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It is also a representation of the power that a believer receives upon overcoming sin and weakness... through faith and belief.
Jesus could have just as easily caused the tree to fruit, but chose to show the example of what happens to us when we don't believe or live His teachings. We die. Ye shall know them by their fruits.
This is perfect, something to make us both happy. I think all the Christians should stop eating Figs, and Fig jam, the price will drop, and we will all be happy; Me with my less expensive figs, and you with you silly ban on Figs. I also like cheese, a lot, you think we might be able to find some way to get it on the forbidden list too?
It appears that the parable has a double meaning.
First, Jesus picked a fruitless tree to use to illustrate His message.
Second, He was definitely speaking of faith, and prayer.
Therefore both of what has been gleaned from the scriptures is correct.
Michael1247
Are you suggesting Jesus was expressing his humanity in this explanation of the verses? I like that. Kinda like Jesus weeping, spitting to make mud, etc. The real human behind the incarnation. Best explanation I've heard on the topic, and I've been at it 30 years. Peace.
This is only an introductory presentation. Remember we are the burning bush. We are the "trees of righteousness, the transplanting of the LORD" upon which the fire of God's manifesting presence falls. The wicked are the thorn bushes.
In the days of Eden it was trees of Life and of the knowledge of good and evil. In Noah's day it was "Gopher" wood (for the ark.) We come to Abraham and it was the Terebinth or Oaks (of Mamre) that represented God's people. When they came out of Egypt and wandered in the wilderness it was the Acacia (for the Tabernacle.) When they first entered the land of promise it was the Palm. The married seeress that judged all Israel, Deborah, sat under a Palm tree. In the days of David it was the Cedar (of Lebannon.) The temple period was represented by Olive, Cedar and Cypress. [[The next two are problematic. In the days of Elijah it was possibly Tamarind. Was the kingdom period ever represented by a fig?]] In the restoration, the post-exilic period of outward humility but inward glory it was the Myrtle. The New Covenant is the Mustard and Olive.
The fig searched out in the Hebrew Scripture may represent Satan. I question if it is ever explicitly connected with Israel in the actual words of Scripture which is what deterimines things for me. Darkness often becomes strongholds of the Devil when men explain what God meant to say, adding their own words rather than bowing the stiff neck and proud heart to confine their confessions of faith to only those words the Holy Spirit chose to make His revelation known. (I just had to add this last little bit, a plug for God's own words.)
The passage had important significance as to the spiritual condition of Israel.
Jesus was denouncing Israel’s worship of God. With the cursing of the fig tree Jesus was symbolically denouncing Israel as a nation and in a sense even denouncing unfruitful “Christians.” ((People who profess to be Christian but have no evidence of a relationship with Christ.))
Unless there is fruit of genuine salvation evidence in the life of a person, there is
spiritual deadness. Like the whithered fig tree.
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