Why did Jesus ruin the fig tree (Matthew 21:19)?
18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. 20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. 21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
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Paula Fether
Supporter
It seems most likely that this was an object lesson on at least two levels. One, for the disciples to see once again that Jesus was no ordinary man, especially given his impending death and resurrection. This demonstration of the power of faith would be instrumental in the birth of the church at Pentecost. Two, for the nation of Israel, who had produced no fruit in season and were about to be exiled yet again, within a generation (40 years) after their rejection of the Messiah.
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