The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 315

the fig tree plflnted in the vineye.rd, from Israel, when the times of the Gentiles are which the owner for three yoe.rs sought fulfilled (Rom. xi. 23-26). fruit in vu.in (Luke xiii. 6, eto.). Me.ny of Ver. 20.-They ma"elled, saying. The his subsequent discourses a.re, e.s it were, apostles' remark on the incident we.a made commentcuies upon this incident (see vers. on the Tuesday, BII we learn from St. Mark's 28-44; oh.xxii. 1-14; uiii.-xxv.). Here more e.ccura.te account. After Christ had we.a a pa.re.hie enacted. The Saviour had spoken his malediction, the little band went seen this tree, the Jewish Church, a.far off, on their way to Jerusalem, where was looking down upon it from heaven: it was performed the cleansing of the temple. On one, single, standing conspicuous among e.11 their return to Bethany, if they passed the nations as tbe.t whereon the Lord had tree, it wa.s doubtless too dark to observe lavished most ea.re, that which ought to its present condition, and it was not -till the have shown the effect of this culture in next morning that they noticed what had abundant produce of holiness and righteous- happened. St. Matthew does not name the ness.. But what woe the result? Boe.sting apostle who was the mouthpiece of the to be children of Abraham, the special others in expressing astonishment at the heritage of J ehove.b, gifted with highest miracle; he is satisfied with speaking gene- privileges, the sole possessors of the know- rally of "the disciples" (comp. eh. xxvi. 8 ledge of God, the Isre.elites professed to with John xii. 4). We lea.rn from St. ;\'lark have what no other people had, and were that it wrui Peter who me.de the observ;ition in reality empty e.nd bare. There was recorded, deeply affected by the sight of plenty of outward show-rites, ceremonies, this instance of Christ's power, and o.we- scrupulous observe.noes, much speaking- etruok by the speedy and complete o.ccom- but i;io real devotion, no righteousness, no plishmeut of the curse. :e:ow soon is the fig heart-worship, no good works. Other ne.l;ions, tree withered a.way! better, How did the jig indeed, were equally fruitless, but they did tree immediately wither away 'I Vu!ge.te, not profess to be holy ; they were sinners, Quo17t0do CO'lltinuo aruit t They saw, but e.nd offered no cloak for their sinfulness. could not comprehend, the effect of Christ's The Jews were no leas unrighteous; but word, and wonderingly ioqui:red how it came they were hypocrites, and boasted of the to pass. They did not e.t present realize good which they had not. Other nations the teaching of this parabolic act-how it were unproductive, for their time had not gave solemn warning of the certainty of come; but for Israel the season had arrived; judgment on the unfruitful Jewish Church, she ought to have been the first to accept which, hopelessly barren, must no longer the Messie.h, to unite the new with the old cumber the earth. Obrist did not help fruit, to pa.as from the Law to the gospel, them to understand the typice.l nature of and to learn and practise the lesson of faith. the transaction. He is not wont to explain Perfect fruit was not yet to be expected: in words the spiritual significance of his but Israel's sin was that she vaunted her miracles: the connection between mire.cie perfection, counted herself sound and whole, and teaching is left to be inferred, to be whilo rotten at the very core, and barren of brought out by meditation, prayer, faith, e.11 good results. Her falsehood, hypocrisy, and subsequent circumstances. The tote.I and arrogant complacencr were fearfully rejection of the Jews was a doctrine for punished. The terms o the curse pro- which the apostles were not yet prepared: nounced by the Judge are very emphatic. so the Lord, in wisdom and mercy, withheld It denounces perpetual barrenness on the its express enunciation at this moment. In Jewish Church and people. From Judma mercy too he exemplified the sternness and was to have gone forth the he111ing of the severity of God's judgment by infilcting n11tiona: from it e.11 peoples of the earth punishment on an iuonimate object, and not were to be blessed. The complete fulfil- on e. sentient being; he withered a tree, not ment of this promise is no longer in the a sinful man, by the breath of his mouth. literal Israel: she is nothing in the world: Ver. 21. - J"esua answered. To the no one resorts to her for food and refresh- apostles' question the Lord makes reply, ment: she he.s none to offer the wayfarer. drawing a lesson, not suoh e.s we should For eighteen centuries has that fruitless- have expected, but one of quite a different ness continued: the withered tree still nature, yet one which was na.ture.lly deduced stands, a monument of unbelief and its from the transa.otion which had excited such punishment. The Lord's sentence, " for astonishment. They marvelled at this ever," must be understood with some limita- incident: let them have and exercise faith, tion. In hie pare.hie of the fig tree, which and they should do greater things than this. adumbrates the last daye, he intimatee that Obrist had e.lready made a similar answer it eho.11 some day bud and blossom, and be after the ou:re of the demoniac boy (eh. xvii. clothed once more with leaf an1l fruit: ond 20, where see note). U ye have faith, and St. Paul looks forward to the eonversion of doubt not ()lot, 51C1Kp18;j,-,). The whole phrase 320 THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [CH. x:u. 1---4,8,