See for more themes.

fig tree pretending righteousness,

Q57: 64. "A Doomed People"

Show the Desire of Ages is inspired..

(1) Pretending righteousness..

The cursing of the fig tree was an acted parable. That barren tree, flaunting its pretentious foliage in thevery face of Christ, was a symbol of the Jewish nation.

Like the barren tree, they spread their pretentious branches aloft, luxuriant in appearance,and beautiful to the eye, but they yielded "nothing but leaves." The Jewish religion, with itsmagnificent temple, its sacred altars, its mitered priests and impressive ceremonies, was indeed fair inoutward appearance, but humility, love, and benevolence were lacking.

Mt 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

People need to understand, while Jesus loves sinners, He hates sinning, and a pretender pretending to have Jesus righteousness without Jesus fruit is the worst hypocrite.

What is the point of a tomato plant with leaves of righteousness, if there is no tomato fruit on it? If you over fertilize sweet potatoes or tomato plants, they grow very bushy with leaves, and promise no or little fruit for your effort. Sometimes too much of a good thing, is a bad thing, and blessings from Jesus can make us forget Him.

Yeshua 13:6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.

(2) Pretending selflessness..

The warning is for all time. Christ's act in cursing the tree which His own power had created stands as awarning to all churches and to all Christians. No one can live the law of God without ministering toothers. But there are many who do not live out Christ's merciful, unselfish life. Some who thinkthemselves excellent Christians do not understand what constitutes service for God. They plan andstudy to please themselves. They act only in reference to self. Time is of value to them only as they cangather for themselves. In all the affairs of life this is their object. Not for others but for themselves dothey minister. God created them to live in a world where unselfish service must be performed. Hedesigned them to help their fellow men in every possible way. But self is so large that they cannot seeanything else. They are not in touch with humanity. Those who thus live for self are like the fig tree,which made every pretension but was fruitless. They observe the forms of worship, but withoutrepentance or faith. In profession they honor the law of God, but obedience is lacking. They say, but donot. In the sentence pronounced on the fig tree Christ demonstrates how hateful in His eyes is this vainpretense. He declares that the open sinner is less guilty than is he who professes to serve God, but whobears no fruit to His glory. Desire of Ages, page 584.

The Spirit of Prophecy says ...They say, but donot.

Eze 33:31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

  • 32 And, lo, thou art unto t hem as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

    How well the SOP knows the Holy Writings... they say but they do not... speaking of so called Christians in Ellen White's own church, Jesus writes about us...do we really love Him to bear His fruits in us ?

    Ga 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

  • 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

    Do we have these fruits of Jesus via the Holy Spirit?

    Peter also lists things that make us fruitful in Jesus:-

    2Pe 1:5 � And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

  • 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
  • 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
  • 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    These things are gifts, or fruits of Jesus, when we spend quality time with Him. Pray and support Jesus words asking Him for this fruit in increasing measure.

  • How do we know we are saved? If we bear the fruits of Jesus in us.

    Mt 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

  • Mt 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

    Therefore pray for these fruits of Jesus.

  • Support Jesus words
  • Be kind like Jesus
  • Study the writings of Jesus
  • Live with temperance
  • Be patient in Jesus and others
  • Claim seed promises of Jesus
  • Let His wonders flow in you
  • Let His beauty shine in you
  • Show brotherly love
  • Show maleness love
  • Provide and protect others
  • Pray for joy in Jesus
  • Have Jesus' peace in adversity
  • Be longsuffering as Jesus was
  • Be gentle as Jesus was on earth
  • Be full of the good things of Jesus
  • Have meekness in Jesus
  • Walk as Jesus walked
  • Do as Jesus did on earth

    The next chapter of Desire of Ages..we look at "The Temple Cleansed Again"

    Desire of Ages theme

  • Created by Rob Thompson. Hosted since 10/01/2012.

    Visitors HOSTED by Prologic, my Son. A thin website.