Matthew 21:18-22 - "The Cursed Fig Tree"

Christ has entered Jerusalem in the final week of His life. The city that should stand ready to receive her Messiah has proven to be His most stubborn opponent. The curse on the fig tree serves as a lasting memorial to what happens to all those who are likewise all show and no substance. Those who profess Christ but do not possess Christ are headed to a similar outcome. Christ is committed to removing sin and unbelief, and He starts with something as mundane as cursing a fig tree. After He explains what He has done, He instructs all of us to not only see the goodness of His judgment, but to actively pray for more of it. He points to the mountain in plain view and encourages His disciples that even this great symbol of power can and will be swallowed up by the sea of God's wrath. So, our charge this week is to actively participate in Christ's settled purpose to remove all unbelief, all idleness, and all obstacles that stand in the way of the advance of His kingdom.