. This signifies Jesus’ divinity. In Old Testament tradition, the fig tree symbolizes Israel (ref. Jer. 24:5, Hos. 9:10). Here, the fig tree symbolizes the Jewish faith of that time, namely the Pharisaic Judaism. The Pharisaic faith appeared devout on the surface but lacked spirituality. Jesus condemned this superficial Judaism. How about our faith? Let’s seek a faith that bears the fruit of the Spirit rather than a faith that is merely superficial.

Lessons for the disciples

Jesus took this opportunity to teach his disciples. (1) The withered fig tree foreshadows the destiny of the unfaithful Israel. Although Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army in AD 70, the true cause of destruction was the faithlessness of the people of Israel. (2) There is power in prayer based on faith. The expression “moving mountains and casting them into the sea” was a common saying among the rabbis of that time, and Jesus used it to teach His disciples the power of prayer based on faith. (3) In order for prayers to be heard, one must have a heart of forgiveness. When you understand how much you have been forgiven by God, you are also given a heart of forgiveness toward others. If you harbor hatred towards others, your prayers are not genuine because you lack understanding of forgiveness. Today, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to remove the bitterness and the unforgiving heart from within us. Let’s become fig trees that bear fruit.