The parable of the fig

"Now learn the parable of the fig tree: When his branch is renewed and the leaves come out, ye know that summer is near. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near at hand. Verily I say that this generation shall not pass away till all this happens. Heaven and earth will pass away but my words shall not pass away "(Mt 24.32-35).
In addition to the olive, the vine and the bramble, the fig tree is an illustration of Israel, Judaism. These four "trees" are mentioned in a passage in Judges (9.8-15). Besides them, the pomegranate is also a representation of the Jewish people. Certainly the passage which expresses more accurately that the fig tree is an illustration of Israel is in Hosea 9:10, where God, the Lord says: "I found Israel like grapes in the desert, I saw your fathers as the first fruits of the new fig. .. " It is also clearly seen in Jeremiah 24.3-7: "Then the Lord asked me: What seest thou, Jeremiah? Replied: Figs, figs very good and very bad, that they are so bad, can not be eat. came to me the word of the Lord, saying, Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: The way I see why these good figs, so favor the exiles of Judah, I sent this place into the land of the Chaldeans. I will put on them in favor of the eyes and bring them back to this land, build them and I will not destroy you, I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them heart to know me I am the Lord; they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return to Me with all your heart. "
In addition, the fig tree contains a very profound prophetic sense, which is clearly seen in the prophetic words of Jesus when he speaks of His coming: "Now learn the parable of the fig tree: When his branch is renewed and the leaves sprout, know that summer is near. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that is near at hand "(Mt 24.32-33).
Next we consider Israel the fig tree in the light of Bible prophecy, asking us what we can learn from it: "Now learn the parable of the fig tree ..." Three symbols called my attention and I want to share them below:
  First performance: the fig tree as a teacher that teaches the right way, the path to true justice, legitimate and permanent
Where the fig tree (Israel) first appears in the Bible? Perhaps some readers will say that we find in Genesis 12 the call of Abraham as the first Hebrew, followed by his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel by God in Genesis 32.28: "Then said I not be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed. " It is correct that the name Israel appears here for the first time.
But I believe that the fig tree (Israel), the depth of the prophetic purposes of God's salvation ("Now learn the parable of the fig tree ..."), already appears on the front pages of the Bible, that is, in Genesis 3.7: "They opened up, then their eyes, and, realizing that they were naked, sewed fig leaves together and made girdles for themselves." According to my understanding, here we find the first mention of Israel as a fig tree in the Bible, ie the law of Israel, which can only cover sin.
In addition to the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:9), the fig tree ("... sewed fig leaves together and made girdles for themselves ") is the only tree in the garden of Eden mentioned by name. For me, the mention of the fig tree on the front pages of the Bible (along with many other trees paradise created by God, whose names are not cited) is a glorious figure of the election of Israel: "... the Lord your God, chosen you, that you were her own people, of all people that are upon the earth "(Deut. 7.6).
Adam and Eve had sinned and, therefore, recognized that they were naked. So they took fig leaves and covered his nakedness with these sheets. However, only so they could cover their guilt, but could not obtain forgiveness of his sin. This required a blood sacrifice, "the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them" (Gen. 3:21) This means that God killed two animals and with their skin, and covered the nakedness of the first two beings humans. The shed blood was used in this act for the forgiveness of sin.
So the very first pages of the Bible is prophetically revealed the entire Plan of Salvation. There he is still shrouded in mystery, but during other subsequent revelations became more clearly visible.
What we learn from this? 1. The fig leaves a link to another salvation, which is better and more perfect In Hebrews 7:19 it is written: ("... because the law never perfected anything), and on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, by which we come to God. " But who is the highest hope, above the law? The sacrifice provided by God in Jesus Christ on the cross!
According to my understanding, the belts of fig leaves indicate the need for a more definitive dress, which required a blood sacrifice, a better hope. After Adam and Eve sinned, they immediately knew they were naked and they should cover themselves: "... sewed fig leaves together and made girdles for themselves." But that was not enough before the holy God. So, full of mercy, he killed two animals and "the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them."
Exactly this is the meaning and purpose of Israel's Plan of Salvation. The fig tree Israel, from beginning to end, points to the heavenly salvation in Jesus Christ, the Great Sacrifice of God's justice. In Israel the law was given. But through it we recognize that we are sinners and fall short of the grace of God. Once Adam and Eve took the fig leaves, but found that these belts made by them could not save them from sin they had committed, and another who needed salvation.
Almost all of the Epistle to the Hebrews shows that ancient Israel in all its procedures, is an indication for Christ, that all their sacrifices point to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, and that the Jewish high priest of the Old Covenant is a reference to the true High Priest, final and eternal, Jesus Christ.
Israel under the law points to the grace (Gal 3:24). In Israel, under the law, sin could only be covered (fig leaves). But the sacrifice of Jesus, blood - that wonderful good news of salvation! - Sins are forgiven and taken away. The respect we read in Hebrews 9:26: "... and in this case, it is necessary that he had often suffered from the foundation of the world, but now surely, when the times is revealed once and for all, to annihilate, by the sacrifice of himself, the sin. "
2. For the fig leaves we see that the works of the law can not produce the righteousness which is worth before God Nowhere is this more clearly demonstrated than in fig Israel.Throughout the course of the history of this people, God showed the world that the law can not save.
But precisely this is the big problem in Israel today, as they continue to think that can be saved by works. But the Bible teaches clearly: "... by observing the law no one will be justified" (Galatians 2:16). In Galatians 3:10 it is expressed even more precise: "For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse ..." The apostle Paul addressed these words deeply serious in the first place to the believers in Galatia, that beyond the grace in Jesus Christ still wanted to take the laws of Judaism. ("... As Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together and made girdles for themselves), "now many try to gain the favor of God that the law or religious exercises. I knew, for example, a man who before he became Jesus prayed the "Our Father" 150 times a day. All who do such things strive in vain, for so are really "... under the curse." Given this, it sounds wonderful message of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (for it is written (Deuteronomy 21:23): Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree "(Gal 3:13) -" the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. "He made a heavenly salvation!
Hans Brandenburg once said: Legalism is the mistake of changing diagnosis for therapy ...Legalism always something in half. In general, choose a special point man who is willing to observe and keep, and then relies on the observance of law and presumed neglect communion with Jesus.
Just so Paul expresses when he speaks of the fig Israel: "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, do not subject themselves to the righteousness of God" (Rom 10:3-4).
What is your situation? Have you accepted the grace? Basically, everything is so simple: just go to the Lord Jesus Christ and give Him all our lives. In fact, this is already the step of repentance, when we recognize: "I am a great sinner." It is impossible to mention all the sins we have committed in thought, words and deeds during our lifetime. So come to Jesus Christ with all his life and tell Him: "I am a great sinner. Lord, I need you for my whole life - everything that was for everything, and everything come. I accept you now as my Savior. " Then suddenly you will experience what is true salvation - as this is the righteousness in Jesus, the righteousness which is of value before God!
In the very first pages of the Bible in the fig tree is shown as an illustration of Israel as a textbook teaching about God the true salvation. Just as the fig leaves Adam and Eve showed the desire of salvation - and beyond the full and sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Christ - Israel is given as an example that points to the redemptive grace. Through this people is clearly shown in the longing for salvation and satisfaction of this desire in Jesus Christ.
Second representative: the fig tree as a teacher who teaches about salvation
  In 2 Kings 20.5-7 the Lord says to His prophet Isaiah: "Go back and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears: behold I will heal you in the third day, ascend to the House of the Lord. add unto thy days fifteen years and the hand of the king of Assyria will deliver to you and this city, and will defend this city for my sake and for David my servant. And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs, and they took it and laid it on the boil, and he regained his health. "
What we learn from this? 1. The fig Israel exists for salvation Israel is like a lump of figs as a remedy for mankind, for all nations.But is not this in itself is salvation and blessing people on earth.Israel can only be a help for a sick world because of Him who comes to Israel and became the sacrifice for the world: Jesus Christ. This has been the plan of salvation between God and Abraham, when he spoke to the patriarch of Israel: "... in thee shall be blessed all the families of the earth." (Genesis 12.3b). Jesus is the Savior of the world, but it was Judaism that brought him to the world. This is the only raison d'etre of the Jewish people, which the Eternal of Israel he brought His Son Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world!
Botanists describe the fig tree as follows: - "It's clear twisted trunks with bark." In itself, Israel is crooked and rebellious, but shines through Jesus Christ. I had to think of Moses, which in itself was also "twisted". But when he returned from meeting with God, "the skin of his face shone" (Exodus 34.29).
- "The pergola extends in all directions and has leaves with five points." Israel became salvation for all peoples. The Gospel was first announced in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, but later, from Israel (fig tree) - in all directions, for all people. Leaves with five points, five is the number of grace. A lump of figs was placed on the diseased part of the body of Hezekiah, and he was healed.Five wounds that Jesus had become the world's salvation.
Is written in Isaiah 49.3: "... and I said, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified" (Isa. 49.3). Here we see the identification of Israel with his eldest son, Jesus Christ. The fig Israel in connection with Jesus, the Messiah, became the salvation for the world. For it is written further: "Yes, he says little is being my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the preserved of Israel: and gave you a light for the Gentiles, to bring my salvation to the end of the earth "(Is 49.6). Here the Word of God no longer refers to Israel itself, but the one who would come from Israel, Jesus Christ: "... little is being my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the preserved of Israel ... " Because Israel could not restore itself, nor could to bring back the remains of himself. And like the fig tree is Israel itself pie, only in its glittering Messiah, as is also evident that the following words refer to the eldest son of Israel: "... I also gave you a light for the Gentiles, for being my salvation to the ends of the earth. " That is why Jesus said in John 4.22b: "... salvation is from the Jews."
2. Prophetically seems already to have also outlines the future salvation of Israel - its own recovery ahead Let us return again to King Hezekiah, who was facing death, but tearfully begged the Lord to heal. God heard his prayer and commanded Isaiah, "Go and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears: behold I will heal in the third day, ascend to God's house. add unto thy days fifteen years and the hand of the king of Assyria will deliver to you and this city, and will defend this city for my sake and the sake of David my servant.Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs, and they took it and laid it on the boil, and he recovered his health "(2 Kgs 20.5-7).
Like Hezekiah, so Israel will still have to face mortal anguish. For the time of Great Tribulation the nations of the earth will turn against Israel and will gather at Armageddon to destroy it completely. But then these people in agony, like Hezekiah once, cry to the Lord with their last strength, "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Our Messiah, come and save us from our enemies!" He will hear and will save His people - Israel may go to the temple again (because Jesus will raise the temple of the Millennium) - He will defeat Israel's enemies and protect the city of Jerusalem.
Hezekiah's story fits into the context of God's statements about the future of Israel and the coming of Jesus. So maybe now we can see, the lump of figs, through which the health of Hezekiah was restored, a parallel restored the fig tree in Matthew 24: "Now learn the parable of the fig tree ..." And the statement: "... on the third day thou shalt go up to the house of the Lord," is quite interesting. Peter said: "There is however one thing, beloved, you must not forget: that to the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3.8). Since the first coming of Jesus in Bethlehem has been almost two thousand years (two days divine).It is in vain that 1948 years after God made Israel a nation again in the Promised Land, and in 1967 he returned to Jerusalem. Did Israel will rise again in the house of the Lord "third day"? We do not know the exact time of Jesus' coming for His Church, nor the day of His return for His people Israel. But we are witnessing today and the restoration of the fig tree, Israel is driven toward the cure. And our Lord expressly promised, "Verily I say unto you this generation shall not pass, till all this happens. Heaven and earth will pass away but my words shall not pass away" (Mt 24.34-35).
Third Representation: the fig tree as a teacher who teaches on the prophetic purposes of God's salvation In Luke 17.5-6 reads: "Then the apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith. The Lord said to them: If ye have faith as a mustard seed, ye shall say to this mulberry tree, uprooted and transplanted in yousea, and it would obey you. "
We must clarify that, as several authors, the mulberry tree is called here, actually the sycamore tree, the sycamore tree, the same tree that Zacchaeus climbed to see Jesus (Luke 19). A dictionary of the Bible says about: "The sycamore can reach 16 meters in height and reaches a circumference of 10 meters. The wood is hard, uniform and very durable, and after the cedar is the best wood for carpentry."
The Lord Jesus pointed to a big tree and said to his apostles were Jews, "If ye have faith as a mustard seed, ye shall say to this mulberry tree, uprooted and transplanted into the sea, and it would obey you." Certainly we can say that, in the prophetic sense, this is exactly fulfilled. That's what really happened to the fig tree Israel, in Jesus' time had become a proud people. The Israelis were uprooted from their Jewish homeland and thrown into the sea of ​​nations. This was a plan of salvation of God and became a blessing to people. Through the faith of the apostles, who were Jews, themselves descended from the fig tree, the Gospel was taken to the Gentiles.
The Bible says in Acts 13.46-47 on the transfer of the Gospel to the nations of Israel: "So Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, It was necessary that be to you, first be preached the word of God, but since you reject yourself and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For the Lord so ordered it in (Isaiah 49.6): I appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, that thou mayest be to salvation to the ends of the earth. " The spiritual rootlessness of Israel went up, then also the uprooting as a nation: in AD 70 Jews were uprooted from their land and scattered around the world.
The apostles had the faith to transplant the blessing of Israel into the sea of ​​nations. Their Messiah was brought in as the Christ.Once the Lord Jesus pointed to this fact by saying: "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God shall be taken and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof" (Matt. 21:43).
What seemed to mind - and with certain reservations, so was - became a blessing to the Gentiles. Paul speaks about in his words to the Jews, and thus explains that, according to Isaiah 49:6, it was necessary to become light and salvation to all nations. While the sycamore tree was transplanted to the sea of ​​nations, we become participants in the "blessing and sap saving" fig. In this regard Paul says in Romans 11:11: "Have they stumbled that they should fall? By no means, but by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles ..."
But Israel will not continue forever with their roots torn out. The prophetic word of the Bible promises the restoration fig tree in the land of his parents - what happens and will continue going on since 1948 - also with the blessing back to the land and the people of Israel. The fig tree again take root and will bear fruit. So Paul goes on to say: "Now if their transgression resulted in wealth for the world and your rebate in riches for Gentiles, how much more their fullness!" (V. 12). This new rooting of fig tree in Israel to their land and national spiritual restoration is also emphasized in Romans 9:26: "and the place where he told them: You are my people, there are even called the sons of the living God." Place that is spoken here? From the land of Israel!
So, finally everything comes together in the glorious promise of Micah 4.4: "But will sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken" (compare also Haggai 2:19). The sit under the vine and fig tree is a wonderful image of a life in peace assured.Now is not so, but Israel will be driven to it - in the millennium of Jesus Christ. Since the reign of Solomon pointed to the Millennium, where one day peace will reign: "Judah and Israel dwelt entrusted, each man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon" (1 Kings 4.25). This shall be done in a complete way when Jesus Christ returns to His people as the Messiah of Israel. So we pray: "Maranatha - come Lord Jesus!"
Author: Norbert Lieth