I read this morning of a moment in Jesus' ministry in which he does something I find a bit odd. He curses a fig tree. Here's the account in Matthew 21: 18-19....
"Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered."
I'm going to be honest with you...that seems a bit harsh to me. And harsh is not usually a word we associate with Jesus. However, I believe there is a reason for Jesus' actions here that go beyond his irritation over being hungry. Let's back up a little.
Jesus came to the earth to change hearts. When we find Jesus with the fig tree we find him dealing with a group of people who are hard-hearted and cannot see the forest for the trees...the Pharisees. These were Israelite men who should have recognized Jesus' coming and helped the other Jews to see it as well. They didn't. Instead they were more concerned with their own righteousness and following their own rules which they felt were as binding as the principles of God. I think Jesus becomes angry at the fig tree because it represents what Israel should have been. From a distance the fig tree looked ripe but upon closer inspection there was nothing but leaves. I think the same could be said for Israel. At this time they should have been ready to receive Jesus but all he found was hard-hearts and self-righteousness.
What does this mean for us? What does Jesus see when he looks at you? At me? Does he see real fruit being produced or does he see nothing but leaves?
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