No Fig Newtons

Taqsh of a fig tree.

While walking to the temple on Jesus’ final week before His crucifixion, Jesus was hungry and walks up to a fig tree, but finds no figs. It was not the season for figs and yet, He speaks a curse against the tree. Matthew 21, Mark 11 and Luke 21 record the disciples surprise when later that day or perhaps the next, they see the fig tree withered and dead. Jesus tells them to have faith and they can perform miracles too.

Have you come across a person with the spiritual gift of killing trees? If so, I have some box elder trees that need ministry! The incident begs for more meaning.

From “Hard Sayings of the Bible by FF Bruce we learn that the first crop on the fig trees are no the real figs, but a crop of small knobs called taqsh. They form right after the leaves come out and are eaten by peasants and others when hungry. They fall off when the real figs form.

In the Old Testament the fig tree was often a symbol of the nation of Israel. Jesus had just cleansed the temple from four messes (see yesterday’s blog). Jesus was making a statement that Israel had become barren. It looked good, like the leaves on the fig tree, but there was not a genuine love for God. They had a form of religion, but not the reality.

This dramatic visual aid taught the disciples that God judges those who appear fruitful, but are not.

This Tuesday before Easter, ask the Holy Spirit to increase godly fruit in your life.
Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

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