Lessons from a Fig Tree
A couple weeks ago, our church covered the story of the barren fig tree in Matthew 21 in church. Great message. You can download Pastor Gary’s sermon here to hear it for yourself.
Here’s the story:
In the morning, as He was returning to the city, He became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, He went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And He said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.
(Matthew 21:18-19)
While I was sitting in church the Lord drew some very specific things out of the passage for me:
Jesus was hungry when He approached the tree, and He was still hungry when He left
The fig tree is called barren in this text, yet it had leaves on it
His response to this fig tree was not passive, but straightforward and definitive
Now let’s break down each one and what God revealed to me about them.
Jesus was hungry when He approached the tree, and He was still hungry when He left.
Verse 18 says, “…He became hungry.”
Jesus is getting to where He needs to go, He has a need (became hungry), sees what should be able to fulfill His need (the fig tree) and approaches it with expectation, but when He gets closer He sees it is unable to fulfill His need.
As followers of Christ, nobody in search of “fruit” should walk up to us and leave empty-handed. And not because of anything we’re able to produce on our own, but because of what the Holy Spirit produces within us as a result of walking with the Lord. We should be able to fulfill the needs of those searching, those in need of sustenance to keep going, with Christ in us. I want nobody with a need to approach me and leave “hungry.”
The fig tree is called barren in this text, yet it had leaves on it.
The Scriptures call this tree barren, which means “too poor to produce vegetation,” but it had leaves on it. When I think of barren, I think of a tree in the middle of winter; no leaves, nothing but dying branches. Jesus defines it differently.
Barren, to Him, means fruitless. Why? Well, a tree that looks like it is what it’s supposed to be, but doesn’t produce the fruit it should may as well actually be barren. It’s useless. It’s deceiving. It serves no purpose.
As Christians, we’re not to be found barren. We’re not to be found as people that have leaves that makes us look like what we claim to be - people that cover themselves with the works they do, but don’t have a real relationship with the Lord… which would produce fruit in our lives. Works without a relationship with Him is an empty religion. Yes, there should be leaves on our tree, but only a byproduct of producing fruit.
His response to this fig tree was not passive, but straightforward and definitive.
And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. (v19)
I believe Jesus’ response to the fig tree indicates that He has a very strong opinion of people that live this way; those that wear the name of Christ, cover themselves with leaves, but produce no fruit and therefore lack the ability to fill the needs of those seeking through Christ.
It is better for that tree to not exist than for it to live giving those who are hungry false hope.
Jesus wasn’t one to waste words. What He says here is straightforward, and He means it.
With all that said, this passage can be a great encouragement to us as believers! Because of the Holy Spirit, we don’t have to live barren, hollow lives. We are able produce fruit that feeds the weary soul.
When people find us on their journey, let them find fruit, not just leaves.
~ Alyssa