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Why Did Jesus Curse The Fig Tree During Holy Week

Don Stewart
41.1K subscribers
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4.5K views 3 weeks ago
Why Did Jesus Curse The Fig Tree During Holy Week? (Matthew 21:18-19) We have already seen two events highlighted as Jesus entered Jerusalem, namely His triumphal entry on a donkey, indicating He was not coming to declare war, and His cleansing of the Temple while focusing on the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. We now come to a third incident that is highlighted in gospel, the cursing of the fig tree. Jesus performs only the second destructive miracle of His ministry—the cursing of the fig tree. This miracle is representative of Christ’s coming and failure to find fruit among the people who should have welcomed Him with open arms—particularly so, in light of the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27. This passage predicts that the Messiah when He comes, would not only be rejected, but He would also be killed. This acted out parable of the cursing of the fig tree has a greater meaning that just the cursing of the certain people for their unbelief. …...more
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Why Did Jesus Curse The Fig Tree During Holy Week
506Likes
4,582Views
Apr 152025
Why Did Jesus Curse The Fig Tree During Holy Week? (Matthew 21:18-19) We have already seen two events highlighted as Jesus entered Jerusalem, namely His triumphal entry on a donkey, indicating He was not coming to declare war, and His cleansing of the Temple while focusing on the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. We now come to a third incident that is highlighted in gospel, the cursing of the fig tree. Jesus performs only the second destructive miracle of His ministry—the cursing of the fig tree. This miracle is representative of Christ’s coming and failure to find fruit among the people who should have welcomed Him with open arms—particularly so, in light of the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27. This passage predicts that the Messiah when He comes, would not only be rejected, but He would also be killed. This acted out parable of the cursing of the fig tree has a greater meaning that just the cursing of the certain people for their unbelief. It curses all hypocrites who make a show of faith because there is no fruit (compare the parable of the sower). Matthew records the story for the spiritual lesson it teaches. It is the only one of two recorded miracles in the ministry of Jesus that caused some destruction. It has been a source of embarrassment to many commentators and believers, because it supposedly is out of character for Jesus. But this is not the case. The same Jesus exorcised demons so that two thousand pigs drowned (8:28-34), also drove out the money changers with a whip. In addition, He also said several things about the coming torments of hell for those who don’t believe. It should be noted, however, that these two punitive miracles—the casting of demons into the pigs and the cursing of the fig tree—are not directed against humans. This, of itself, should teach us something of Jesus’ compassion. He who is to save the people from their sin and its consequences resorts to prophetic actions not directed against His own people, in order to warn them in the first case of the power of the devil, and with God’s hatred with all hypocrisy in this episode of the cursing of the fig tree Matt. 21:18 And early in the morning, while he was going back to the city, he became hungry. Jesus is now returning to Jerusalem. Matt. 21:19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except only the leaves. Then He said to it, “No longer may there ever be fruit from you! And suddenly the fig tree withered. Jesus approached the fig tree in hope of satisfying His hunger. The leaves normally point to the prospect of fruit, even if not fully ripe. Jesus cursed the tree because it made a show of life that promised fruit yet was actually bearing none. It is a popular to view the fig tree as symbolically representing the entire nation of Israel. However, this is not the best answer. The tree probably should be understood as a symbol, not of Israel as a whole but of Jerusalem and the leaders of Israel, particularly the Temple leaders ... Fruitless fig trees are used in OT prophetic texts as symbols of judgment (Cornerstone Bible Commentary) Indeed, the fig tree itself is NEVER used in the Bible to represent the nation of Israel! In our book 45 Common Mistakes About Last Days Bible Prophecy Cleared up, we list the major problems with attempting to equate the fig tree with the nation of Israel. When all the evidence is considered, the conclusion is clear...the fig tree is never used in the Bible as a symbol of Israel. After the fig tree withers Jesus teaches His disciples on the importance of faith. Matt. 21:20 And when the disciples saw this, they marveled, saying, “How did this fig tree wither so quickly?” Again we note the response to a miracle of Jesus—it would be the same for you and I. Matt. 21:21 Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you can not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, “Be taken up and be thrown into the sea, and it will happen.” Matt. 21:22 And all things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. The lesson here is in the power of prayer. This promise has to be read in accordance with the other things Scripture has to say about prayer. To sum up, Jesus cursed the fig tree as an illustration of God’s coming judgment on the nation, because of the hypocrisy of its leaders. In other words, they advertised that they were honoring the Lord by their words, but their hearts and their actions were never in accord with what He had prescribed. This is an important lesson for all of us. Support the ministry of Don Stewart here: https://goinchrist.com/our-misionarie... Get access to all the materials from Pastor Don Stewart here: http://educatingourworld.com/ Follow Pastor Don Stewart Facebook:   / educatingourworld  

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Don Stewart

41.1K subscribers