Matthew 21:18-22
Early the next morning Jesus was returning to the city. He was hungry. Seeing a lone fig tree alongside the road, he approached it anticipating a breakfast of figs. When he got to the tree, there was nothing but fig leaves. He said, “No more figs from this tree—ever!” The fig tree withered on the spot, a dry stick. The disciples saw it happen. They rubbed their eyes, saying, “Did we really see this? A leafy tree one minute, a dry stick the next?”But Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Yes—and if you embrace this kingdom life and don’t doubt God, you’ll not only do minor feats like I did to the fig tree, but also triumph over huge obstacles. This mountain, for instance, you’ll tell, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it will jump. Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God.”
March 15th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Is this an insight into the humanity of Jesus? It seems to me (though it may sound irreverent to say it) that Jesus threw a bit of a paddy here! He was hungry and saw the fig tree, but things didn’t go his way so he zapped the tree! I find this a comforting story… when my mouse (not the living kind!) gets slammed on the desk because the computer has crashed (again!) I’m not a bad-tempered fool, devoid of hope (well, not the last bit anyway) but am simply a human expressing frustration. Is that what Jesus was doing here or am I missing the deep theological point to his actions?
March 15th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
“The fig tree withered on the spot ……….”
Jesus’ ministry is so firmly based on love, restoration and forgiveness that it does seem odd to me that he should have cursed the fig tree - but, like Malcolm, I also find it strangely comforting to see this human side of Jesus. In the past few passages we’ve seen Jesus hungry, fed up and deeply moved - giving an incredible insight into his life the week before he was crucified.
However, whilst on one hand Jesus’ act seems arbitrary and ill-tempered, I was wondering if the fig tree is a metaphor for any thing (not person) that is unproductive / inconsistent with God’s kingdom.
I guess this passage says to me that Jesus has the ability to eliminate an unfruitful situation “on the spot” - or am I reading too much into this?