Have you ever saw a place to eat far off in the distance and began to make your way there, all the while thinking of how good it’s going to feel to finally satisfy your hunger ONLY to be disappointed once you arrive due to the place being closed or out of business? Well Jesus felt that same way only something else was taking place as well. The bible says that the tree showed ALL the attributes of a fruitful tree. I guess we can say it had a form of but denied the power of fruit. It had an appearance, it appeared to be able to meet the need / hunger of Jesus but Jesus quickly realizes that it was a nothing more than a distraction and disappointment. Once He arrives and sees that there was nothing this tree could offer it He cursed it and remained hungry. Now the disciples witnessed this and keep in mind that this was taking place right before they were going to enter the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus was giving His disciples a quick lesson in the natural of the spiritual. The fig tree was the spiritual condition of the church. The tree was dressed as if it had something to offer yet was fruitless, having nothing to offer that could sustain life. So Jesus, being hungry in his physical temple could not be satisfied. Now the very next verse places us in the spiritual temple in Jerusalem, a place of worship were many go to meet there spiritual hunger and thirst. Jesus enters in and becomes angry once he sees the state of the temple and begins to drive out those who sold and bought in the temple area, and He overturned tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling Doves. He states “ Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves. Keep in mind that the word thief can also be applied to the stealing of (time, faith, trust, influence as well as money). I found it so interesting that they were selling doves which are a type of the Holy spirit..makes sense though, many churches are selling salvation at discount prices manipulating the people, having them believe that they’re something their clearly not. But that’s religion, law & obligation and these never produce the change we need or claim to be looking for.
I remember being a part of a church that dressed the part, they had the long hair, long skirts, closed toe shoes, yet missed the pearl of great price. Have you ever come across a person that you thought was spiritual due to the way they dress, act, talk but once you get close enough you quickly realize they have nothing to offer you, You look closer into there lives and notice that there is no fruits. what a shame that many Christan's today are like that fig tree giving hope to the lost only to disappoint them once they get close enough and notice that we have only an out ward appearance and are really no more different than those in the world.. We have fallen in love with the idea of Christianity but not with Christ. Many are in their 5th, 10th, & some even 20th year of courtship with Jesus but never making that commitment to take the relationship to the next level.
Sometimes we enforce rules & creeds to compensate for what we don’t have when ALL we need is the Holy Spirit. Once you have the Holy spirit you then don’t have to dress it up, you no longer have to play the part, you will generate fruit because you have the Holy Spirit. It’s like a sheep produces wool not because it wants to but because it’s a sheep and all it has to do to produce wool is “BE A SHEEP”. We too are sheep and all we have to do to produce wool ( fruit ) is BE A SHEEP. But if you notice from the beginning man has always tried to dress it up, he always tries to hide behind something and it's usually to hide sin or cover up what he doesn't really have. Many hide behind religion, law and creeds because without it they would be naked. Gen 3: 7 says then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; and so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves to hide from God… Sound familiar? There's that fig again!! But They too were cursed and never bore the same type of fruit. (Revelation 3:17) says that the churches condition would be wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked and not even know it. WOW!! Hiding behind it’s riches and success claiming to be in need of nothing yet missing everything, standing before God naked clothed in lies. Brethren if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Let’s not be moved by the words but the life, not by appearance but the fruit. Jesus said "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven". So Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:15-20
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
