Living Fruitfully

Introduction:

This morning text is rather peculiar and raises some questions. Like, Why did Jesus destroy the fig tree? Why does Jesus feel the need to go into the temple and start flipping tables? And how does forgiveness tie into all of this?

There are quite a few people who say such destruction of the fig tree is contrary to Jesus’ character. They claim He would never lash out at a tree just because it was not bearing fruit, especially when it was not even time for figs to be ripe.

vv. 12–14) The Curse:

[Read]

I propose this: just because we don’t understand why Jesus does something; it doesn’t give us the right to question His character.

The grace of God is so incredible also. When we do question God, He doesn’t react with violence, nor does He smite down those who perhaps have thought poorly of God. He lavishes grace upon grace and mercy upon mercy.

There are two important truths you need to remember:

God is both good and severe.

Romans 11:22 NKJV

22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

Family we are to stress both the goodness of God and His severity, not just His goodness. God is love, but He is also pure and just. He demonstrates care and forgiveness, but He also holds men responsible and accountable. This reminds me of Aslan, and in The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe, there is an important conversation between the beavers (Mr and Mrs) and the children. (You’ll need to read more kids books!)

“You’ll understand when you see him.”

“But shall we see him?” asked Susan.

“Why daughter of Eve, that’s what I brought you here for. I’m to lead you where you shall meet him.” Said Mr Beaver.

“Is—is he a man?” asked Lucy

“Aslan a man!” said Mr Beaver sternly.

“Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the Son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion—the Lion, the great Lion.”

“Ooh!” said Susan.

“I’d thought he was a man. Is he—quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”

“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

“safe?” said Mr Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tell you? Who said anything about being safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

– C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

You might tempted to say, “well that is only in a children’s story. Where does it say that in Scripture?”

Exodus 34:5–8 NKJV

5 Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.

God is not an indulgent Father who is never severe. He is not weak and foolish in dealing with mankind, winking at and never punishing their unfruitfulness. Unfruitfulness and sin lead to destruction, and God is not a bad Father who is going to allow His children to remain unfruitful.

1 Peter 4:17 NKJV

17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Jesus always acted either to teach men or to save and help mankind. In the destruction of this fig tree, Jesus was teaching mankind a much lesson—a lesson which is loudly and boldly declared, “Be fruitful! Guard yourself against profession without bearing fruit.”

[13] “Seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves:” Essentially, the tree was a picture of false advertising, having leaves but no fruit.

Ordinarily this is not the case with these fig trees, which normally do not have leaves without also having figs.

It wasn’t that the fig tree didn’t have figs; because it wasn’t supposed to. The problem lies with the fact it had leaves but no figs. The leaves were declaring, “There are figs here,” but that wasn’t the case.

Lets make an important point:

There were many trees with only leaves, and those were not cursed. There were many trees with neither leaves nor fruit, and those were also, not cursed. This tree was cursed because it professed to have fruit, but didn’t.

[14] Like Isreal in the days of Jesus, it had the outward form but no fruit.

In this picture, Jesus warned Israel—and you—of God’s displeasure when we have the appearance of fruit but not the fruit itself. God isn’t pleased when His people are all leaves and no fruit.

In all the works and miracles in Jesus’ minsitry, this is the only destructive miracle. The OT is filled with miracles of destruction and judgement, however, Jesus most perfectly displays the nature of God.

There is no OT God and NT God. He is one and the same.

vv. 15–19) The Cleansing:

[15] The temple area was filled with profiteers who worked in cooperation with the priests and robbed the pilgrims by forcing them to purchase approved sacrificial animals and currencies at inflated prices.

Every Jewish male had to pay a yearly temple tax—I believe it came out to equaling about two days’ worth of pay. Because these men were coming from all over the known world, they had to pay in the currency of the temple, and the money exchangers made the exchange into temple money outrageously high.

Another way was to find some fault with the animal they brought as a sacrifice. Requiring the pilgrim to more than likely sell the one they brought at a low price, and by a certified animal at a much higher price.

This took place in the outer courts of the temple, the only area where Gentiles could worship and pray. Therefore, this place of prayer was made into a marketplace, and a dishonest one at that.

Remember God had intended the temple to be a house of prayer for all nations, however, they had made it into a den of thieves.

What a sorry and shameful state the house of God became. Jesus calls it a place where thieves associate and hide out.

Note these two points:

There were great barriers built between people at the temple. Imagine the huge walls separating people from God and the various courtyards favoring Jewish men before women and all Jews before any Gentile. Imagine the self-righteousness, pride, self-centeredness, prejudice, envy, and jealousy. Where is the love, care, ministry, evangelism, social consciousness, and a sense of human need in such a scheme of religiosity?

Every generation of Christian needs to examine themselves, to make sure there is nothing preventing us to do what God has called us to do. Preach the Gospel to a lost and dying world. Family purge from your hearts such sins.

Jesus’ severest rebukes are often reserved for those who ought to know better.

Christ cleansed the outer court, not the inner court. It was not just the worship center which was set apart to God; it was the worship precincts as well. All 30 acres were hallowed ground and were to be treated as such. This is a warning to the church which must be heeded:

1 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV

17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Jesus drove out those who commercialized and secularized worship of the true and living God.

Jesus drove out those who desecrated God’s house.

Jesus drove out those who affected the atmosphere of prayer within the temple:

The temple was so much more than just a building and grounds. It was to be a “house of prayer.”

Something we are quickly learning as a church, at least I hope so, is the simple fact we do not pray enough corporately and individually. Wednesdays are our most important service as we gather to communion with God together.

1 Chronicles 16:29 NKJV

29 Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!

Psalm 95:6 NKJV

6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Psalm 99:5 NKJV

5 Exalt the Lord our God, And worship at His footstool— He is holy.

Jesus drove those who shut people out. The temple was to be a house of prayer for all nations:

The Court of the Gentiles (the outer most court) was to have an atmosphere of prayer as much as any other court of the temple. There were no sections for worship within the temple, not in the Lord’s mind. Every area was to be used for prayer and worship.

When God’s people become a hindrance rather than a help for the nations to see Jesus, it’s time to clean house.

Now that Jesus has been crucified, buried, and has been resurrected no one is to be barred from knowing God. The body of Christ, meaning us the church the congregation, cannot be gate keeping our faith. Jesus didn’t go through torment so you can sit idly by and watch droves of men and women go to hell…

Jesus came to save the:

poor and rich

destitute and wealth

widower/widow as well as married couples

dirty/smelly

divorced

sick

ragged

sinner

child

handicapped/mental handicapped

hungry and full

orphan

young and elderly

Jesus also drove out those who changed the purpose of the temple.

Tragically, it was the priests themselves who altered the purpose of the temple. An allowance of something here lead to a slow drift from what God desired of His people.

[18] We see there are three reactions against Jesus:

Some were so angered by Jesus they began to plot to destroy Him.

There are church, if they started to get rid of wickedness within their churches they would be run out.

1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Proverbs 16:8 NKJV

8 Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice.

Some were astonished at Jesus’ doctrine, at what He was teaching and by His actions.

Matthew 5:6 NKJV

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

vv. 20–24) The Consequence and Counsel:

[20–21] The fig tree was noticed by the disciples now on the following day.

There are those who say the fig tree represents Israel. The fig tree was full of leaves, appearing fruitful, but not having any. Israel appeared to be full, to be religious, professing spiritual fruit; but the nation bore none. Its religion was barren, legalistic, and fruitless. Therefore, the tree has been thought of as being a sign of disappointment and of coming justice and punishment.

Hypocritical Christians have a way of displaying the leaves of activity rather than the fruit of transformation.

Jesus cursed the type of religion which rejects the presence and power of God.

What is funny though, is the fact the application Jesus gives us isn’t that application I gave you. It must certainly applies but lets look at what Jesus is trying to teach His disciples

An application based upon power, power which comes through faith and prayer.

[22] “Have faith in God:” Jesus explained this miracle was really the result of a prayer made in faith, and HE encouraged His marveling disciples to have this kind of faith, trusting God would hear them too.

“In God” is really important statement. Jesus made it clear prayer must be offered in faith, and faith must be in God. Faith is trusting, confidence, and reliance upon someone or something.

There are those who would claim this passage really states “Have God’s faith.” God really is the object of faith in this sentence.

This is because the word “God” in the Greek is in the genitive case, showing here the object of faith. Like these verses too:

Galatians 3:26 NKJV

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:22 NKJV

22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

We need to understand the object of faith is God Himself.

[Theology statement about faith]

The critical words are, again, “in God.” There are three significant points which need to be noted:

Jesus did not say, “Have faith,” but “Have faith in God.” Faith has to have an object. “In God” is where one is to have faith, where one is to place their faith.

Faith has no value by itself; only the object (God) has value. No where in the Bible does it say to have faith in faith, yet this is what is taught to many. Far too often, a great difficulty or problem arises, and the Christian feels they have to arouse faith within themselves. Feeling that if they can just stir up enough faith, they will defeat the problem… However, in reality all they have is faith in faith.

WHICH DOES THEM NO GOOD! This is because their mind, attention, and heart is focused on something without substance.

Family, faith has no power; it is the object which has power. A man’s faith is not going to remove the mountain. God is going to remove the mountain. The strength needed is not found in faith, it is found in God.

In the Bible practically everyone who came to God had weak faith. Yet, God saved them and granted their requests.

Faith requires knowing the object. The more you know the object of faith, the more you will believe in said object:

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

[Example]

Consider with me two men who want to go out on a frozen lake to fish. One man is told to go ahead and cross the lake. He is assured by his friend the ice will hold him. Yet, when he begins to step out on the ice, he cautiously and tremblingly takes step after step—usually until he can stand it no more and returns. The other man walks out courageously and boldly, cuts a hole in the ice, sits down and begins to fish.

What supported the man sitting out on the ice? Not his faith, but the ice—the object of his faith.

Who had the strongest faith? Of course the man out on the ice. The one with the weaker faith is the man who slowly inched his way back.

What made the difference between the faith of the two men? One thing. One man knew the ice, and the other man did not know the ice.

“Mountain” was a popular figure of speech for any insurmountable problem; Jesus said as we believe, God could overcome any obstacle.

“Nor should we interpret Mark 11:24 to mean, ‘If you pray hard enough and really believe, God is obligated to answer your prayer no matter what you ask.’ That kind of faith is not faith in God; rather it is nothing but faith in faith, or faith in feelings.

–Wiersbe

[24] This verse implies we know God and believe Him and expect an answer from Him. There is a level of trust in God, an assurance and anticipation for the answer.

Expectancy involves all of our being:

It involves our emotions which is our desires.

It involves our will (volition) which is revealed in our requests.

It involves our spirit which I take it to mean our belief in God.

1 John 5:14–15 NKJV

14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

James 1:6 NKJV

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

vv. 25–26) The Command:

A lack of faith is not the only obstacle to effective prayer. Refusing to forgive or holding on to bitterness will also hinder your prayer.

The point may also be that this is an area where we need faith. Sometimes a hard and unforgiving heart is bigger than a mountain.

Really what Jesus is getting at here is that we are never to place religious duty or ministry ahead of good relationships with people.

We are to set things right first, then continue in prayer. We are to do what Paul commanded:

Romans 12:18 NKJV

18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Lastly, the forgiven heart will forgive others. If we have hard, unforgiven hearts, it calls into question if we have ever received or appreciated the forgiveness God offers us.

Benediction:

Romans 11:33–36 NKJV

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” 35 “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.