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The Barren Fig Tree
Apologetics Press ^ | 2006 | Kyle Butt, M.A.

Posted on 03/31/2015 8:25:14 AM PDT by RnMomof7

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Yesterday (Monday) as Jesus left Bethany, on His way to cleanse the Temple, Jesus sees a fig tree with leaves, He approaches it to seek a piece of fruit...but there is none..so he curses it ... Mark notes on their way back the tree is dead

Some scholars say that it was not the season for figs, others say that there was one early type of fig ..either way the leaves signaled the presence of fruit, as figs grew before the the tree would show leaves from a distance .

1 posted on 03/31/2015 8:25:14 AM PDT by RnMomof7
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To: RnMomof7

I appreciate the fact that you ran an article that was not anti-Catholic. Thank you.


2 posted on 03/31/2015 8:33:55 AM PDT by Slyfox (I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever)
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To: Alex Murphy; bkaycee; blue-duncan; boatbums; CynicalBear; daniel1212; Gamecock; HossB86; Iscool; ...
I do not think this was an "accidental ' encounter.. Jesus was on His way to clean the hypocrites out of the temple ...The hypocrites that lived the law so had "leaves" but no real fruit

They Looked holy with their works but were in fact enemies of God

The fig tree was often used as a symbol of Israel.. a fruitless people

This was a teaching moment for the apostles and for us

Do we show leaves that do not cover fruit.. real fruit?

John 15:…5"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.…

3 posted on 03/31/2015 8:35:30 AM PDT by RnMomof7
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To: RnMomof7

Jesus Christ’s parables are meant to teach those who are spiritually in tune with his underlying spiritual message. Scholars will never attain this level because they seek a learned level, they are not seeking a spiritual level or asking to be fed spiritually.


4 posted on 03/31/2015 8:38:43 AM PDT by WilliamRobert (He is risen, Christ lives)
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To: RnMomof7

That article should cause some introspection.


5 posted on 03/31/2015 8:44:47 AM PDT by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus)
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To: RnMomof7

Kyle Butt hopefully will learn there is no reason to address what “skeptics” say.


6 posted on 03/31/2015 8:52:07 AM PDT by ifinnegan
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To: RnMomof7

the fig tree represents national Israel.


7 posted on 03/31/2015 8:54:33 AM PDT by one Lord one faith one baptism
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To: RnMomof7

The tree was barren of the budding figs that would normally later grow into full size figs in fig season — that explains a whole lot. Those familiar with fig trees would know it. Apples, cherries, etc. do not grow in this fashion.

With all due respect, this ought to be a caution against jumping to conclusions when reading the bible. Give it time to become clear and certainly don’t curse others who don’t have the same take you had, just because they did not. Everybody must be born again and everybody must grow.


8 posted on 03/31/2015 9:01:32 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: ifinnegan

Cautioning the flock is one reason to address it; being able to give an answer with meekness and respect for the hope within us is another reason to address it. It is a spiritual snobbery to assume everyone has to be on the same exalted level as you.


9 posted on 03/31/2015 9:03:21 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: RnMomof7

With the vine, this is speaking of grapes, a different horticultural example.


10 posted on 03/31/2015 9:06:01 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: RnMomof7
Do we show leaves that do not cover fruit.. real fruit?

Now you're really beginning to step on sore toes!

R2z
11 posted on 03/31/2015 9:08:25 AM PDT by Resettozero
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To: one Lord one faith one baptism
>>the fig tree represents national Israel.<<

How do you figure that? National Israel is being brought back together ever since 1948.

12 posted on 03/31/2015 9:10:46 AM PDT by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus)
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To: CynicalBear

It seems here to be a all or nothing thing, rather than a matter of degree. The tree had budding figs, or it did not. It wasn’t a question of it being scanty.

Still it is very possible for the Lord to curse those things that are “just for show” in a life. The Lord may want you to live small rather than living large, if doing the latter hardly ever presents a gospel attitude to the world.


13 posted on 03/31/2015 9:10:55 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

No it’s a waste of time and effort in an article such as this.


14 posted on 03/31/2015 9:16:21 AM PDT by ifinnegan
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To: CynicalBear

We do have to deal with the narrative, which had Jesus declaring the tree would never bear fruit. It might be metaphorically referring to a certain generation or generations of the official leaders of the nation of Israel, not Israel forevermore.

This may be another example that there are a lot of biblical texts which are not intended to stand alone or be viewed in a vacuum.

The modern regathering of Israel is very partial at this point. Great difficulties and some losses in retaining Jewish control of the territory, and a territory which is much smaller than its biblical extent.


15 posted on 03/31/2015 9:18:56 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: ifinnegan

How so? Does everybody already know everything about this? Is it a sin to tell them?

Your snobbery is showing!


16 posted on 03/31/2015 9:19:38 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Um......what? Not sure what that means and can’t imagine how it ties to my post.


17 posted on 03/31/2015 9:20:13 AM PDT by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus)
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To: CynicalBear

Carrying the metaphor forward in a straightforward way. Maybe it was not the “introspection” use you envisioned, and please share what you had in mind if it was not. It could be both-and.


18 posted on 03/31/2015 9:23:04 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: WilliamRobert

Paul would have hooted at this notion. Yes even scholars are saved by grace through faith.


19 posted on 03/31/2015 9:24:16 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

“Does everybody already know everything about this?”

I don’t even know what you are talking about.

Does everyone know the dumb ideas of “skeptics”?

I see no reason to address their ideas.

It detracts from the teaching.

Perhaps you think I am saying no one needs to teach what the fig tree incident means. That is not what I am saying, quite the opposite.

I am saying he should forget about what the skeptics say and just teach the Bible.

His first paragraphs are all about presenting idiocy put forth by “skeptics”. Such idiocy is completely inconsequential.

It detracts from the message and will lose readers.


20 posted on 03/31/2015 9:26:08 AM PDT by ifinnegan
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