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The next morning, when they departed Bethany and were traveling to the city, Jesus was hungry. Off in the distance, he saw a fig tree fully leafed out, so he headed toward it to see if it might have any ripe fruit. But when he reached it, he found only leaves because the fig season had not yet come. As the disciples listened, Jesus pronounced a curse on the tree. Jesus: no one will ever eat fruit from your branches again. …When evening came, they left the city again. The next morning on their way back into Jerusalem, they passed a tree that had withered down to its very roots. Peter (remembering): that’s the fig tree, Teacher, the one you cursed just yesterday morning. It’s withered away to nothing! Jesus: Trust in God. If you do, honestly, you can say to this mountain, “Mountain, uproot yourself and throw yourself into the sea.” If you don’t doubt, but trust that what you say will take place, then it will happen. So listen to what I’m saying: whatever you pray for or ask from God, believe that you’ll receive it and you will. When you pray, if you remember anyone who has wronged you, forgive him so that God above can also forgive you. If you don’t forgive others, don’t expect God’s forgiveness.  + Commentary Live as if what you’re seeking is coming true…. ….if you’re seeking God you won’t come up lost. And that’s the true meaning of honest, faithful prayer. We are becoming what we are seeking.  Don’t be like a fig tree that’s full leafed, as if there’s some fruit there, but really you just look productive.  If you’re truly a person of forgiveness, love, mercy, & justice—it will be known. And what the fig tree shows us is that when you rub up against Jesus, the embodiment of living out forgiveness, false pretenses won’t last.  True forgiveness is a posture, it is a way of life, it is not a reaction.
The next morning, when they departed Bethany and were traveling to the city, Jesus was hungry. Off in the distance, he saw a fig tree fully leafed out, so he headed toward it to see if it might have any ripe fruit. But when he reached it, he found only leaves because the fig season had not yet come. As the disciples listened, Jesus pronounced a curse on the tree.
Jesus: no one will ever eat fruit from your branches again.
…When evening came, they left the city again. The next morning on their way back into Jerusalem, they passed a tree that had withered down to its very roots.
Peter (remembering): that’s the fig tree, Teacher, the one you cursed just yesterday morning. It’s withered away to nothing!
Jesus: Trust in God. If you do, honestly, you can say to this mountain, “Mountain, uproot yourself and throw yourself into the sea.” If you don’t doubt, but trust that what you say will take place, then it will happen. So listen to what I’m saying: whatever you pray for or ask from God, believe that you’ll receive it and you will. When you pray, if you remember anyone who has wronged you, forgive him so that God above can also forgive you. If you don’t forgive others, don’t expect God’s forgiveness. 

+ Commentary

Live as if what you’re seeking is coming true….

….if you’re seeking God you won’t come up lost.

And that’s the true meaning of honest, faithful prayer. We are becoming what we are seeking. 

Don’t be like a fig tree that’s full leafed, as if there’s some fruit there, but really you just look productive. 

If you’re truly a person of forgiveness, love, mercy, & justice—it will be known. And what the fig tree shows us is that when you rub up against Jesus, the embodiment of living out forgiveness, false pretenses won’t last. 

True forgiveness is a posture, it is a way of life, it is not a reaction.