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creation of one new man. Which shall we believe, the Scriptures, or those who speak
against "dispensational" truth?
The Barren Fig Tree (Matt. 21: 19).
pp. 175, 176
The second miracle has also a dispensational character. Here is a symbol of Israel as a
nation, the fig tree. The fig, the vine and the olive represent Israel in various capacities:--
"And when He saw one single fig tree by the way, He came to it, and found
nothing thereon, but LEAVES ONLY, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee
henceforth for ever, and immediately the fig tree was withered."
In the prophecy of Luke the Lord separates the fig tree from all others--"Behold the
fig tree, and all the trees," (Luke 21: 29-31). The sign of the Lord's return is found in
the budding of the nation and all the nations; a day is coming when "Israel shall blossom
and bud and fill the earth with fruit" (Isa. 27: 6). At the time, however, when the
miracle was performed, the Lord found "leaves only". The crowd had spread their
garments in the road, had cut down branches from the trees and scattered them on the
road, they had shouted saying, "Hosannah to the Son of David"; but it was "leaves only".
The same crowd within a few days were prevailed upon to cry, "away with Him, crucify
Him". The Lord had foretold this (Matt. 13: 5, 6):--
"Some fell upon stony places where they had not much earth, and forthwith they
sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was up they were
scorched, and because they had no root, they withered away."
The Hosannahs were leaves only; the fruit depends upon root. The scorching sun
indicates persecution:--
"He that received the seed in stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and
anon with joy receiveth it, yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while, for
when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, immediately he is offended"
(Matt. 13: 20, 21).
The fig tree and those hearers on stony ground withered. Such was the parable of
Israel: they began to cumber the earth; soon the word would go forth, "cut it down".
Israel will bring forth no fruit until the age (translated "for ever").
It is deeply suggestive to us all to note the fact that the only miracle of judgment
which the Lord performed was upon a tree. Never did He work such upon a human
being. The only other occasion where anything resembling a judgment might be found is
the case of the swine which were choked. Yet here it was the swine, not the men, who
were drowned.
Thus these two miracles taken together speak of the blessing going out to the Gentiles,
and of the cutting off, for the time being, of an unfruitful people. In this case there are