Many people find this incident with the fig tree baffling. Why does Jesus curse it? What did the poor tree do to deserve such judgment? What is even stranger is that it was not the season for figs, so Jesus had no reason to expect to find any. What are we supposed to learn from this?
The key to properly interpreting this story is found in a literary technique that Mark frequently uses throughout his Gospel.
Read More prayer, Temple, fruit, purity
Read Reflect Be silent as you enter the throne room of the Lord of Hosts today. Watch and wait in quiet awe and reverence so that you can see God in his righteousness. As you sit in silence, turn your eyes away from everything happening around you and contemplate your own life. Are there things […]
Read More cleansing, purity, silence, worship
Read Reflect There are two movements to the drama of the text: Jeremiah’s prayer and God’s response. Jeremiah’s prayer is one of desperation and anguish. He’s sick at heart and ready to call it quits (8:18). His people were distressed, depraved, and dislocated; with no hope of deliverance from God (8:19-20). All sense of consolation […]
Read More punishment, judgement, purity
Having turned the spotlight on sins which marred the believers’ witness, Paul calls them to face up to their guilt. Aware that he’s been appointed by Christ to be a witness to His people, he seeks to correct, comfort and guide them.
Read More faithfulness, purityPeter hasn’t quite finished warning his readers about the sinister and evil people in their midst. In the first half of this chapter he cited the examples of angels and of the people in Noah and Lot’s day to illustrate how evil deeds and choices will lead to condemnation.
Read More love, selfishness, purity, filth, alertness, evil