The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Matthew:21:18-22

kjv@Matthew:21:18 @ Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.

kjv@Matthew:21:19 @ And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

kjv@Matthew:21:20 @ And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

kjv@Matthew:21:21 @ Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

kjv@Matthew:21:22 @ And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Today's notes: No Fruit Henceforth

Context:

Before - Perfected Praise
After - from Heaven or of men?

What is man believing/doing?:

marveling at the withered fig tree

What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:

how soon after Jesus cursed it it withered

Notes:

dict:smith fig reports that the fruit appears before the leaf, kjv@Mark:11:13 leaves were seen, figs could reasonably be expected from this tree even though it was earlier than a typical season, the time of figs (gathering) was not yet. The green pag winter figs of faith should be evident at this early time as well.

The disciples are to hunger and thirst for righteousness as well, to look for the fruits of which are encountered along the byways and thoroughfares. If a tree has grown and blossomed to this extent without fruit it is likely that it will not have fruit or else bad fruit, it is better to be done away with. There too is a problem with the mountain that blocks the late winter early spring sun from the stems and roots, a promising plant may encouraged to bare fruit if the early light can be brought to it. Remove the obstacle of the mountain and it still bare not fruit? Let it wither, move to the next. All these things are the disciple's to ask of in prayer doubting not.

kjv@Luke:13:8-9 suggests that for certain trees, adequate husbandry can be provided to restore fruit to a tree. That parable is then complimentary given the tree and what has already been provided.

Our context then through this passage may be that of the multiple trees of righteousness established and surrounding Jesus at present (Pharisee, Sadducee, Scribe, Sanhedrin, Common, Roman etc...) none bare the fruit Jesus hungers to see from it. Not even what the disciples feel has been established in themselves should be gotten too used to because it will be a whole other tree after the crucifixion/resurrection/Spirit is absorbed, this that is now when the true tree is seen will immediately wither. As for the other trees, they may not wither as fast, they already bare an evil fruit that will but decay and ferment all the more putting a bad taste in many a nation's mouth.

Key Messages:

What does this say about our present condition?

The most common interpretation of this passage is that God promises to do anything you believe strong enough in no matter what it is; just ask. As if with all the surrounding and perilous context, Jesus just causally blurted out "oh by the way... before I forget to tell you" out of context. It only goes to show that we only hear what we want to hear and what we want to hear is that God will do whatever we want. What we want of God is the kind of thing that produces the wrong fruit or none at all in our Lord's hungry eye.
The mountain we see as something/anything impeding us from being or doing something we want, instead of what is keeping us from being/doing what God wants. Better put, God is often our mountain who is needing to stand aside or be completely removed.

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Matthew:21:18-22
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Matthew:21:18-22 rwp@Matthew:21:18-22 mhcc@Matthew:21:18-22
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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