God has laid out His judgment program for National Israel, the New Testament churches, and the world itself. From: Sundays Open Q & A Would you explain this verse please? Mattthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. ANSWER Heres a little more of the context: 18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. In this passage we find the following things in view: 1. Christ cursed a fig tree and it withered 2. Christ said they through faith would also do what was done to the fig tree (curse it) 3. They (disciples) would also through faith cast a mountain into the sea In a very interesting way, in these few short verses God has laid out His judgment program for National Israel, the New Testament churches, and the world itself. First, Christ cursed the fig tree (National Israel). We do know that they were Gods people for nearly two thousand years. But once Jesus went to the cross the veil of the temple was rent in twain and that action signaled the end of Gods association with Israel. At that point they ceased to be the holy people of God. Spiritually, it was as though they withered away. Jesus told the disciples they also would curse a fig tree through faith. This happened once the Lord opened up the Scriptures at the time of the end. Included in the increased knowledge He now made known to His people was the information of the end of the church age. The casting away of the N.T. congregations exactly as Israel had been cast away before it. Gods people believed and declared these truths by faith and thereby cursed the fig tree (this time representing the churches of the world). But Jesus said they would not only curse the fig tree (as He had done) but would do even more than that. They would say unto this mountain be ye cast into the sea and it would obey them. This points to the final judgment of Satans kingdom (typified as a mountain) of Babylon. God brought judgment on the world in a spiritual way exactly as He had done previously on the churches. Again, Gods people see this through understanding the Word of God--by faith. They likewise declare it by faith. And in doing so the world (mountain of Satans kingdom is cast into the sea (picturing the wrath of God).
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 12:59:27 +0000