Palm Sunday - Jesus and a fig tree
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Philip Pierce
Easter • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 38:27
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· 57 viewsJesus curses a fig tree Are we producing fruit?
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Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.
On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.
Overview
Overview
The Story
Jesus enters Jerusalem and looks at the temple
Left for Bethany since it was late
Saw a fig tree, went to it, only saw leaves
Jesus curses the fig tree
Easter Intro
Today we celebrate the beginning of the passover celebration where Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly!
Prayer - to bless this message and to help prepare
Father, please bless this message and open our hearts and minds to the understanding of Your Word. Guide me with the Holy Spirit to rightly exposit Your Word for Your purpose. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen!
3 Questions
Historical - what did this mean to the original audience?
Theological - what is this supposed to teach us about God? and how we are to act towards Him?
Implication - what is the application for us as New Testament believers?
Historical
Historical
Background
Background
This episode is covered in Matthew and Mark
Jesus' only destructive miracle recorded in the Bible
I remember studying this with my brother, Wade, many years ago and he particularly liked this verse because it showed that Jesus had a sense of humor for zapping the fig tree with a curse!
However, if a passage seems out of place, we need to look at it more closely and carefully so that we do not miss the point
Fig Trees
Fig Trees
Ask if know fig tree, eaten one?
Fig trees often used in the Bible, 59 passages
Adam and Eve attempted to cover their nakedness with fig leaves
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
It didn't work too well. Fortunately God, in his great mercy, made them more fitting clothing soon after
Wide range of fig trees, some types take 3 years for the fruit to reach maturity.
In some, fruit comes before leaves, etc
The consensus among biblical scholars is that there is no consensus, except that Jesus:
Expected to find fruit based on the leaves
Was then disappointed to find that it had none
Fig trees often represent God's judgement in the Old Testament
“I will surely snatch them away,” declares the Lord; “There will be no grapes on the vine,
And no figs on the fig tree,
And the leaf shall wither;
And what I have given them shall pass away.”’”
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness;
I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season.
But they came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame,
And they became as detestable as that which they loved.
Represents false prophets, teachers, and religious zeal
False prophets and followers - Represented by fruits
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?“Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit.“A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.“So then, you will know them by their fruits.
Trees and their fruit
“For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit; nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit.“For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.
Represents works
Parable Baren Fig Tree- must produce good works
And He began telling this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it, and did not find any.“And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’“And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer;and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”
Theological
Theological
Now we are ready to look at the theological meaning of Jesus cursing the fig tree
Theological meaning
Theological meaning
What is this supposed to teach us about God and how we are act towards God?
Look at the larger picture
Look at the larger picture
Mark 11 (follows similarly with Matthew. Mark was more chronological than Matthew)
Triumphal entry - palm leaves - looks at temple
Returned to Bethany
Jesus is hungry and curses the fig tree
Cleanses the temple (commercial activity didn't leave much opportunity for actual prayer and worship)
Disciples notice fig tree
Parable of the tenant farmers in the vineyard
Differences between Mark and Matthew
And seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it, and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He *said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.
Matthew places the cleaning of the Temple before the cursing of the fig tree
Matthew also has the fig tree withering immediately
This is not a contradiction.
Mark was more brief (much more brief), but was written in a more chronological order
Mark doesn’t state when the fig tree withered, but when the disciples noticed it.
The temple is mentioned both prior and after the passage with the fig tree
Temple - fig tree - temple cleansing - fig tree
The fig tree represents the temple in Jerusalem
The leaves represent outward religious zeal or activities
The fruit represents the heart, what one truly believes- which is missing
Summary
Summary
God's judgement on Israel because of false scribes and priests
“I will surely snatch them away,” declares the Lord; “There will be no grapes on the vine,
And no figs on the fig tree,
And the leaf shall wither;
And what I have given them shall pass away.”’”
God’s judgement on Israel for false worship (focusing on the act of sacrifice rather than believing with the heart)
“Bring your worthless offerings no longer,
Incense is an abomination to Me.
New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies—
I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
Quoting from the Baker's Knowledge Bible Commentary
“The promising but empty fig tree symbolized Israel's spiritual barrenness despite God's favor and the impressive outward appearance of their religion”
In summary, here we see represented the spiritual emptiness of God's chosen people- Israel— and His judgement
They were blessed above all other nations
They continually turned from him
The same people who shouted Hosanna to the King of kings (and laying palm leaves) later shouted- Crucify! Crucify!
tangent- how wishy washy we as humans are. Many of these later came back to have faith in Christ - Acts
Since the fig tree (Israel) had no fruit, it will wither and the blessings Israel had been given would pass away
Where God blesses, God requires fruit!
To honor God, we must first have our heart set on him
although details in worship are not to be neglected. But purity of heart comes first! (cover in the next section)
Implication
Implication
What is the meaning for us?
What is the meaning for us?
I do not like eating fig trees, or fig fruits, or even know what the correct name for a fig fruit is. figlicious
Overview
Overview
Is our church genuine?
Is our individual relationship with Christ genuine?
Church
Church
Does our church glorify God and treat Him as holy?
Do we worship and honor God or do we focus on tradition and religiosity?
Jerusalem was very religious, along with the scribes and pharisees, but was detestable to God
Detestable offerings
“What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?”
Says the Lord.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams,
And the fat of fed cattle.
And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.
Claim to be religious but kills the prophets- including the Son of God, Jesus
Why- they hate the truth
Does our church, local congregation, take a stand for truth? Or are we moved by the culture?
Luke Warm
‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
Individual
Individual
God cares about details
Uzzah struck dead for touching the Ark-
And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.
Aaron's sons consumed by fire for offering illegitimate fire to the Lord:
And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.
Answer is in Leviticus, God is to be treated as Holy, set apart.
Then Moses said to Aaron, “It is what the Lord spoke, saying,
‘By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy,
And before all the people I will be honored.’”So Aaron, therefore, kept silent.
Ananias and Sapphira held back proceeds from a donation and lied to the Holy Spirit
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land?
Righteousness
How do we handle God's Word? Do we believe all of it, or just certain parts?
Do we seek help from the Holy Spirit in understanding it so that we might be conformed to God's image?
All scripture is profitable for equipping us for good works
All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, in order that the person of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Jesus was compassionate to those seeking understanding.
Answered the scribe instead of the pharisee
And when Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.
Jesus' harshest words were reserved for those professing an empty religion
Difficulty added to converts
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
Blind guides
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
What kind of fruit do we make?
Do not confuse having good works with being saved
for that is one of Satan's most effective traps?
Trusting in your own works to be saved will result in your eternal damnation
We are saved by trusting in God's grace AND repenting of our sins. Not in anything that we do. If good works were required to be saved, then we would have something to boast about. Hey- I chose Jesus, I'm better than that fool over there who didn't choose Him.
However, good fruit will always accompany saving faith!
I don't recommend asking what the minimum requirements are to be saved.
Instead, you should be asking what can I do to please the Lord who so graciously saved me!
“Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.“You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.“The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil.“And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment.“For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
Church must be faithful to God
We must not be ashamed of God's word
God detests empty religious profession more than outright disbelief
We must treat God as holy and seek to know and become closer to Him. He is not our "daddy"
Our Father, who is in heaven, (consecrated to sacred use) be Your name
“Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Just the sight of God would kill a person. Presumption, long suffering, use name in vane
But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”
If you have not accepted Christ as your savior, or are not sure, now is the time to seek assurance that you are part of God's family.
For after hearing and being presented with the good news of Christ's atonement for our sins
to reject it risks having your heart hardened so that salvation is impossible.
Nor do we know how much time we have left to make a decision,
For now is the time:
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
We cannot work after dark
“We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work.
Jesus’ plan of salvation for us
He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also make You a light of the nations
So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Remember God’s love for us
“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.
“If you consent and obey,
You will eat the best of the land;
“But if you refuse and rebel,
You will be devoured by the sword.”
Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
To conclude: Produce good fruit and trust in Jesus Christ!
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for blessing us, our community, and our nation. You have showered us with great blessings, and to whom much is given, much is expected.
We ask that You be with us in this coming week, guide us to be closer to You. During this week as we remember Your sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ,
guide us both as a church and individually, to produce good fruit while putting our trust in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. To God be the glory, amen!
Announcements
Announcements
This evening at 5pm, we will cover the process of salvation in more detail, and encourage you to attend.
Please don’t forget our special service this Thursday evening commemorating the Last Supper with Jesus and His disciples.