As we read through the gospels in larger chunks it is easier to identify some of the larger themes in Jesus' teaching. In chapters 21-23 Jesus has come to Jerusalem to complete the work he came to do. In chapter 21 Jesus leans in on bearing fruit.
Matthew 21:18-19" In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once."
As a child this passage was confusing to me. Why was Jesus upset with the fig tree? The fig tree represents the people of God, the Israelites. God has given them the message of hope and they are not bearing fruit for the kingdom of God. They have experienced the presence and the grace of God. They have seen the power of God, and the knowledge of how to live at peace with God. With all that God had given them, they were not bearing fruit in season. Jesus stopped along the road to grab a bite to eat from the fig tree. It was not bearing the fruit that he expected. Jesus' response may seem harsh to you, but he wanted his disciples to see and understand the expectations of a child of God. He expects the same of us.
Matthew 21: 28 “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you."
Here again the issue of bearing fruit pops up. Have you been asked to bear fruit? If you have trusted Christ as your savior, then the expectation is that you bear fruit. Did you say yes, but you didn't follow through? There is still time to repent and follow through.
Later in Matthew 25 14-30, The parable of the Talents. Once again something valuable has been entrusted to servants. The master goes away on a journey and expects to find that the servants have been faithful. To the ones he finds at the task he has given he says, "Well done good and faithful servant.
The question becomes, "what does it mean to bear fruit?", or "Am I bearing fruit?".
Jesus gives us a simple answer to what fruit looks like.
Matthew 25: "44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Bearing fruit is the expectation of every disciple. What that looks like will be different for each person. Just as a fig tree is designed to bear figs, you are designed to bear a certain kind of fruit. Do not be anxious if your fruit doesn't look like mine. Instead ask God to show you each and every day how you can loving encourage people toward the kingdom of God.
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