Re: Jesus Curses the Fig Tree (Mark 11:12-14) -
03-09-2009, 10:04 PM
Brother Jeb, Most instructive. If I may, may I refresh you on
Ec:3:1: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Ec:3:2: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
Indeed, Jesus could have produced a fig or two from nothing but the point would have been lost – hardly worth talking about. We can take it as read that Jesus knew the above verses.
Thus we see a subsidiary meaning in the parable: by attempting to pluck out of season, and then cursing the tree, Jesus shows that mankind is irrational in his vain attempts to understand the world and God and, further, that all mankind's frustrations too easily turn to anger instead of acceptance through Faith.
This theme is echoed in later verses:
Ec:3:10: I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
Ec:3:11: He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
Ec:3:12: I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
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