Regarding Jesus and the fig tree: Does the tree have free will?

Was the tree willfully disobediant to Jesus, thus invoking his wrath, or was Jesus just being mean because he didn't get his way with mother nature?

Regarding Jesus and the fig tree: Does the tree have free will?
Jesus had, by all accounts, a pretty hot temper.
Reply:I had to go reread the passage you're referring to. IIRC, it was Jesus demonstrating how important it is to have faith, and the importance of prayer. It wasn't so much the action of making the fig tree that was not producing fruit to wither, but rather have faith in God and that He will answer your prayers. Good fruit on a producing tree is valued, such as the person that prays and believes in what they pray for. Remember that (we believe) Jesus performed miracles of healing... and those he healed BELIEVED he would heal them, and so they were. They had to have genuine belief that prayer would work and bear them results. Result = fruit



Just for reference... here's the passage about the figs that I think is most important: (KJV, Matthew: 21: "Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive "
Reply:I have to check my Bible . I heard Joyce Meyer preach about that many times but I cannot remember right away. OK i found it....When the hungry Jesus saw that the fig tree had no fruit he said to it no one ever eat fruit from you again.The next morning it was withered.In the Fig tree when the tree has leaves it usually also has fruit. When Jesus saw the leaves he thought it would have fruit but when it did not he cursed it because it was phony. It is like Christians who have bumper stickers and go to church all the time and who wear a cross and profess their Christianity but do not have any fruits to show for it. They are phonies .When we are totally selfish we are like the fig tree that Jesus cursed. And we are like that to a degree but we don't have to be. We have to rely on Jesus and pray for him to help us do what is right and not be selfish so we can live a more blessed life and he will do it in us.
Reply:I believe that Yahoshua (Jesus) did this as an illustration. The tree from first glance appeared to be a very good, healthy tree that could have been beneficial to mankind and/or God.



I believe that it is an example of someone who professes to be a Christian but has no spiritual fruit and is not doing anything to benefit mankind, Yahoshua, or Yahveh (God).



These self-professed "Christians" will not like what happens when Yahoshua returns.



Mike R
Reply:It's the ZOT!! Principle. Jesus can call ZOT!!! whenever he wants, because he's (somehow) God and he's understandably irritable what with the pressures of the job and all.



I'm pretty sure he ZOTTED! some birds when he was a tyke, too. The little dickens! ::: chortle!:::



(Jesus ZOTS! Mac...she vanishes in a haze of steam)
Reply:you know, i've made yahoo answers questions about chopping down the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of life, apparently this is offensive
Reply:That Fig tree was Israel:It will Bloom and Produce Fruit again---2000 yr interlude or 2 Days;
Reply:Damn tree not giving fruit out of season.
Reply:Christ was behaving like a spoiled brat..just like his Father
Reply:The fig tree in scriptures is used as an illustration of the nation of Israel...they were barren of the fruit of a relationship with God...man outside of God will be withered and dead....that fig tree is still being talked about 2 thousand years later and has served a purpose for this illustration for many.