Trees Of Righteousness

Matthew 21:17-22

And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany, and he lodged there. Now in the morning as he returned to the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Thought For Today:

There has been much speculation surrounding the reason why Jesus cursed the fig tree for having no figs but only leaves. Speculation has arisen that there were no figs on the tree due to it not being fig season yet. But apparently Jesus saw differently because He used this as a teachable moment.

Let’s look at this. David said “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalms 1:1-3).

Jeremiah said, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

Jeremiah said the tree should never cease yielding fruit. Jesus declared it violated this and should bear fruit. Jesus said in John 15: 2 “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” The Lord saw it as a tree that stood in the way as an obstacle instead of a sustainer of life. Something was wrong with it. Like many saints of God, this tree stopped yielding fruit, not knowing that the Lord was going to appear to draw from the tree. Let me encourage you today, never stop bearing and yielding fruit. If you say you are born again, that means, as Jeremiah said, your leaves should always be green and you should be bearing fruit. Jesus should always find the Fruit of the Spirit upon you. David said, “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him” (Psalms 92:12-15). We are trees of righteousness, the planted of the Lord, that He might be glorified. Be fruitful and multiply.