Matthew 21:22

Jesus said, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

I believe that the hungry Jesus’ interaction with the fig tree had implications well beyond his being disappointed because of the lack of figs.

This happened, according to Matthew, just after the cleansing of the Temple, more particularly for cleansing that place where Gentiles are welcome.  As we noted, Jesus quoted the Isaiah 56 passage that the Temple must be “for all nations.”

In my mind’s eye I see a Roman, a Gentile, approaching the area of the Temple that was purposely built to welcome “Gentiles.”  There was no way he could enter. It was full of Jews, as we already noticed. It is as though the Jews placed a new sign, “Gentiles Stay Out!”  A Gentile who approached the Temple to receive a fruit of the grace of God must have felt like Jesus in the story – he expected fruit but found only Jewish ritualistic fig leaves that filled the place, promising fruit but producing none.

What did Jesus do?  He pronounced the tree anathema – it promised fruit but there was none. By upsetting things in the Gentile court Jesus exposed the lie the Jews were living. It looks like they are saying, “God may have a heart for Gentiles but Gentiles are not welcome here!”

In this story the fig tree withered. In the course of time, the magnificent Temple that King Herod recently built, lasted only 45 years or so after Jesus death. It was destroyed, not by Jews, but by Gentiles.  Was it because it  did not deliver the welcoming grace that one might have expected that it withers, dries up, as dead?  It was built to welcome Gentiles. Gentiles finally demolished it.  The fig tree withered and died.

Is this not the key to understanding what is happening as Jesus atones for the sins of all mankind and then sets up the true kingdom of grace that welcomes all who come in repentant faith?  I think so.

Matthew notes the outcome of this conversation that Jesus had with his followers. They were astonished at Jesus’ power over fig trees.  Jesus said “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”  Who could have imagined that God could will the destruction of the magnificent Temple, beautiful but fruitless?