Matthew 21:18-22
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
18 In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.
20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” 21 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Thank you for answering so many prayers in my life. I know that if we have faith and ask, You will supply all of our needs according to your will and purpose.
I thank the good Lord for my blessings everyday. If you ask the Lord for what you need he will deliver. In Jesus name, Amen 🙏🏻✝🙏🏻✝💜💜🙌🏻🙌🏻
I’ve lived for a while saying “God isn’t concerned on whether or not X happpens, or I have Y” talking about the little things in life, trying to acknowledge His sovereignty while setting expectations for myself. But it hit me this morning, reading this, that maybe this is a kind of lack of faith? If my son wants something, and its pure and honest, why wouldn’t I also want that FOR him? I wonder if God looks at it similarly. If I want something unselfishly, and its within His will, why wouldn’t God also care about me having it?
God cares about the little things in life that we ask for, as well as the big things. But we have to ask for the little things in faith as much as we ask for the big things. We can’t let our faith be weak in the simple prayers.
If God only gave us Grace when we asked for things in prayer that would be enough. Faith is our display to Him that we trusted Him to provide our needs.
As we recently heard, most of us pray for physical needs compared to spiritual needs and the percentage was widely spread. As I read the Psalms, I see more prayers of confession and repentance and crying out for help to do God’s will. I try to do all I can the way I think it should be done before I pray for God to show me His way. And I know his ways are higher than my ways, and his thoughts are higher than mine. I do trust Him by faith and have seen many prayers answered. (Pray without ceasing) God knows what is best for us! PTL, Betty
Wondering if the lesson would have been the same if Jesus had told the fig tree to grow figs….
Interesting thought. By causing it to wither rather than grow figs, Jesus was still hungry. Do you think this has anything to do with parables of cutting down trees that bear no fruit?
I will have faith and not doubt…
The absence of fruit on this tree represents unbelieving Israel. Despite outward appearances of faithfulness to God , the majority of Israelites rejected Christ. Rejection of Jesus is a costly choice.
Great point
Father, may we bear much fruit for the kingdom.
Father God grow my faith,strengthen my spirit to believe in your sons name Jesus without hesitation. Amen
There’s a lot of people claim to be Christians, but bear no fruit. JESUS wants us to understand the power of prayer. HE doesn’t want a facade, HE wants Authenticity; “that’s faith”