READ: Mark 11:12-21: … “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”
The Lord Jesus, after visiting Jerusalem with His disciples, goes to Bethany for the night’s rest and returns the next day. He is hungry and goes to a fig tree hoping to find some fruit. But finding no fruit among the leaves, the Lord, in the presence of the disciples, curses the tree: “May no one eat fruit from you ever again!”
Do the disciples understand that He is not expressing anger toward the tree but portraying a parable as described in Is. 5:1-7 and Jer, 8:13, a continuation of the parable in Luke 13:6-9? It indicates the fall of Israel because they lack the fruits of faith. The disciples will see the reality of this parable later in the day when Jesus visits the temple with them. They see a lot of religious activity (leaves), but with so many offerings, there is no sincere faith of repentance and prayer for reconciliation (fruit).
Jesus shows in His parable and also in His action in the temple that God deeply rejects all this external and self-willed religion. His house should be a house for all nations where the name of the Lord is invoked in spirit and truth. But Israel has turned the temple into a den of thieves. Jesus opposes all forms of trade and manipulation by driving the merchants out and overturning the tables and chairs, to the anger of the scribes and chief priests.
The next day, when they pass by the place where the tree had stood, it is found withered to the root. With the rejection of Jesus as the Christ, Israel as a people is no longer useful for the Kingdom of God.
This message applies not only to Israel but also to countries where once the Christ was preached, and people came to faith, creating a Christian society, but where now there is only a semblance of godliness.
What fruits does the Lord require from us?
Singing: Ps. 92:5,6