What Jesus Found When He Looked Around

What is really going on here? Jesus uses the discovery of the withered tree as an opportunity to teach on prayer, faith and forgiveness. His point, God does great things in response to the prayers of his people. And speaking hyperbolically, he emphasizes the point in reminding them that when God's people sincerely pray, in other words, without doubt, he'll move mountains in response. However, he adds, bitterness and unforgiveness are detrimental to our faith, And so he reminds his followers that authentic faith and prayer are tied to a forgiving heart. [00:25:17] (45 seconds)  #FaithAndForgiveness

It's not the strategic plan that gets us to achieve these things as good and as important as it is. It is not our wisdom or our experience. We need to hear Jesus's instruction. Verses 22, he says this, have faith in God. Not have faith in yourselves, or have faith in your plans, or have faith in your incredible ability to plan. No. Have faith in God. Why? Because he's the only one who can change hearts. He's the only one who can break chains of bondage that are holding us. He's the only one who can walk in and through us to change our community, our city, and our world. Authentic faith in God will move mountains. [00:26:55] (53 seconds)  #TrustGodNotPlans

Like the casting of the fig tree, much of what Jesus did in the temple is a parable of what was to come. God would judge the nation of Israel for their rebellion, and he would fulfill and accomplish what the temple could never fully accomplish. By driving out the money changers, Jesus acts as a judge, declaring that the temple that was meant to be a house of prayer, and he adds this, for all nations had instead been diverted into a den of thieves. [00:16:20] (33 seconds)  #TempleNotMarketplace

See the test of true worship is not how we feel about God, it's how open we are to God, and how we make worship accessible for others. The true test of worship doesn't reside in showy religiosity, but in God glorifying lives, And just as it costs Jesus, it might cost you and me. We may have to lay down our preference, our preferences, and open our hearts to those who are not like us. We'll have to let Jesus actually rule in his church. [00:23:17] (38 seconds)  #TrueWorshipServes

So this is a parable about the work of God with the nation of Israel, and the history of redemption, but it's also a warning for all Jesus' disciples about the dangers of hypocrisy. We can appear godly all the while carrying a heart that is far from God. We can be like the fig tree, have lives that promise life, and are full, and yet have no fruit. Jesus makes it clear that God's judgment awaits those who just profess him outwardly, but inwardly live for themselves. [00:12:45] (40 seconds)  #FruitOverForm

As Jesus clears the temple and teaches the crowds, many are astonished, and the chief priests and the scribes are more motivated than ever to silence him. Of course their actions would make it possible for Jesus' mission to be fulfilled, which was ultimately to die for our sin and for our salvation, but it's important to notice here that Jesus cared so much about removing barriers to worship that he lost it over its misuse. And the question for you maybe and I is, how much do we care? [00:22:43] (35 seconds)  #ProtectWorship

Leighton Hickman, who is a pastor, writes the following, says the tree advertised life and fruit, but it had none. The temple advertised life and fruit to a dead and hopeless world, but it had none either. And I have done the same. You and I have done the same. In fact, the mainstay, the call sign, the common thread linking all lukewarm Christianity that I have ever seen all perpetrated, practices this same crooked ideology, saying, I know what I'm doing is wrong, but I'm basically a good person. [00:23:55] (36 seconds)  #LukewarmExposed

Now while many have suggested that Jesus' response is unfair and maybe over the top, the actions of Jesus were never about the tree. Jesus is providing a parable about the nation of Israel, highlighting their unfaithfulness and the judgment that awaited them. And throughout scripture, a fig tree often represents Israel, a tree with leaves, but no fruit symbolize a deceptive nation and a hypocritical religious system. And there are lots of references of Israel as a fig tree in the old testament, I've just listed a few of them here, including Hosea nine ten, Jeremiah eight thirteen, Jeremiah 24, Micah seven verses one to three, among many others. [00:11:58] (47 seconds)  #FigTreeParable