Jesus & the fig tree

[ebedmelech]

24 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Is this really talking only about a 40 year time period between when Jesus said it and 70 ad ????

Indeed it is. Note the personal pronouns "you".

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The gospel preached to the whole world isn’t fulfilled that piece is past 70 ad.
End of the Age.
Things like faith and gospel are said by Jesus. Seems to be addressing believers.

Verse 15 starts again from the the desolation.

Words like Sabbath , Judea seems to be talking about Israel or the jews.

Really? You must think that was the end of this age...BUT...what about the Jewish age. Try Daniel 12!

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’[a] spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

29 “Immediately after the distress of those days

“‘the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light;

the stars will fall from the sky,

and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[c] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.[d] 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other..

A description of the end of the age REPEATS

You do realize Jesus was quoting Isaiah 13:10 at Matthew 24:29??? I wonder why?

How about Matthew 23:37-39 before Jesus explained to the disciples???:
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
38 Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!
39 For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Do you see the problem? You've simply bought into the idea this prophecy is to you...when it was to the disciples. Think about it:

*All of them were martyred but John.

*Paul and Peter were executed by Nero.

*Nero vehemently persecutes the church from 64 to to 66 AD after the great fire in Rome.

*Rome began to engage in several wars after the death of Nero as well as political infighting...check their history. Rome became so unstable that nations began to revolt.

There's so much more you don't get...but I think I make my point. Tyr reading "The Jewish Wars" of Josephus , as well as "The Annals" of Tacitus.

 

[dougangel]

Yes, don't listen to any man. Just God. Why do you want to listen to me? That's why I provided you His answer. God's answer. Comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Anything to do with what Isaiah prophecied is fulfilled in the N.T. Quotes you provided. Jesus is the fulfillment. The righteous Israel are the believers, the good figs. The bad figs are the wicked Israel, cut off, cast out up rooted etc etc. But why hear it from me? It is all right there. I don't get why you keep asking. It is all one context. Are you a "dispensationalist" per chance? Because that is the only reason I can guess why it isn't clear from God's Word, to where you want me to explain it in some other Words than His...

The Babylonian captivity (or Babylonian exile) is the period in Jewish history during which a number of Jews of the ancient Kingdom of Judah were captives in Babylonia. After the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, resulting in tribute being paid by King Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim refused to pay tribute in Nebuchadnezzar's fourth year, which led to another siege in Nebuchadnezzar's seventh year, culminating with the death of Jehoiakim, and the exile of King Jeconiah, his court and many others; Jeconiah's successor Zedekiah and others were exiled in Nebuchadnezzar's eighteenth year; a later deportation occurred in Nebuchadnezzar's twenty-third year. The dates, numbers of deportations, and numbers of deportees given in the biblical accounts vary. These deportations are dated to 597 BCE for the first, with others dated at 587/586 BCE, and 582/581 BCE respectively.


After the fall of Babylon to the Persian king Cyrus the Great in 539 BCE, exiled Jews began to return to the land of Judah. According to the biblical book of Ezra, construction of a second temple in Jerusalem began at this time. All these events are considered significant in Jewish history and culture, and had a far-reaching impact on the development of Judaism.
Archaeological studies have revealed that not all of the population of Judah was deported, and that, although Jerusalem was utterly destroyed, other parts of Judah continued to be inhabited during the period of the exile. The return of the exiles was a gradual process rather than a single event.

The Book of Jeremiah is primarily a message of judgment on Judah for rampant idolatry (Jeremiah 7:30-34; 16:10-13; 22:9; 32:29; 44:2-3). After the death of King Josiah, the last righteous king, the nation of Judah had almost completely abandoned God and His commandments. Jeremiah compares Judah to a prostitute (Jeremiah 2:20; 3:1-3). God had promised that He would judge idolatry most severely (Leviticus 26:31-33; Deuteronomy 28:49-68), and Jeremiah was warning Judah that God’s judgment was at hand. God had delivered Judah from destruction on countless occasions, but His mercy was at its end. Jeremiah records King Nebuchadnezzar conquering Judah and making it subject to him (Jeremiah 24:1). After further rebellion, God brought Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian armies back to destroy and desolate Judah and Jerusalem (Jeremiah chapter 52). Even in this most severe judgment, God promises the restoration of Judah back into the land God has given them (Jeremiah 29:10).

Jeremiah 29:10 (ESV)

10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.

(Jer 24:6) For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.

The king of Persia brings the existing exiles back to Israel and they start building the 2nd temple. God restores the Good Fig. Fulfilment of the Jer 24. Historical. Your out of context with it.

Your going and pulling all these scriptures out OT. But your have to know the history behind it.

 

[1213]

Do you think the fig tree mentioned in several places in the Gospels represents Israel, and does it have a prophetic significancefers to Israel?

1. Luke 13:6-9
2. Mat 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-22
3. Mat 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33

I believe it means God’s congregation, which is formed of Jews and disciples of Jesus (“Christians”). Common thing for them is this:

but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.
Romans 2:29

At the moment it seems to me that the “fig tree” needs “living water” (John 4:10) that could clean it from all the “yeast of Pharisees” (Luke 12:1). After that its leaves could come out and it could “bear fruit”.

 

[dougangel]

Yes, and no. Jesus was simply showing how the prophecies to Israel made in the O.T. are fulfilled right then and there in the eyes and ears of those who could see... IN HIM. He Came as Promised. Those who didn't believe Jesus was the Messiah, didn't enter into His rest. The Jews rejected Him and remain blinded, the "bad figs". Excellent post thank you.
(Jer 8:12) Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

(Jer 7:11) Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.


(Jer 8:13) I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.
Thank you Messiah dear Father!

Ok well this part is very good. (Although I don't know why you put them out of order.)
In context of 2. Mat 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-22
Mar 11:
12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree,“May no one ever eat fruit from you again. ”And his disciples heard him say it.

15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all ' But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.

18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples 'went out of the

20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

(Jer 7:11) Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 7 is mirroring the state of Israel in Jesus's time.

(Jer 8:12) Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

(Jer 8:13) I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.
31 And I will make your cities a waste, and will bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savor of your sweet odors.

Ok well that's scary Lev 26 is what happened with the Babylonians and in 70 ad also. When you think when that was written.

Leviticus 26
32 And I will bring the land into desolation; and your enemies that dwell therein shall be astonished at it.

33 And you will I scatter among the nations, and I will draw out the sword after you: and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.

34 Then shall the land enjoy its sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye are in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy its sabbaths.

35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall have rest, even the rest which it had not in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.

Jesus is making a prediction or judgement about Israel. The disciples haven't got a clue what he's is doing. Lol. I have found when Jesus is doing something unexplained in the gospels he usually fulfilling an OT scripture.

.

 

[Viren]

I think that the fig tree which was designated as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was just an ordinary first ancestor of the fig trees of Jesus' day. The thing that made this tree different was that God had spoken over it and told Adam and Eve not to eat of it as a simple test of obedience - which they failed miserably. And so the fig tree was the means by which our race fell into rebelliousness.

Evidence has recently been found that support fig trees being the oldest domesticated food even before wheat. Also, the tree that was propagated was a mutated form that produced fruit without seeds. Personally, I think the fall was when humans started manipulating creation and trusting in their ways over God's.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-First-Domesticated-Crop-25430.shtml

 

[dougangel]

I think that the fig tree which was designated as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was just an ordinary first ancestor of the fig trees of Jesus' day. The thing that made this tree different was that God had spoken over it and told Adam and Eve not to eat of it as a simple test of obedience - which they failed miserably. And so the fig tree was the means by which our race fell into rebelliousness. Therefore Jesus by cursing it was saying that the fall of mankind will never happen again. It was a tremendous statement and had absolutely nothing to do with breakfast. And as you have noticed the Disciples never seemed to catch on to the things Jesus did and said.



Don't think so - Jesus was just giving a simple simile. Leaves on the trees indicate the coming of Summer
just like
When you see the things come to pass that I told you about then you know the end is near.



I think He was alluding to the Physical Kingdom of God that He will set up after the second coming and the end of time.

""I think that the fig tree which was designated as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was just an ordinary first ancestor of the fig trees of Jesus' day.""

That's pure speculation. It doesn't say what the fruit is. It just calls it a fruit in genesis. People through the ages have given it a portrait as an apple but this is wrong also.

 

[Mark51]

Yes. Jesus has spent more than three years trying to cultivate faith among the Jewish nation. But only a few hundred disciples can be counted as fruitage of his labors. Now, during this fourth year of his ministry, he is intensifying his efforts, symbolically digging and putting manure around the Jewish “fig tree” by zealously preaching and teaching in Judea and Perea with only a remnant responding. The nation refuses to repent and so is in line for destruction. .

 

[Strong in Him]

Do you think the fig tree mentioned in several places in the Gospels represents Israel, and does it have a prophetic significancefers to Israel?

1. Luke 13:6-9
2. Mat 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-22
3. Mat 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33

Not necessarily.
In Scripture, Israel is often referred/likened to a vine - e.g. Isaiah 5; Ezekiel 17; Luke 20:9-19. In John 15, Jesus referred to himself as the true Vine.

In Mark 11, Jesus was on his way to the temple, saw a fig tree which he hoped would have fruit, found that it didn't and cursed it. Prior to this he had been to the temple and had a good look around; after this he went back to the temple and threw out the money lenders. The fig tree here seems to be a picture of the temple; he had expected it to be fruitful, a house of prayer, and it wasn't - it was a den of thieves.

 

[Righttruth]

Not necessarily.
In Scripture, Israel is often referred/likened to a vine - e.g. Isaiah 5; Ezekiel 17; Luke 20:9-19. In John 15, Jesus referred to himself as the true Vine.

In Mark 11, Jesus was on his way to the temple, saw a fig tree which he hoped would have fruit, found that it didn't and cursed it. Prior to this he had been to the temple and had a good look around; after this he went back to the temple and threw out the money lenders. The fig tree here seems to be a picture of the temple; he had expected it to be fruitful, a house of prayer, and it wasn't - it was a den of thieves.

So Israel was not a true vine too!