The Fig Tree That Didn’t Produce Figs

Nothing is more disappointing than expecting something great and getting nothing in return. I’m not talking about ordering a disappointing meal or buying a car that turns out to be a lemon. I’m talking about how God feels about the way we treat Him.

Jesus was nearing the cross. He knew that the time of His death was near. He had worked toward this goal for a long time. What was it that most disappointed Him about His three years of ministry in Judea? Was it the lack of faith among the people? Was it the city of Jerusalem? The lack of understanding among His followers?

No, He felt compassion for the people. He wept for Jerusalem. He worked tirelessly to teach His Disciples. But, the thing that angered Him the most was the corruption and greed among the religious leaders. He called them “blind guides”, “whitewashed tombs” and “hypocrites.”

Matthew 23:13

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.”

Wait a minute … isn’t this supposed to be about a fig tree? What does that have to do with the religious leaders and their corruption?

It has everything to do with them. You see, in the parables and teachings of Jesus, the religious leaders were represented by a fig tree. So, when Jesus dealt with those teachers and leaders, He expected to see them producing fruit. He expected them to be leading others to God, teaching good things and helping the needy.