Monday, January 28, 2019
Bible Lesson: Conversations With Jesus: The Withered Fig Tree.
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Bible Lesson: Conversations With
Jesus: The Withered Fig Tree.
Bible Text:
Bible Location: Olivet.
Bible Text: Mark 11:12-14; 20-24 KJV
(Matthew 21:18-22)
12 And on the morrow, when they were
come from Bethany, He was hungry:
13 And seeing a fig tree afar off
having leaves, He came, if haply He might find any thing thereon: and
when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs
was not yet.
14 And Jesus answered and said unto
it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And His disciples
heard it.
20 And in the morning, as they
passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 And Peter calling to remembrance
saith unto Him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is
withered away.
22 And Jesus answering saith unto
them, Have faith in God.
23 For verily I say unto you, That
whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou
cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall
believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall
have whatsoever he saith.
24Therefore I say unto you, What
things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them,
and ye shall have them.
Mark 12-14;20-24 NLT
12 The next morning as they were
leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
13 He noticed a fig tree in full
leaf a little way off, so He went over to see if He could find any
figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the
season for fruit.
14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May
no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard Him say
it.
20 The next morning as they passed
by the fig tree He had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered
from the roots up.
21 Peter remembered what Jesus had
said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi!
The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!”
22 Then Jesus said to the disciples,
“Have faith in God.
23 I tell you The Truth, you can say
to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’
and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and
have no doubt in your heart.
24 I tell you, you can pray for
anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be
yours.
Matthew 21:18-22 KJV
18 Now in the morning as He returned
into the city, He hungered.
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.
20 And when the disciples saw it,
they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
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.
22 And all things, whatsoever ye
shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Matthew 21:18-22 NLT
18 In the morning, as Jesus was
returning to Jerusalem, He was hungry,
19 and He noticed a fig tree beside
the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were
only leaves. Then He said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!”
And immediately the fig tree withered up.
20 The disciples were amazed when
they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”
21 Then Jesus told them, “I tell
you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things
like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May
you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen.
22 You can pray for anything, and if
you have faith, you will receive it.”
Mark 11:12 KJV
And on the morrow, when they were
come from Bethany, He was hungry:
Monday morning, Jesus and His disciples
were traveling from Bethany to Jerusalem, this is when the encounter
with the fig tree took place. Jesus was hungry. Jesus was in every
capacity a man in the flesh. And for those who deny this, the word of
God declares.....
1 John 4:2,3
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:
Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh
is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth
not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is
that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come;
and even now already is it in the world.
2 John 1:7
For many deceivers are entered into
the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.
This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Mark 11:13 KJV
And seeing a fig tree afar off
having leaves, He came, if haply He might find any thing thereon: and
when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs
was not yet.
From a distance Jesus saw the fig tree
full of leaves, figs would be His, and His disciples breakfast.
But when He came close to the tree He
found it all leaves, and no figs!
Now “Mark,” states....” for the
time of figs was not yet,” Matthew, however does not state this.
It may well have been early in the
season for figs, but the truth remains. Fig trees bear their fruit,
“first,” then the leaves. This tree was at best a “work
of deception.” Nor were there on it any figs from the previous
season, totally devoid of any fruit.
Our precious Lord in His infinite
wisdom, chose to use the event as an illustration. A illustration
regarding the “showy,”dead self-righteous works of the Jews, and
all those who know not God.
Matthew 23:25-28 KJV (Be sure to
read the whole chapter.)
25 Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and
of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse
first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of
them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which
indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's
bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear
righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Jude 1:12 KJV
These are spots in your feasts of
charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear:
clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose
fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Mark 11:14 KJV
And Jesus answered and said unto
it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And His disciples
heard it.
Jesus cursed the deceptive fig tree
with death, so that it would never again deceive any hungry soul.
Matthew 3:7-10 KJV
7 But when He saw many of the
Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism (John
the Baptist), He said unto them, O generation of vipers,
who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet
for repentance:
9 And think not to say within
yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that
God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the ax is laid unto
the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth
good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
How many a dear soul lost in showy
rituals and liturgy, yet far from any place of repentance, and
dependence on Christ alone, has deemed itself beautiful and fit. And
yet the living God, who sees all says....”depart from Me, ye that
work iniquity.”
Matthew 7:13-23 KJV
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate:
for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and
narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that
find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which
come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their
fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth
forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth
evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not
forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye
shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth
the will of My Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have
cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
Pathway To Life Everlasting:
John 3:14-16 KJV
14 And as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that
He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should
not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 5:24 KJV
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath
everlasting Life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed
from death unto Life.
John 20:31 KJV
But these are written, that ye might
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing
ye might have Life through His name.
Acts 4:10-12 KJV
10 Be it known unto you all, and to
all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by
Him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set
at nought of you builders, which is become The Head Of The Corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any
other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved.
Acts 15:11 KJV
But we believe that through the
grace of The LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved...
Romans 5:9 KJV
Much more then, being now justified
by His Blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Romans 6:23 KJV
For the wages of sin is death; but
The Gift Of God is eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 10:9 KJV
That if thou shalt confess with thy
mouth The Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath
raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is The Gift Of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should
boast.
I Thessalonians 5:9,10 KJV
9 For God hath not appointed us to
wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us...
Hebrews 5:9 KJV
And being made perfect, He (Jesus)
became The Author Of Eternal Salvation unto all them that obey Him;
Mark 11:20,21 KJV
20 And in the morning, as they
passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 And Peter calling to
remembrance saith unto Him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou
cursedst is withered away.
Tuesday morning, the day after, the fig
tree was dead, dried up from the roots.
Ezekiel 12:25 KJV
For I am the LORD: I will speak, and
The Word that I shall speak shall come to pass...
Jesus now uses this as an illustration
to His disciples concerning faith.
Mark 11:22-24 KJV
22 And Jesus answering saith unto
them, Have faith in God.
23 For verily I say unto you,
That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be
thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall
believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall
have whatsoever he saith.
24Therefore I say unto you, What
things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them,
and ye shall have them.
Faith, God's people are to be a people
of faith. And faith is absolute assurance that God can do what He has
said He will do. This is one more reason why we need to read and know
The Word, the will of God.
The Psalmist proclaimed...
Psalm 119:89 KJV
For ever, O LORD, thy Word is
settled in heaven.
Matthew 5:18 KJV (Jesus said.)
For verily I say unto you, Till
heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass
from The Law, till all be fulfilled.
Matthew 24:35 KJV
Heaven and earth shall pass away,
but My Words shall not pass away.
I Peter 1:25 KJV (Peter)
But The Word Of The Lord endureth
for ever. And this is The Word which by The Gospel is preached unto
you.
I John 5:14,15 KJV
14 And this is the confidence that
we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He
heareth us:
15 And if we know that He hear us,
whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired
of Him.
A man or woman of God must have a
heart of faith!
Romans 10:17 KJV
So then faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by The Word Of God.
Romans 14:23 KJV
"...for whatsoever is not of
faith is sin."
Hebrews 11:6 KJV
But without faith it is impossible
to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and
that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
James 1:5-8 KJV
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him
ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and
it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing
wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with
the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he
shall receive any thing of The Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in
all his ways.
I John 5:4 KJV
For whatsoever is born of God over
cometh the world: and this is the victory that over cometh the world,
even our faith.
Only eternity will reveal, how that the
poorest of God's saints have marched on against the impossible, time
and time again, because of their faith in God, and over came.
Is there a mountain in your way? A
mountain of debt, a range of disease, a chasm of rejection, rivers of
disloyalty? Have faith in God!
He will never leave nor forsake you,
every word of His, is true, believe in them, believe in Him!
John 14:6 KJV
Jesus saith unto him, I am The
Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man cometh unto
The Father, but by Me.
Psalm 37:3-5 KJV
3 Trust in The LORD, and do
good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in The
LORD: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto The
LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.
Prayer:
Isaiah
41:10 KJV
Fear
thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I
will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee
with the right hand of My righteousness.
Matthew
14:24-31 KJV
24
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for
the wind was contrary.
25
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on
the sea.
26
And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were
troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it
is I; be not afraid.
28
And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come
unto thee on the water.
29
And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he
walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to
sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31
And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and
said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Romans
1:17 KJV
For
therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as
it is written, The just shall live by faith.