Browse Bible Study Resources

Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 127 : The Withering of the Fig Tree

Text: Matthew 21
15 September 2024

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 15 SEPTEMBER 2024
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 21

Topic: The Withering of the Fig Tree

18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry.
19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”
21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.
22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Matthew 21:18-22

THE RETURN OF THE LORD JESUS TO JERUSALEM

1. He lodged in Bethany

2. He returned to Jerusalem for ministry

a) To teach
b) To heal
c) To preach the gospel of the kingdom

ON THE WAY TO JERUSALEM

1. He was hungry

2. He saw a fig tree by the road

3. It looked promising

4. But it did not bear any fruit

5. The Lord Jesus then said

“Let no fruit grow on you ever again.”

4. Immediately the fig tree withered away.

AN OBJECT LESSON FOR THE DISCIPLES

1. The fig tree

a) It is one of the symbols of Israel
b) The vine is another symbol Isaiah 5

2. The pronouncement

a) The fig tree was not productive
b) It might as well wither away
c) It withered away immediately

3. This was a lesson the Lord must have sought to teach the Disciples

a) About being fruitful
b) That Israel was unfruitful for a long time
c) One day, the nation would perish

THE SURPRISE OF THE DISCIPLES

1. This astonished the Disciples

a) They marvelled and then asked
b) “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”

2. They failed to see what the Lord sought to teach them

a) They were more struck by what they saw
b) The withering of the fig tree caught their attention instead

THE LESSON THE LORD JESUS SOUGHT TO TEACH THE DISCIPLES

21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.
22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Matthew 21:21-22

1. He wanted to teach them another lesson about Faith and Prayer

2. The Lord Jesus must have sought the Father in prayer first

3. Then He spoke with full faith in the power of God the Father

4. The Lessons the Disciples must learn:

a) The place of Prayer
b) The potential power of Faith
c) These lessons were not well learned by the Disciples!

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To desire to be fruitful

2. To cultivate two vital spiritual disciplines

a) Prayer
b) Faith