Mark 11:22 / 07-04-26

---

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God."

Mark 11:22

Amen!

The Lord curses a fruitless fig tree that is full of leaves but it was not the season of pigs(13, 14)

It is easy to misunderstand that Jesus cursing a tree that failed to bear fruit because it was not yet the right time is unjust.

To aid understanding, biblical scholars explain that fig trees bear fruit twice a year, in spring and late summer. They say that Mark recorded it as not being ready because the fruit in spring is small and unsweet, so hungry poor people pick and eat it, while only the fruit that ripens in late summer is eaten.

However, the Lord cursed this tree because it did not even have fruit for the poor to eat.

And Jesus drives out the merchants from the temple.

This is understood as a curse upon the vested interests of the temple—the high priests and scribes—who engaged in money transactions in the temple at the time; they did not care for the poor due to their unbelief and rejected Jesus. (11:18)

What about modern churches? I think it is similar to a situation where they build impressive buildings and install ATMs inside the sanctuary so people can withdraw cash for offerings.

The Lord says to those who saw the cursed fig tree that died, "Believe in God!"

Pure and sincere faith in God alone is required!

Believe in God!