Monday: A Cursed Tree and a Cleansed Temple
Daily Lesson for Monday 26th of August 2024
Read Mark 11:12-26. What is the significance of the events depicted here?
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In the morning, coming from Bethany, only about two miles (a little more than three kilometers) from Jerusalem, Jesus was hungry. Seeing a fig tree in leaf, He went to it to find perhaps some early fruit. This action would not be considered stealing since according to Old Testament law, one could eat food from a neighbor’s field or orchard to assuage hunger (Leviticus 19:9, Leviticus 23:22, Deuteronomy 23:25). But He found no fruit and said to the tree, “ ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again’ ” (Mark 11:14, ESV). It was a very strange and atypical action for Jesus, but what follows right after becomes even more striking.
What happens next likely occurs in the Court of the Gentiles, where selling of sacrifices took place (recently begun by Caiaphas). Jesus clears away the sellers from the courts so that quiet worship may return. His action is a direct affront to those in charge of the temple system.
Jesus links two Old Testament passages as a scathing rebuke of the unholy traffic. He insists the temple is to be a house of prayer for all people (Isaiah 56:7), emphatically including the Gentiles. Then He says the leaders have made the temple a den of robbers (Jeremiah 7:11). Then, at the end of this amazing day, Jesus leaves the city with His disciples (Mark 11:19).
The next morning, going back to the city (see Mark 11:20-26), the disciples are astonished to see the fig tree withered from the roots. Jesus makes a lesson about prayer and forgiveness in His explanation of what has happened. What does all this mean?
These two stories are the fourth sandwich story in Mark (see lesson 3). In such stories, dramatized irony occurs with parallel characters doing opposite actions or opposite characters doing parallel actions. In this story the fig tree and the temple stand in parallel. Jesus curses the tree but cleanses the temple, opposite actions. But the irony is that the religious leaders will now plot to kill Jesus, and that action will spell the end of the significance of the temple services, which were fulfilled in Jesus.
What things in your life do you need Jesus to clean? How does this happen?
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A fruitless tree and commercial church.
In 1992 Carmel and I did our big European tour thing. We visited all the grand tour spots and observed our centuries of collective history. In Rome, we visited St Peters on Sunday. It was hard to get there. Our tour bus dropped us off some distance away and we had to walk though the surrounding streets and then across the square into the Basilica. The square and Basilica were relatively quiet but outside the barricades were the tourist-stripping activities of commercialism. No Sunday trading restrictions here. You could buy so much religious bric-a-brac. I have to confess that I was not even tempted and wondered why a tourist in their right mind would even buy the stuff. It was rubbish, and I reckon that most of it was not made by fine Italian craftsmen.
That was back in 1992 and we have never gone back. My understanding is that it is far worse now.
Perhaps that is how Jesus felt when he viewed the courtyard of the Temple in Jerusalem, where the local religious tour vendors were capitalising on religious observance.
Fruitless trees, commercial church! And the lesson for us is?
What is our prime directive as followers of Jesus?
How far have we strayed from the prime directive?
What is getting in the way of our returning to the prime directive?
Welcome back Pilgrim, You still have somethings to do Sir
Yes. It's true the surroundings here in St. Peter's square has no different from the synagogue during Jesus time when He was in earth. Purely a pagans active emotions from the people are present. Am praying too these people to know the true God of Abraham, Jacob, Daniel, etc. 🙏
As long as we are here in this planet we'll all have things to get better. Because none on Earth is fully just but Jesus. When Jesus comes into a house, He can clean things that we don't even see as dirty.
The fig tree. I do believe that the lesson from the fig tree is simple. If we do not fall in love with our Heavenly Father and at least sow the seed as partners with the Trinity, we will wither up and die like the fig tree which had no fruit. Now If possible I would recommend we water the seed also.
Thank you John. I think your comments get to the heart of today's lesson. We could be lifelong church goers and excellent students of the word, but without the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we would be well covered with leaves, having healthy roots, growing fat and flourishing in fertile ground, but bearing no fruits.
Only the Holy Spirit has the power to produce fruits within us. On our own, our fruits will be motivated from human and carnal perspectives. And that is what was happening at the temple. I am sure the leaders of the church at that time genuinely decided to set up the selling of sacrifices as something that God approved. But their actions were based on carnal and human reasoning - "what is in it for me."
It is unfortunate that we see some of this in our churches today. We see people who have been endowed with gifts by the Holy Spirit, selling their gifts back to God in church on sabbaths. Some will not play musical instruments or exercise other gifts if not paid, or if not paid what is demanded. And we see this behavior condoned by some church leaders who justify this as worship.
In John 4:23,24, Jesus explains what is true worship. It cannot happen without the input of the Holy Spirit. And this input is to be in my heart. Every worship service should draw me closer to Christ, if not, I am a healthy growing fig tree without fruits. Every day, my prayer should focus on Roman 12:1,2 and Proverbs 3:5,6. "Come into my heart Lord Jesus, come in today, come in to stay, come into my heart Lord Jesus."
Its astonishing that Peter doesn't ask why the fig tree was cursed but only asks how! Actually none of the apostles dares to inquire why Christ curses the fig tree! Its the miraculous power that moves them , its what they can see...like most of us .. believing only what we can see ! its an expression that we are lacking in faith , that we are focusing on vanity! Christ has the absolute power to cut out that which is fruitless, we should doubtlessly believe that. Our concern should therefore be how we can be more fruitful...to participate in ministry , to draw near to him in humility , to point sinners to Calvary , to commune with him as friend with friend every moment of our existence.
The next verse says it wasn’t time for the fig tree to bear fruit, therefore why did Jesus curse it?
From my study, the figs actually come before the leaves. So if there are leaves, there should be figs. Even though it wasn't the right time, it was deceptive.
When I think of a spiritual parallell, I think of believers. We have young and immature believers and they might not bear a lot of fruit right away, but we know that. There is no showiness. Jesus does not curse them. But the established believers should not have showiness without fruit. That means the showiness does not come from God and He detests that hypocrisy.
That is the part I can never get around my head!
I get that Jesus may come to us when we aren’t bearing fruit and seek to cleanse us, motivate us, discipline us, whatever. But trees have seasons. They have no will of their own. They can’t say, “I think I will bear fruit today even tho snow or drought may be surrounding me.”
So how could Jesus justly curse the tree?
Read "Why Did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree?" and see if that answers your question.
Thank you for this Sister Inge. May God bless us all❤️
Remember the day before Christ had fulfilled a rather striking Messianic prophecy, riding on a donkey toward Jerusalem, showing that He was the Messiah that was to come.
On His approach
In contrast to that beautiful sculptured vine with it's massive clusters of fruit at the entrance to the temple, we find the story of that fig tree. That tree was the true representation of Jerusalem, with its wealth of leaves suggesting a high connection with God, but it was barren of fruit.
Christ had come to the temple, the substance of everything that temple represented, and there was no welcome, no recognition! It was late in the day, He simply looked in and departed back to Bethany for the night.
Mark 11:11
In the next two days, Jesus cleansed the temple, and taught the people in the temple, all the while the religious leaders plotting against Him. When He left the temple, it was left desolate, just like that fig tree.
Thank you for this, Ulrike. In spite of having read it many times, I never really noticed
That adds another dimension to the story.
I am confused by these two stories. I have accepted them by Faith.
I don't blame you - especially re the cursed fig tree. But read "Why Did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree" to see if it helps to clear up your confusion.
When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. The fact that it was not the season for figs, doesn't it justify for the fruitless tree? if yes or no what spiritual application do we get.
I need your help
Hi Peter, the way I understand it is the leafs were making the appearance of it being fruitful but it was not fruiful. Meaning it was making a pretention. The tree represents those who claim to be Christians but have no fruit.
Thank you
That's a great question - similar to what I was wondering for a long time.
Please read "Why Did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree" to see if it answers your question better than the lesson author did.
“The time of figs was not yet.” But in the orchard to which Jesus came, one tree appeared to be in advance of all the others. It was already covered with leaves. It is the nature of the fig tree that before the leaves open, the growing fruit appears. Therefore this tree in full leaf gave promise of well-developed fruit. But its appearance was deceptive. Upon searching its branches, from the lowest bough to the topmost twig, Jesus found “nothing but leaves.” It was a mass of pretentious foliage, nothing more.
Desire of Ages pg581.4
Thank you very much for this.
I'm so glad you found my post helpful.😊
Yes, today's lesson is quite the "submarine sandwich" if I do say so. So many things and thoughts to ponder.
It still perplexes me that Jesus cursed a barren fig tree outside of fig season. I guess to my mind it makes sense if it's fig season, but it isn't. It kind of like cursing the mountain for not having snow in the summertime.
The cleansing of the temple sealed Jesus fate. You don't mess with the religious cartel, or any cartel for that matter, unless you're prepared for the storm to follow. By driving out the moneychangers, the merchandising of God, Jesus would incur the wrath of the "den of robbers" and their daggers. You can never threaten a person, or industry's income source without facing their scorn and wrath. Politics then were pretty much the same as now. When politics, religion, and the craze for power, and control come together, you have the makings of the "perfect storm" of persecution. The eye of the hurricane was over Jesus, but the worst part of the storm was soon to come. He knew it, and yet Jesus was undeterred by fear, because He operated on the principles of the Heavenly Kingdom and stood in the center of the Father's Will.
Can the same be said of us? Has zeal for the "Father's House" consumed us, or are we consumed with the consumerism of the world?
My understanding is the issue was not the lack of figs but the leaves. The book on the plants of the Bible that I consulted indicated that figs actually come before the leaves. If there were no leaves or figs, fine. But the leaves being there indicated something was wrong.
It wasn't the season for figs, true, but the tree fully leafed out proclaimed that this particular tree would have early fruit. It was a pretense, and Christ's cursing of the tree was an acted parable. You can read more at "Why Did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree?" (Too much for a comment!)
The tree represents man, and by association the church. The church that has received the early latter rain, and has been blessed with a spiritual blessing, having matured early, should bear early fruit. The Creator has invested in this tree and it has received what other trees weren’t prepared to receive, this tree was prepared and did receive, but didn’t bear in proportion to what it had received. The heart of this tree wasn’t in harmony with the Creator and kept the blessing to its self, the blessing caused the tree to look amazing, but it served no purpose. And so it was removed. We who have received the early latter rain have the responsibility of sharing what we have received with every hungry person brought before us. Because we have received we should definitely look different than the rest of the trees in the garden, which will attract those who are looking for the One who has blessed us.
In the law given through Moses there’s a provision for one who lived a considerable distance from the place where God chose to place His Name. A man could turn his tithes and offering into currency and take that to the place, and there purchase what ever his being desired. Offerings couldn’t be purchased with common currency, it was necessary to exchange the common for the currency of Israel, the shekel, the problem wasn’t with the what, it was with the how. The how involved the human element, there was opportunity for righteousness and wickedness with every interaction. Every interaction between man and man avails this opportunity, an opportunity to reveal what dwells within a man, our hearts are wicked and bent on sin and personal gain. The evidence of the master is apparent in the action. When the Spirit of God dwells with in, self is set aside and service to others becomes the goal of the man.
This was not the case of those who had received the blessing of the priesthood, personal gain crowded out service. What was meant in the law to ease a burden became a curse as man determined to profit from Father’s blessing. As Jesus purged the temple of man’s wickedness and corruption of the Truth, He will do the same with the church. These 2 events are one and the same, the tree and the temple. Those who have received blessings are to be servants to all who are seeking the blessing. And if not… you know how it ends.
Selling in church is still going on even now especially during camp meetings and weeks of prayer,would it not be better if these items are given out to those who are in need?
I have not actually seen selling at church or campmeeting but if you are referring to the ABC selling things, I wonder how you would propose that the people writing the books and the illustrators etc. would live if they didn't get paid for their work. The workman is worthy of his pay. What Jesus did in the temple is different in my mind.
As I can understand the fruit of the spirit is love, joy,peace, long-suffering, gentleness,goodness, faith, meekness and temperance...
The fig tree did not have fruit when Jesus cursed.
That's related to our spiritual life if we don't bear the fruit of the spirit most especially on these last days we will be accursed to God not unless we truly repented our sins and fully surrender our lives to him we will be lost.
And the temple selling and buying. In the Philippines to the Catholic church where I used to go they do mass inside the church and outside and around the church they are buying and selling while the mass in on. The church is supposed to be the house of worship to God. We cannot serve God and money. We have to choose one way or the other. Our spiritual life is at stake if we choose mammon.
Thanks Inge, your recommendation to read, "Why did Jesus cursed the tree", helped me a lot.
When we encounter "apparent contradictions" or ambiquities in Bible stories or verses we have to study more, and deeper. There aren't contradictions in scripture, only apparent ones.
Sometimes professional Umpires and Referees make the wrong initial call and need to look at the replay of the event that just transpired, often from different angles, and speeds, to uphold the call made, or to reverse the call, because they missed something.
I must confess that after going into the "replay booth" and looking at the issue of the barren fig tree from a different perspective, and reading more background information on the subject, I realize that I initially made the wrong call regarding Jesus cursing the fig tree.
I have since reversed my stance seeing that Jesus had seen the leaves, and it was the custom of some fig trees to produce early fruit, outside of fig season. Therefore, "after further review", I believe that Jesus was justified in cursing the fig tree for not having even a single early fig. This incident was of course an object lesson and not an example of an unreasonable Jesus.
Jesus is the only One with a perfect track record. The rest of us? Well, let's just say that our record isn't anywhere near perfection.
Shalom, my friends!