18Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
20When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
21Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matthew 21:18-22)
Thoughts: The theme of this chapter is the rejection of the people of God and then God's rejection of them. To expect God to continue to bless us when we are not grateful to Him or live for Him is naive.
The fig tree was a symbol of Israel. In Jeremiah 8:13 God says He will take away the fig harvest as a sign of their rejection of God. The people of Israel were chosen to bear fruit- to glorify God and to be a kingdom of priests to the nations. But the fruit was non-existent.
We do not exist for our own comfort- or simply to grow without bearing fruit. We are called to bear the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control). We are called to bear fruit by reproducing our faith in others. Fruit is part of the reproduction cycle of a tree that nourishes us and makes the tree useful. We are not simply made to grow and prosper- we are called to have a purpose and bear fruit. In John 15:2 Jesus says that a branch that does not bear fruit will be pruned.
The fig tree was a symbol of Israel. In Jeremiah 8:13 God says He will take away the fig harvest as a sign of their rejection of God. The people of Israel were chosen to bear fruit- to glorify God and to be a kingdom of priests to the nations. But the fruit was non-existent.
We do not exist for our own comfort- or simply to grow without bearing fruit. We are called to bear the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control). We are called to bear fruit by reproducing our faith in others. Fruit is part of the reproduction cycle of a tree that nourishes us and makes the tree useful. We are not simply made to grow and prosper- we are called to have a purpose and bear fruit. In John 15:2 Jesus says that a branch that does not bear fruit will be pruned.
But there is another part to this passage. "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. " Prayer is not just wishful thinking, talking to the ceiling or talking to thin air. Jesus is trying to get His followers to believe in the power of God and to trust in Him. There is power in prayer- so we should pray more. Prayer is another way we may bear fruit for God.
Prayer: Lord, help me to believe in your power. Help me to bear fruit for you.
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