Sermonette: Withering an Unfruitful Tree

Sermonette: Withering an Unfruitful Tree

Faith in the End Time
#871s
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Given 08-Mar-08; 19 minutes

listen:

description: (hide) Richard Ritenbaugh, reflecting on an apple tree Beth planted 13 years ago which has been reluctant to bear fruit, reminds us that Jesus Christ had cursed a fig tree which also refused to bear fruit, an event that occurred before His cleansing of the Temple, driving out the money changers, clearly establishing Christ’s authority. After the temple cleansing incident, the fig tree withered. Israel has often been analogized as a fig tree and a grape vine. The fig tree not bearing fruit symbolized Israel’s reluctance to bear fruit, refusing to obey God, leading to its rejection by God and its replacement by the Israel of God. Jesus cautioned His disciples to maintain their faith in God, assuring them that God is in control even though the world seems to be falling apart.