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Text: Matthew 21:17-22
We’re going to step back and get an overview of the transition that is about to take place. I’ll explain the big picture first lest we get lost in details and bog down missing the forest for the trees.
#1 – This is the fig tree illustration in verses 17-22. If a farmer plants a seed and by harvest time that seed has not produced any fruit then there is nothing left for that seed or plant but to be thrown away. It’ll be removed from the ground without any future because the point of planting the seed was to produce fruit. This is the nation of Israel.
#2 – This is the father and his two sons in verses 28-32. The father tells the boys to go work in the vineyard. One says yes, but never does. The other says no, but then regrets it and goes. Which one did the will of the father? Easy, the one that protested, but then repented and went. This is the harlots and publicans coming to Christ versus the religious leaders who have a profession, but never do the will of the father. Notice the harlots and publicans go into the kingdom of God before the chief priests and elders in Israel according to verse 31.
#3 – This is the householder who let out his vineyard to farmers in verses 33-41. The father planted a vineyard, hedged it, dug a winepress, and built a tower to oversee it. Then he let it out to farmers to take care of the land. The father sent servants to collect the fruit from the farmers. Instead of collecting fruit the servants were beaten and killed. The father sent more servants who were also beaten and killed. Then the father sent his son thinking surely these people will honor my son, but they don’t. They murder the son as well. So what will happen to these farmers when the father comes back and he’s mad? He’ll destroy those farmers. What about his farmland and the fruit of it? He’ll find someone else to bring forth the fruit thereof. Now read verse 43.
All of these deal with a reasonable expectation by the owner. The fig tree meant there is an expectation that fruit will be here, but it isn’t. The two sons shared a shocking truth about who actually does the will of the father, which was those who repented. Then the householder who let out his vineyard explains a merciless destruction of the murdering farmers who occupied the land. Followed by a transition to a faithful group of people.
All of that said, let’s deal with the fig tree being cursed by Christ. The LORD Jesus Christ is hungry as he’s walking into or around Jerusalem. He sees a large fig tree that looks very promising. But as he nears it and starts to search through the branches for figs he finds none. Disappointed, he curses the fig tree. But this isn’t Jesus being petty because he’s hungry. The greater lesson deals with his presence in Jerusalem and the inability to find fruit in the most obvious places you would think fruit would be. Particularly among those teaching the scriptures and leading the nation of Israel.
Fruit is expected
- FruitLESSness is defined in these accounts as people who are actively opposing Jesus Christ or who believe themselves to need no repentance. Repentance is not necessarily fruit, but there is no fruit without it. Like John the Baptist said, Bring forth fruits meet for repentance. In other words, bring fruits that match repentance. Like Paul said in Romans 6, But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
- Jeremiah 8:4-13 – …the things that I have given them shall pass away… Sounds a little like Matthew 21:43.
- Hebrews 6:4-8
- The only thing that matters in a harvest is fruit.
- Sower and the seed in Luke 8.
- Wheat and tares.
- Paul said it in Colossians 1:5-6 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: What’s the fruit here in Paul’s introduction? Hope.
- John 15:1-8. John also brings up the asking part here. Matthew records Jesus saying the same thing in this fig tree cursing.
Faithful requests
- The mountain comments are both real and typological just like the fig tree really withered, but was an illustration of Israel’s ruling priest class. This mountain looks like it’s the city set on a hill which is Jerusalem; or you could say mount Zion. And if the lights go out in Jerusalem, he’ll take the mountain and scatter it among the nations. The literal destruction of the mountain happened in 70 AD under Titus. In either case, fig tree or mountain, the issue is the same, faith versus unbelief, doing the will of God versus not doing the will of God.
- The issue is never the task, it is the faith. God’s power is the easy part, but finding faithful people is tough.
- Jesus says to the disciples, Look, if I had sent you out to move mountains then moving mountains wouldn’t be a problem. All you have to do is trust what I say. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. The issue isn’t the size of the task, it’s the quality of the faith.
- What that means is nothing is withheld from the faithful believer serving the Lord and asking to be equipped for the work of God. The LORD takes his business seriously.
- John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
- John 16:23-24 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
- 1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
- People want to know about faith that moves mountains who don’t have enough faith to be kind. Moving mountains? Are you kidding? You can’t love the brethren, but you’re asking about moving mountains? You lack the joy of the LORD, but how do I move a mountain? No fruit of the Spirit of God as defined in Galatians 5, and we can’t figure out why prayers don’t get answered?
