KING JESUS: A JOURNEY THROUGH MATTHEW'S GOSPEL (PT 23)

​In today’s text, we encounter two unusual moments in Jesus’ ministry: the cursing of the fig tree and His overturning of the money changers’ tables in the temple. At first glance, these actions may seem uncharacteristic of Jesus. The cursing of a seemingly innocent fig tree and the abrupt display of anger in the temple can leave readers puzzled and wondering why Jesus reacted so strongly in these instances. However, when we examine these events, a deeper message emerges—one of judgment and one of the coming transformation in the relationship between God and humanity. These are far from acts of pettiness or anger; these moments reveal thought-provoking spiritual truths about faith, fruitfulness, and shifting God's kingdom away from outward religious structures toward a more personal, faith-driven connection with God. Today’s message explores these themes, connecting the symbolism of the fig tree and the temple to Jesus’ broader message and what they mean for believers today.
 
Matthew 21:12-21
 
The Cursed Fig Tree: Beyond the Surface
The passage in Matthew begins with Jesus seeing a fig tree in the morning. He approaches it, looking for fruit, but finding none, he curses the tree, causing it to wither. To a modern reader, the act seems harsh, even cruel—after all, according to the Gospel of Mark 11:13, it wasn’t fig season, and the tree was behaving naturally. This begs the first question: Why did Jesus curse a fig tree for not bearing fruit out of season?
 
The Fig Tree as a Symbol of Israel
Understanding this event requires examining the significance of the fig tree in Jewish symbolism. In the Old Testament, the fig tree often symbolized Israel itself. Jeremiah 8:13 reads, “I will surely consume them. There will be no more harvests of figs and grapes. Their fruit trees will all die. Whatever I gave them will soon be gone. I, the Lord, have spoken!’ and Hosea 9:10 says, “The Lord says, “O Israel, when I first found you, it was like finding fresh grapes in the desert. When I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the first ripe figs of the season. But then they deserted me for Baal-peor, giving themselves to that shameful idol. Soon, they became as vile as the god they worshiped.” Both are examples where Israel is likened to a fig tree, and its fruitfulness is a metaphor for its spiritual health. When Jesus cursed the tree for its barrenness, He was symbolically enacting a judgment against Israel, particularly the religious institutions of the time, which had failed to bear spiritual fruit.
 
The detail that the tree had leaves but no fruit is essential. Fig trees typically produce fruit before they grow leaves, and the presence of leaves could give the appearance that fruit should be available. In this case, the tree gave a false promise, which parallels Israel’s spiritual condition. The nation appeared outwardly religious, with the splendor of the temple and the rituals, but it was spiritually barren. Jesus’ curse was not about the tree but the temple and the nation it symbolized—a judgment that the time of fruitlessness was over and that judgment was imminent.
 
The Prophecy of the Temple’s Fall
Jesus’ symbolic act predicts the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. when the Roman army destroyed the city. The temple, which was supposed to be the heart of Israel’s relationship with God, had become a place of corruption. Instead of being a house of prayer for all nations, it had become a place where religious leaders used their authority to oppress the people and exclude Gentiles from worshiping God. This perversion of its original purpose led to judgment, just as the barren fig tree warranted Jesus’ curse.
 
The fruitless fig tree thus becomes a symbol of a nation that was supposed to bring the light of God to the world but had instead fallen into self-serving ritualism. Jesus’ curse of the tree points toward the fate of the temple and Israel itself—they had missed their purpose, and their time was up.
 
Jesus’ Outburst in the Temple: A Message of Judgment
The next question arises from Jesus' actions in the temple: Why did Jesus overturn the tables and drive out the money changers? For some, this seems inconsistent with His attributes. However, just like the fig tree incident, Jesus’ actions in the temple carried deep symbolism. His actions were not driven by petty anger but were a prophetic declaration of God’s judgment.
 
The Role of the Temple
The temple in Jerusalem was more than just a religious center; it was a political, social, and economic hub. The temple had become the centerpiece of Jewish identity, where many believed God’s presence was uniquely manifested. Yet, as Jesus entered the temple courts, He saw that it had become a den of thieves. Money changers and merchants had set up shop in the outer courts, exploiting worshipers who came to offer sacrifices.
 
The outer courts were the only place where Gentiles could worship, and by turning this space into a marketplace, the religious leaders were preventing them from accessing God. This attitude of exclusion stood in stark contrast to God’s original intent for the temple as a house of prayer for all nations. Jesus references Isaiah 56:7, saying, “I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Jesus’ actions in driving out the merchants were not merely about cleansing the temple but were a symbolic act of judgment—much like His curse on the fig tree. Like the fig tree, the temple had an outward appearance of holiness but was corrupt and spiritually barren within.
 
The End of the Temple Era
Many interpretations of this passage suggest that Jesus was trying to purify the temple or restore it to its proper function. However, a closer reading suggests something more meaningful: Jesus was not just cleansing the temple but announcing its impending destruction. His actions were a prophetic sign that the temple's time was ending, just as the fig tree had withered. As the center of Jewish religious life, the temple was no longer necessary for meeting God. Jesus’ death and resurrection would create a new way for humanity to connect with God—one that depended not on rituals and sacrifices but on faith.
 
N.T. Wright summarizes this when he says, "By stopping this whole process (money changing, selling animals, etc.), even just for a short but deeply symbolic moment, Jesus was saying, more powerfully than words can express: The temple is under God’s judgment. Its reason for existing is being taken away."
 
The Fig Tree and the Temple: Judgment and Renewal
The two events—the cursing of the fig tree and the overturning of the tables in the temple—are deeply intertwined. Both speak to the failure of Israel’s religious system to bear fruit. The fig tree, barren despite its leaves, represents the temple, which had the appearance of holiness but was empty of true spiritual life. Jesus’ actions in both cases were acts of judgment, declaring that the time had come for a new era in God’s relationship with humanity.
 
The Church Today: Lessons from the Fig Tree
As we reflect on the symbolism of the fig tree and the temple, we must ask ourselves: Have our modern churches become like the barren fig tree and the corrupt temple? Are we merely giving the appearance of spiritual fruit while being inwardly barren?
 
In many ways, today's church faces the same dangers as ancient Israel. Just as the temple had become a symbol of exclusivity, where Gentiles were unwelcome, many churches today struggle with being open to outsiders. Have we, like the Israelites, become self-righteous, thinking of ourselves as God’s chosen while neglecting the mission to bring others to Him?
 
Too often, churches close their doors to different people, whether because of social status, personal struggles, or differing lifestyles. Rather than being places of refuge, some churches have become places of judgment. The message of the fig tree and the temple is clear: God desires fruitfulness in His people, and this means opening our hearts and doors to all who seek Him.
 
A Call to Bear Fruit
As Christians, we are called to be like the fruitful fig tree—not for our glory, but for God’s. Our churches should be places where people from all walks of life can find the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. We must guard against becoming like the temple of Jesus’ time, where ritual and appearance were more important than the heart of worship.
 
In Matthew 21:22, after the fig tree withers, Jesus tells His disciples that they can move mountains with faith. This is a reminder that spiritual fruitfulness is not about outward appearances but deep, abiding faith in God. Through faith, we can truly be the people and the church God has called us to be.
 
Conclusion
The story of the fig tree and the cleansing of the temple are not isolated incidents of Jesus acting out of character; instead, they are deeply symbolic acts of judgment and prophecy. Jesus was calling out the spiritual barrenness of Israel and its temple, and by extension, He calls out the same barrenness in us today. May we, as individuals and as the church, be ever mindful of our calling to bear fruit, to be a house of prayer, and to welcome all who seek the grace of God. Let us not be like the barren fig tree; instead, let us bear fruit that will last for the glory of God.

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