Appearances
can be deceiving. Jesus sees a fig
tree in full leaf from a distance but, upon closer inspection, he
discovers that it is barren. He
then curses the tree. Jesus sees this fig tree as symbolic of the
Temple; impressive from a distance but fruitless.
He
makes his point with greater vigor when overturned the money
changer's tables and declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will
be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it
‘a den of robbers.’” (Mark:11:15-17)
Jesus'
message is one of judgment against Israel. Jesus is applying the
imagery from Jeremiah to the temple.
They
dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. "Peace,
peace," they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of
their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not
even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will
be brought down when they are punished, says the LORD. I will take
away their harvest…There will be no grapes on the vine. There will
be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither. What I have
given them will be taken from them (Jeremiah
8:11-13 NIV).
God
says he’ll judge Israel, and that like a fig tree with no figs,
Israel will wither. Two chapters later Jesus will tell his followers
that this temple is going to be destroyed (Mark
13:1-2). The destruction of the temple in 70 AD by the Romans was
the fulfillment of Jesus’ symbolic judgment enacted here
Outward
displays of religion did not impress Jesus then nor does it impress
him now. “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance,” he says.
(Matthew
3:8)
Jesus
said that we would be known by the kind of fruit we produce (Matthew
7:16) and Paul would later explain, “But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians
5:22-23)
No comments:
Post a Comment