CVII.
FINDING THE FIG-TREE WITHERED.
(Road from Bethany to Jerusalem, Tuesday, April 4, A. D. 30.)
aMATT. XXI. 20-22; bMARK
XI. 19-25; cLUKE XXI. 37, 38.
c37 And every day he was
teaching in the temple [he was there Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, but
he seems to have spent Wednesday and Thursday in Bethany];and
every night {bevening} he went forth out out of the city. cand
lodged in the mount that is called Olivet. [As Bethany was on the Mount
of Olives, this statement leaves us free to suppose that he spent his nights
there, but it is not likely that he retired to any one house or place continuously,
for had he done so the rulers could easily have ascertained his whereabouts
and arrested him.] 38 And all the
people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.
[The enthusiasm of the triumphal entry did not die out in a day: Jesus
was still the center of observation.]
b20 And as they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree
withered away from the roots. [It was completely withered--dead root
and branch. We have observed before, p.
578, that one coming into Jerusalem from Bethany is apt to come down
the steep side of Olivet, and that one returning to Bethany is apt to take
the easier grade, though longer way, around the south end of the mountain.
This fig-tree was apparently on this short road, and was sentenced Monday
morning. The disciples, returning by the other or longer road to Bethany
or its vicinity, did not see the tree Monday evening, but they saw it Tuesday
morning, when they again came back by the short [583] road.
From these facts argue a method of coming and going, from which it may
be fairly inferred that Jesus, on the day of his triumphal entry, approached
Jerusalem by the short road, though Stanley, Edersheim, and many others,
think he came in over the long road.]
a20 When the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How did
the fig tree immediately wither away? [Jesus had simply condemned it
to fruitlessness, but his condemnation involved it in an evil which it
justly deserved. The judgment of God reveals; and that which is dead in
fact is made dead in appearance also.]
b21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Rabbi,
behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst [devotedst to death] is
withered away. [Peter is surprised both at the suddenness and at the
fullness of the judgment. Since the miracles of Jesus, heretofore, had
been only those of mercy, Peter boldly invited the Lord to discuss this
miracle, hoping for more light on its meaning.]
22 And Jesus answering saith {aanswered and said} unto them,
bHave faith in God. 23 Verily
I say unto you, aIf ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not
only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye {bwhosoever}
shall say unto this mountain [Olivet], Be thou taken up and
cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe
that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. ait shall
be done. 22 And
b24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray
and ask for, {aye shall ask in prayer,} bbelieve
that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. {abelieving, ye
shall receive.} [Jesus here lays down the broad general rule in the
application of which we must be guided by other Scriptures. The rule is,
indeed, liberal and gracious, and the limitations are just and reasonable.
We must not expect to obtain that which it is unlawful for us to desire
(Jas. iv. 2, 3), or which it is unwise for us to seek (II. Cor. xii. 7-9),
nor must we selfishly run counter to the will of God (Luke xxii. 42; I.
John v. 14, 15), nor must we expect that God shall perform a miracle for
us, for miracles have ceased--in short, we [584] must
pray to God in full remembrance of the relationship between us, we must
consider that he is the Ruler and we his subjects, and are not to think
for one moment that by faith we can alter this eternal, unchangeable relation.
The disciples whom Jesus addressed were very soon to enter upon a task
which would seem to them as difficult as the removal of mountains. The
license and immorality of paganism, and the bigotry and prejudice of Judaism,
would seem insurmountable obstacles in their pathway to success. They needed
to be assured that the power of faith was superior to all these adverse
forces, and that the judgments of God could accomplish in a moment changes
which apparently could not be wrought out in the tedious course of years.
As we to-day look back upon this promise of Christ we can see that the
mountains then standing have, indeed, been removed; and that which seemed
vigorous and flourishing has been blasted in a day.]
b25 And whensoever ye stand [a customary attitude--Luke
xviii. 13] praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that
your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
[Forgiveness has already been enjoined (see pp.
253, 254). Here our Lord emphasizes the need of forgiveness because
he had just performed a miracle of judgment, and he wished his disciples
to understand that they must not exercise their miraculous gifts with a
vengeful, unforgiving spirit. They must suffer evil and not retaliate with
miracles of judgment.] [585]
[FFG 583-585]
