THE WORD 4 ev 1

Read Matthew 21 (click here for link)

The withered fig tree… What an unusual account!

Nowhere does this text appear in any series of our Lectionary and therefore seldom will you ever hear a sermon on the withered fig tree. Matthew and Mark both record this miracle (if we want to call it that), however, Mark records that the fig tree was not in season and therefore there was no reason to expect figs in the first place. Also, Mark, unlike Matthew, records that this event happened in two parts with Jesus cursing the fig tree on Monday and the disciples discovering it withered on Tuesday. As for its interpretation, at first glance, the reader would think this to be a type of parable on judgment. After all, Jesus has just entered Jerusalem and is headed toward his passion. He will cleanse the temple. He will be crucified by a people in covenant with God, and yet, these very same covenant people will crucify God’s own Son, much like the wicked tenants in the parable Jesus tells at end of chapter 21. This interpretation fits well, because much like the Jews, who claimed to be in covenant with God, the fig tree seemed as though it might have fruit, being lush and well leafed. However, closer inspection revealed a tree that was figless and therefore useless. Much the same way were the Pharisees. They had all the pretense of godly people, but they had forgotten the real reason for the covenant in the first place—that through them, God would bless all nations with a savior/seed of Abraham.

Yet, while judgment may appear to be the reason behind Jesus’ act of cursing the fig tree, he goes on to give the application of faith and confidence in prayer. He says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

So what do we make of the withered fig tree?

Granted, I am a young pastor and wouldn’t dare to claim the definitive interpretation for this enigmatic act of our Lord. Indeed, it may be that we must wait until the day of our Lord for the answer. But might I suggest, that until then, we meditate on the themes of judgment and faith. Perhaps we look for judgment too often, like the disciples standing amazed at the fig tree. But what does our Lord do? He points them to faith. Judgment is not for us, it is only the Lord’s business. We are called to faith.

There are examples of faith all around us. C.S. Lewis observed this too once when he commented on his propensity for judging his own Anglican church. He especially disliked the hymns. But it was through the very things he judged that he realized great faith. He wrote:

“I dislike very much their hymns, which I considered to be fifth-rate poems set to sixth-rate music. But as I went on I saw the great merit of it… I realized that the hymns (which, indeed, were sixth-rate music) were, nevertheless, being sung with devotion and benefit by an old saint in elastic-side boots in the opposite pew, and then you realize that you aren’t even fit to clean those boots. It gets you out of your solitary conceit.”

Perhaps too often we strut about, all leafed-out in our own pretense and judgments. After all, if God’s covenant people could fall into that trap, so can we. But such things are cursed. Our Lord points us instead to great faith. With God nothing is impossible. When we would rather stand by the withered tree shaking our heads in opinionated wonder, our Lord points us to a mountain and dares us to believe.

Blessings as you prune the withered branches that new, fruitful, shoots may appear.

Pastor Aaron