The story of the barren fig tree in Matthew 21 verses 18 to 22; was not about the figs, but more about the faith and fruit.
Verse 18: “Early in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry.”
Verse 19: “Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He went up to it and found nothing on it except leaves. And He said ‘to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again’.”
Jesus saw a leafy fig tree, and on a fig tree, fruit appears at the same time as the leaves. but Jesus found nothing but leaves on it.
When we look back at Matthew 7 verses 15 and 16:
Verse 15; “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.”
Verse 16: “You’ll recognize them by their fruit.”
People may be seen as if they are the real deal, but the way we will recognize, who is real in the serve of Our Lord and Our Friend, is by their faith and fruit.
The Barren tree is about faith and fruit. However it is also a lesson on the absence of faith and fruit. The point is Christ Jesus expects fruit on the fig tree. Fig trees in that part of the world, as in many other places elsewhere, bore two crops of fruit, an early crop known as ‘toqsh’, and a later crop of fully formed figs. The presence of leaves indicate that the early fruit of the figs have been present, but Jesus finds none.
The harshness of His condemnation is symbolic, of His condemnation of the leaders of the time for there lack of faith. Faith and fruit should be a trademark of all leaders in The House of God.
Hebrews 11 verse 6; “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.”
Without faith it is impossible to please, the Loving Creator God we serve, with out this God pleasing faith, it is impossible to produce Kingdom building fruit.
To grow faith and fruit, we need to be planted in Him, which comes from spending time with Him, and Kingdom minded people.
O F J.