That's what it says in the intro to "how to be Christian" on this site. I would accept this as true but there are so many places in the New Testament that seem to suggest otherwise. There are a bunch that bother me.
Jesus' famous teaching is to "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, and do good to those that hate you" (Matthew 5:43) but in Luke 19:27, Jesus said "Take my enemies, who would not have me rule over them, bring them here, and kill them before me."
When the Jews tried to defend their religion, Jesus says to them (in Matthew 23:33) "you snakes, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell?"
And what bothers me the most is that he even displays cruelty to a tree. Matthew 21:18,19 - "In the morning, on his way to the city, Jesus felt hungry. Seeing a fig tree near the road, he went up to it, but found nothing on it but leaves. He said to the tree, 'may you never bear fruit anymore.' The tree then withered up and died."
Side note - I don't understand why Jesus could not perform a miracle and get figs if he was capable of doing miracles.
So yeah I don't really get that. And I want a good Christian explanation on it.
Most of the time when Jesus speaks of enemies he is talking about other people such as your friends and neighbours whom you may have disagreements with in your interpersonal relationships. I believe in the other instance he is speaking of those following Satan instead of G-d in which case they are not mearly friends you have a disagreement with but real bitter sworn enemies working for the other side, working for Satan the Devil.
As far as the Jews in this instance defending their religion, where they not just defending their extra-biblical man-made rules, distortions, and interpretations (talmudic) instead of what is actually given by G-d in the Bible (Tanakh)? Being a Jew himself and more importantly the Son of the living G-d, the Word made flesh I think he was certainly able to judge those particular Jews righteously and if he called them as "snakes" that's exactly what they were. As G-d I certainly accept his Word and judgement for those people. I was not around then and unable to see.
Regarding the tree....
The Parable of the Sower
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.
2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Matthew 13
The tree Jesus cut down was not producing a crop for its creator. As creator does he not have the right to cut down? In the end we will all be harvested and judged even you and I. If we have not produced a crop or obeyed G-d will we not also be cut down?
In Genesis G-d gave man dominion over the animals and gave us every seed bearing plant and every tree that has fruit. These were given to us to do with as we please or have dominion over and its not something I have a hard time accepting but that I'm greateful for. I put plenty of trees through my printer all the time
Jesus performed many miracles but even those did not convince some people. In fact Jesus stated that it would be worse for the people of a certain town on Judgement day because of their non belief or repentances after witnessing his miracles than it would be for the people of Soddom.
Woe on Unrepentant Towns
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.
21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Matthew 11
Hope this helps and welcome to the forum btw!
John