Catherine Yates
One morning Jesus Christ was on
His way to the Temple
where He would teach people about the kingdom and righteousness of God (Lk 21:38, Jn 8:2). He passed by a fig tree and intended to pick
some fruit for breakfast. He searched in
vain for figs and cursed the tree. The
fig tree withered immediately. This
episode teaches us that we shall never lack the substance of genuine faith. The Lord detests those who hold the form of
religion but deny its power (2 Tim 3:5).
He denounced the Pharisees and scribes who had religious fervency but
failed to walk in the righteousness of God:
You tithe mint, dill, and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and
faith. (Mt 23:23)
You cleanse the outside of the cup and of the
plate, but inside they are full of extortion and rapacity. (Mt 23:25)
Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in
long robes, and love salutations in the market places and the best seats in the
synagogues and the places of honor of feasts, and for a pretense make long
prayers (Lk 20:46-47)
A parable in the Gospel of Luke
reveals the importance of bearing fruit.
To the disappointment of the master, a fig tree has not yielded fruit
for three years. The master demanded
that the fig tree be cut down, for it had taken up the ground. The vine dresser interceded for the barren
tree, desiring to be fruitful, then have it
reprieved. If the tree could no longer
master could then dispose of the tree and remove it from the orchard.
It is important for every true
believer to match his deed with his faith.
All the ministers, religious education teachers, and Bible students must
pray that God would have mercy and longsuffering to His workers and His children. All of us must be aware that the Heavenly
Father demands the fruit, not the lavish leaves from us in the vineyard of God,
We must therefore bear the fruit of holiness, charity, and righteousness so as
to glorify Him (Rom 6:22, Gal 5:22-23, 2 Cor 9:10,
Phil 4:17, Jn 15:1-8).
