The Parable of the Fig Tree And The Purpose of the Fig Tree

The Parable of the Fig Tree
The Purpose of the Fig Tree

In Matthew 21 we read:
18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry.
19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

In Mark 11 we read:
12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.
13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.
14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”
...
20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

There is a lot written on this account in the commentaries, since it is quite surprising, and to some people quite troubling. Why was this tree "cursed"? The fig tree is one of the things that symbolizes the Jewish nation, not just here, but elsewhere. And that's what people see here. OK, I understand that.

However, I see something else, in addition to the usual lesson.

Here is what came to me this morning:

Jesus cursed the fig tree, yes, but He didn't say, "Die", or anything like it. He just said, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again -or- Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." Same thing.

Here's my thought: If something alive loses its purpose for living, why should it continue to live?

So the fig tree died immediately. Having beautiful, showy leaves is not a good enough purpose for a fig tree to live. It must bear fruit. Let me repeat; it must bear fruit.

The same is true for people. People, individuals, need a reason or a purpose to live. They need significance. They need to "bear fruit."

Do you have a purpose? Yes, you do. Do you know what it is? Hey, the enemy is lying to so many and telling them they have no purpose, no value, no reason to live. It's a lie! Is this lie being spoken to you? Reject it!

OK, here are two reasons to live that Jesus gave us in Mark chapter 12. This is for everyone!
30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.
31 And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

So, start here!

Larry Carroll