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 .
I appreciate the fact that you ran an article that was not anti-Catholic. Thank you.
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.…
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.
That article should cause some introspection.
Kyle Butt hopefully will learn there is no reason to address what “skeptics” say.
the fig tree represents national Israel.
bump for later
Butts writes:
One prominent question naturally arises from a straightforward reading of the text. Why would Jesus curse a fig tree that did not have figs on it, especially since the text says that “it was not the season for figs”?
Yes. We think we are about to get some Bible teaching.
But he follows with:
In response to this puzzling question, skeptical minds have let themselves run wild with accusations regarding the passage. Steve Wells, the author of The Skeptics’ Annotated Bible, labeled this story as an absurdity and said in a sarcastic tone: “Jesus kills a fig tree for not bearing figs, even though it was out of season. He did this to show the world just how much God hates figs” (2006, emp. added). Louis Cable, another skeptic, responded to the story with this statement: “Now to curse a fig tree for not bearing fruit in March is not unlike kicking a dog because it can not speak English thereby punishing it for the inability to do the impossible” (n.d.).
This long passage does not follow from the “prominent question”.
It is frustrating and distracting.
The article would be so much better if it were written like this:
One prominent question naturally arises from a straightforward reading of the text. Why would Jesus curse a fig tree that did not have figs on it, especially since the text says that “it was not the season for figs”? Is it the case that Jesus capriciously, out of anger, cursed the fig tree for not bearing fruit, even though the tree was incapable of producing? With a little research, one quickly ascertains that such is not the case. Not only does an excellent reason exist for the curse upon the fig tree, but an equally good spiritual application should be considered as well.
I am saying this as a Brotherly criticism meant to encourage strengthen and in appreciation of Butt’s work.
It may have been included in the parables simply to show that he had power.
It is easy to bear fruit in season, when the world loves you, when you meet no resistance.
We must all bear fruit in season and out of season.
Nothing but leaves! The Spirit grieves
O’er years of wasted life;
O’er sins indulged while conscience slept,
O’er vows and promises unkept,
And reap, from years of strife—
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves! No gathered sheaves
Of life’s fair rip’ning grain:
We sow our seeds; lo! tares and weeds,
Words, idle words, for earnest deeds—
Then reap, with toil and pain,
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves! Sad mem’ry weaves
No veil to hide the past;
And as we trace our weary way,
And count each lost and misspent day,
We sadly find at last—
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves!
Ah, who shall thus the Master meet,
And bring but withered leaves?
Ah, who shall, at the Savior’s feet,
Before the awful judgment seat,
Lay down, for golden sheaves,
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves!
“The cursing of the fig tree symbolizes God’s judgment on Israel for not bearing the fruit he wanted from the temple. It foreshadows the cleansing of the temple and ultimately the prophecy of its destruction in chapter 13”
The author misses the point of the judgment; it was the hypocrisy of the religious evidenced by their actions cloaked in rituals that was condemned, not Israel.
I am a hypocrite just as they were if I profess one thing and not do what I profess.