Lesson Theme: The Object Lesson of the Cursed Fig Tree
I’ll admit, when I first read this story, I was pretty quick to take up an offense for the poor fig tree. It’s not the tree’s fault that it is not in season. What do you expect?!? This tree is completely innocent in this crime!
Is Christ being an unrighteous judge, perhaps influenced by His hunger?
When we ask ourselves the following questions, this story goes from odd to downright perplexing!
Q1: Is this fig tree bearing fruit?
Q2: WHY isn’t it bearing fruit?
Q3: Is it the tree’s fault that it is not in season?
Ultimately, WHO set up the seasons? Who should have known better than to expect an out-of-season fig tree to be abundantly stocked with figs? Was someone supposed to be taping them up there for just such an occasion?!
WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?
Obviously, if our Saviour can fast for 40 days in the wilderness, disappointed hunger certainly isn’t the motivator here. But rather, could it be possible that this tree’s purpose isn’t to bear fruit, but rather to be an object lesson?
Note: No PowerPoint lesson today. Let’s just use our Bibles and make some notes in the margins.
“And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.”
— Jonah 4:9
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