TITHING

TITHING The Origin of Tithing There is no mention of giving any tenth of goods to a person, priest or God UNTIL Abraham. Lets go back to this first incident and examine carefully what took place. What we need to do is look at what exactly transpired with Abraham to see if this is the origin of the tithe as some of the prosperity seed-faith teacher’s claim. In Genesis 14 we have the first reference to tithing and this pre-dates the Mosaic Law. This was a unique incident and relates to a special person at a certain time. Gen 14:17-20: “at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.” This is the first time a tithe is mentioned in the Bible. Did Abram tithe of all that he possessed? No. The first thing you find is that the “everything” mentioned did not belong to Abram. It was the property of other people, including Abram’s nephew Lot, who was captured by the armies of the kings. Abram gave away ten per cent of other people’s captured goods. I was thanksgiving offering to God on behalf of the people who had been miraculously rescued. Lets step back a few verses. Genesis 14:16:  ”And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.” After rescuing his nephew Lot from the alliance of the kings with Chedorlaomer he gave Melchizedek, king of Salem a tenth of everything that he plundered. It was from the spoils of war. That was what the tithe came from. Abra[ha]m did not tithe from his personal possessions but the spoils of war.  And that is exactly what the New Testament says Hebrews 7:4:  ”Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.” A tithe was on what you earned, it was from your vocation (Lev. 27:30; Deut. 14:22-23,28; 2 Chron.31:5-6.) Abram and his small group of his servants went to battle these armies and won. Melchizedek the high priest of Salem recognized that God had granted this miraculous victory (v.20). He owned none of the property in question before the battle but was entitled to have the spoils as the victor. The king of Sodom even offered Abram the goods “Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” (Gen. 14:21) Abram’s reply v.22-23, “That I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich'—”except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.” Do you know of anyone who would do this that is into tithing for prosperity? But Abram refused to take any of it: “I will not take anything that is yours …” (v.23). The spoils he repossessed from the enemy kings went back to the owners, Abraham gave the remaining 90% in his possession back to those to whom it originally belonged. This event is NOT a tithe by command but a free will offering. Abraham was never taught or instructed by God to give a tenth, nor did he discover the law of tithing. This was a one time only event in his life. Abraham is recorded giving this tithe only ONCE in his lifetime. Abraham had not tithed of his own property or income, though at this time he was very wealthy and could do so He did not keep going back to Melchizedek to give. The idea of tithing to get something more by Abraham is not supported, he already had the goods. He gave them back. This has nothing in common with the teaching of seed faith giving, offering what you do not have, or that you should give ten per cent of your gross weekly income to anointed men or ministries for God’s blessings to come to you. If Abraham was being blessed through the tithing system, as some claim, why did he do this only once? He never repeated it again for the rest of his life, and neither did he teach this to any of his sons. According to the Bible tithing does not become a command until Moses’ time. This is ignored by today’s lawful tithers. Instead it is replaced by clever teaching on Abraham’s tithe to make it a requirement for the church. Abram gave a tenth to Melchizedek before the law of Moses as an act of faith in thanksgiving for his victory, it was not about income. In Genesis 14:20 The Hebrew word for tithe is ma`aser, translated “tenth,” but tenth does not equal tithing, (though a certain tithe is a tenth, again the whole tithe for Israel was much more-- 22%). Even if we were to find tithing before the law this still would not prove tithing is to be continued after the Cross when the new covenant was established. The tithe was incorporated in the Mosaic law, it was to train a nation to trust their God. A tithe can be a tenth of anything. Ten percent of; fruit trees, crops, oil, wine, garden, livestock, land, houses (according to 2 Kings 22:15-18), and it was not something you chose out of all you had, you had to give the best of everything. Therefore, if you have a number of parcels of land, and you were to tithe, you must give your best acreage. If you have built your house on it, kiss it goodbye. That is tithing according to the Bibles teaching. (Prov. 3:9-10; Exod. 23:19; Deut. 18:4; Num. 18:12-13). The next time a prosperity teacher solicits your best, ask him what best he has given in the last week. They are the ones that own land and houses and cars, what did they give from these? Just because a tenth is mentioned does not mean it is a tithe. We need to go back to when God first instituted it as a requirement of law for the people. We find the Bible states the Law came through Moses not Abraham (Jn.1). Moses introduced the tithe because of the priesthood and the sacrificial system as Israel was to be a theocracy. Leviticus 27:30: “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.  Verse 34: “These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.” Numbers 18:21-26: “Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.” The nation of Israel lived by their agriculture (Husbandry) and depended upon the rain. God’s blessing in relation to the tithe had to do with his provision of water; no rain and they would starve (Mal.3). If they did not give God their tithes which was part of the conditional blessing in the Mosaic covenant God would bring a curse upon them, the ground would not yield food because he would not allow it to rain. Tithing was Israel’s moral obligation in order for God to bless the work of their hands. Did Jacob Tithe? Genesis 28: 20:  ”And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” Does Jacob giving God a tenth prove that tithing was practiced before Moses? NO. Jacob vowed a vow to God for safe passage, for food and clothing and this promise was conditional. Tithing was not a conditional act, it was like a tax for the nation Israel. Again this is one time occurrence, it is never mentioned again in Jacob’s life. There was no Levitical priesthood or tabernacle that would be necessary for a tithe. Just because a tenth is mentioned does not mean it is a tithe. Tithing is something you do regularly not on a conditional basis, not once in a lifetime nor once a year. God had Moses introduce the tithe because of the priesthood and the sacrificial system and Israel being a theocracy. If tithing was before the Law then it should apply apart from the Law. The Bible says that tithing was of the Law 400 years after Abraham. The Bible does not say that Abraham was commanded to give a tithe; the Bible does not say that Jacob was commanded to give a tithe. In fact, before Moses and the Law, the Bible does not record anyone giving tithes to God as a yearly, Monthly or weekly practice. There is No such command. If Christians are to be practicing tithing today because of Abraham then we are also obligated to keep everything that occurred before the law! Circumcision was given to Abraham before it was incorporated in the Law of Moses. Abraham and Jacob were circumcised because God told them to. By the same standard of tithing, if circumcision was practiced before the Law then circumcision should be practiced after the Law. The same observance applied to tithing should be applied to circumcision. However the New Testament says that circumcision was of the Law and need not to be observed by Christians, we are circumcised in our heart when we believe in Jesus (Paul says in Galatians 3 not to keep the law). Does God still require 10% of your money today? (remember tithing was not money, in fact it rarely was). The word “tithe” is used 13 times in the Bible. Not once do you see the word “money” used with it. The word “tithes” is used 21 times in the Bible. The word “money” is not mentioned.  It has become this because of our system we use today, but this was not strictly so for Israel. 2 Chronicles 31:4-5: “Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.” Giving a tithe (a portion) was not just a practice by Israel, in ancient history it was practiced throughout the Middle East. It was income for the king and his kingdom, like a tax. It may be regular, voluntary or prescribed by law of a certain country. The Egyptians were required to give a fifth part of their crops to Pharaoh (Gen. 47:24). Abraham, Jacob and others were familiar with this principle being in foreign lands; however, it was not yet given as a command for their nation. The total giving required amount of giving was not 10 percent (that was specific tithe), but over 22% for the nation. All the goods were used to operate the nation; tithing was instituted by God to support Israel as a theocratic state. There is a difference of obeying the Old covenant laws that were practiced because of the temple and the priesthood. Tithing was instituted for the tabernacle in Moses’ day, not for a church building.  There was only one place for Israelites to worship God when they were in the land, the Temple.  “Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting” (Numbers 18:21). It is the Old Covenant Laws that were given to the Israelites to perform animal sacrifice today. Animal sacrifice with offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings etc. Why are we taught that we should no longer be doing animal sacrifice today but we should still be tithing? The law of Moses was a unit that cannot be divided, either we keep it all which brings us out from the new covenant or we separate from it all and keep the new covenant. What of Malachi 3:9? If we are to be cursed for not keeping a certain portion of the law of Moses, then we are cursed for not keeping the other 613 laws included in the law. New Testament Giving or Tithing? Tithing was still practiced in Jesus’ ministry on Earth (Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42) for the simple reason Israel was under the law. The only time Jesus mentioned the tithe was a rebuke to the religious leaders “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.” In Matthew 23:23 he explains they “have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.” These you ought to have done.” Certainly he had in mind the idea to help those in need (Deut. 14:27-28; 26:12) the poor and the strangers that were among them. Each time the word tithe or tithes appears in the New Testament it is in reference to the Old Testament law they were under. Under the Old covenant God promised blessings for Israel’s obedience to the commandments and curses for their disobedience to the commandments. In the New Testament, once the new covenant is established to tithe is being disobedient, to give freely is being obedient. It is true that walking faith brings some blessings, for obedience and servanthood is what God desires. As believers, we all receive certain blessings because we are under grace. The Bible even teaches because of God’s general grace “ for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt 5:45). Everybody receives some blessings even if they do not tithe. But what happens when we go out from walking under grace to being under the law? (you can’t do both at the same time Gal. 3:23-25; Heb. 8:13). The Law was meant to be our schoolmaster (Gal. 3:24), and meant to bring us to Christ who is the mediator of the New Covenant to set us free from the Old. This is very serious to be brought back under what God has set aside to inoperable by the New Covenant. Tithing is of the law. If you tithing in according to the law then you are acting as if the law has not been abolished for the believer. Acts 15:24: “Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment.” Tithing was part of the law to ISRAEL- NOT the Church. God sought to kill Moses because he had not obeyed (Ex.4:22-23)  the command He gave to Abraham (Gen 21:4), to circumcise his son. But not once do we read of Moses obeying the tithing command before the Tabernacle and priesthood laws were given. We see no reaction from the Lord on this. Why? Because they were not given a tithing command--until-- the Tabernacle and priesthood laws were given. Why do some people want to resurrect the laws that were to point to Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. Why do some divide the law up into pieces instead of following ALL of the laws given to the Israelites in the Old Testament? You can’t obey only part of the on giving the tithe (again it was 22% not 10%). We can’t obey because we as New Testament believers have no temple or Levitical priesthood, we are under a completely different system. New Covenant Christians do not have to tithe in order to please God.  The intention of our heart is what God is looking at more than the amount we give. Ephesians 1: 3 says “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” We have the blessings by GRACE. Those who hold the position of tithing for the church are confused of its purpose and history. No Christian should be coerced into giving a set amount to receive God’s blessings. The simple reason is that it removes them from walking in grace and puts them under the law. The Pharisees tithed and watched what people gave, and they continued to tithe as the church was birthed. The church did not tithe. “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”(1 Cor. 16:1-2). Notice Paul says the collection for the saints. This is not necessarily a weekly tithe but appears to be a collection for others in need. Those saints in other areas that were in need of financial help, from one church to another. “A contribution made by the rich for the relief of the poor (from Adam Clarke's Commentary). “A contribution, or collection of money for a charitable purpose (from Barnes' Notes). And what of the commands of helping the poor? Instead, we only hear about robbing God if we do not tithe. You are still sinning if you have something to give, and are selfish towards those in need. God would rather see people serve and participate willingly then be under compulsion to give large amounts of money to others to do the work. “Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Tim. 6:18-19; Gal.5:13) Numerous needs go unmet inside our churches. We need to give to brethren who are in need, not just give to big ministries so they can become bigger. They are not the only ones who do God's work. The principle of tithing in the Old Testament was to benefit those in need as well:  Deuteronomy 26:12: “When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled.” Deut. 14:27-28:  ”You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you.  ”At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates.” Have you seen any ministry that insists on tithing do this? Why not, it is part of the tithing law. Are you listening to the “TV evangelist” telling you to sow your seed for your need? Promises, promises… Paul writes, “For there are many unruly, vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucere's sake” (Titus 1:10-11). The most ingenious, imaginative ways were invented for gaining money. Tetzel was sent to the people to help raise funds to build Peters Basilica by bringing the law of indulgences to the people and it is no different today. Only then, the Roman Catholics did not have the Bible in their native languages to read; today we have no excuse as Protestants. The words of Hosea continue to echo to us today, (4:6) “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge.” Bible knowledge is he is referring to. New Testament believers are never commanded to tithe but to give (the amount is between you and the Lord). Consider the story of Ananias and Sapphira that has been used and abused in so many ways-- Acts 5:1-4: “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? “While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” This was not about tithes but a freewill promise they made and they did not keep their word. This does not mean as some claim every time you intentionally lie you will be judged so you must keep your vows (though we should have no intention of doing so); not if you were manipulated by lies into keeping the vow. Consider what Paul wrote to Timothy the young pastor of Ephesus, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Timothy 6:6-11). If someone is always talking about mammon, then they are not serving God. You cannot have two masters. New Covenant Principles The guideline for our giving to God and His work is found in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7: “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.” Grace means freedom- law means obligation. We should give back to God as he prospered us, as we purpose in our hearts. The epistles are the teachings for the church. They contain numerous instructions, corrections and rebukes. Not one of these letters have tithing taught or practiced for the Church--The tithe is not mentioned as an obligation. Tithing is mentioned in the book of Hebrews which was written to Jewish believers in the Messiah, not to Gentile churches. The word “tithes” is found four times in Hebrews chapter 7, more than all the epistles combined. (Heb.7:5, 7:16, and 7:18.) The New Testament focuses on our High Priests ministry of Jesus Christ of whom Melchizedek was pre-figured in type (Heb. 7:2, 4, 5-9). Abraham's tithe in Hebrews 7 is mentioned to explain the greater priesthood of Christ, it is not teaching the practice of tithing to the Church. Hebrews 7:5: “And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham.” (Heb. 7:9-10 Levi was in the loins of his father when Abraham met the priest of Salem.) Only the sons of Levi were to receive tithes. This means if we do not have a Levitical priesthood we have no right to ask for tithes as if they are obligated to the church. In other words, the Levitical priesthood was instituted with the tabernacle, and the Temple-- not the church. God has given a new priesthood to the church-- according to the order of Melchizedek. Again, what was given to this priesthood was a freewill offering of the spoils, not a portion of Abram’s income. For the writer of Hebrews says, 7:11-12: “Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.” Heb 7:16: speaks of the new priesthood “who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.” It continues V.18  “For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness.” Now here we find something interesting, the very place many find the origin of tithing actually denies it continual practice because of its association with the law. The Jewish believers were under grace just as the gentiles were and they were told that the law ended! There is a disannulling of the commandment. The Levitical priesthood was not perfect, therefore it was necessary for a change in the priesthood, and a change of the law. Hebrews 7:5 tithing is called a fleshly, (carnal) ordinance, according to the law because of it association with a priesthood that is no longer in effect. Jesus’ priesthood is superior, having the power of an endless life, not in relation to a covenant that was temporary (Heb.8:13). Verse 18 disannulling (abolishment) of the commandment going before (what commandment is he referring to? The one mentioned in chapter 7, v:19 “for the law made nothing perfect.” (This includes the commandment to take tithes). Tithing is abolished according to the New Testament (discontinued, obsolete). V.19 continues “on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” V.22 “by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.” The question that needs to be answered by every individual is: which covenant do you want to be under? Throughout the history of the Church many have attempted to apply portions of the Mosaic Law and incorporate it into the practice for the church. The Judaizers did it with circumcision, and other portions of the law. The Galatians listened to the Judaizers, as many listen to the lawful tithers of our day. The same words apply “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you” (Gal. 3:1). The law is obsolete (Heb.8:13). We are under the law of the Spirit which speaks of liberty, not the Old Testament law, which obligates tithing as well as many other things. The same people that impose their false interpretation of “for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2 Cor. 3:6) bring people back under the law to extract money from their pocket for their ministry support. This is confusion, not rightly dividing the word. The Pharisees, who loved money, became blind because they upheld their own laws and interpretations over Moses’ law, and were stricter at enforcing them. We essentially have the same thing going on today with new concepts of how coerce people to give, now it goes far beyond tithing. They call it seed faith, the Bible has nothing to say on this. No Apostle ever instructed the church to sow a seed, (which is actually the word according to Jesus) of money, and wait for a hundredfold harvest to come in. (according to the prosperity teachers- If it isn’t a hundredfold then it is still to be used as seed again.) They solicit funds by asking the people to open up your heart (which usually means your wallet) and give to the work that God is blessing so mightily. “Give, pressed down and shaken together” as they promise God will give to you abundantly after you give to them; “you can’t out give God,” and they promise a “100 fold blessing,” “Give this amount now because there is an unusual anointing here,” or “whatever God gives to me will give to you if you partner with me.” The Bible says in Proverbs 21:6: “Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.” Your cup runneth over with such lying words and false promises. You will always find that those who promote the “give to get concept” will use the Old Testament. They will interpret the new in light of the old, not the old in light of the new. God deals with our motives and he sees the people using His word for ill gotten gain. We need to see the manipulation taking place and  make people aware that they are giving their money to those who buy new cars, jets, houses and live a luxurious lifestyle. We should support ministries, big or small, but we need to look into how the money is actually being spent. We are supposed to be servants, not live like kings. Pause and think about it; go to the Scripture to see how the apostles lived and what they taught the church. In Exodus 36 Moses asked the people for offerings to help build the tabernacle, but even then it was not tithes, they gave willfully and cheerfully. The people gave so much that Moses finally asked them to stop giving. Have you ever heard someone into seed faith say stop the giving? The New Testament believers are to operate by grace giving not tithing by law and we are certainly not to be ruled by made up prosperity promises by money hungry men.    A majority of churches practice tithing more as principle. It may be a matter of semantics when they collect tithes and offerings. What is often meant is that they are making a distinction between regular support of the local church and giving more as one has been blessed. But there are some that are very legalistic and make tithing a matter of proving one is saved. They condemn the people for not being obedient and basically spiritually abuse them.  The Bible is clear that we should give to God’s work, but not because we are obligated to keep a tithing law that is under the Old covenant.  We are to give freely as we so choose. The New covenant asks that we give our lives as living sacrifice to Him who bought us, not just 10% of our money, according to our reasonable service (Romans 12:1). Under the law if your giving only 10% of your money you would still be robbing God. Actually, they rob themselves, because God's blessings can only come through grace-giving.   The law has passed away (Heb.8:13) we are under grace. If you have to keep the law then you must keep it all. The law and grace are two completely different systems and two completely different covenants. Romans 8:4: “That the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Tithing was required by the Law; giving is what we do not according to the Law but according to grace. Our answer is not to go back under the Law but to be under grace. Grace is given to us and we choose how much to “give,” this is not to be confused with a command to “tithe.” God will bless if you have your faith in the right thing, not false promises. It is impossible to keep the tithe exactly as Moses' law commanded: since it was largely agricultural and it was specifically for the nation Israel.  If you don't tithe is it a sin?  If you barely have enough to live on it is not the same as someone who has all their needs met and can easily give. So do not become overwhelmed with guilt by men who bring fear of judgment to you.  Again, “Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Everyone should support the work of their local church some way, by their serving, their money, their gifts or talents they have. “Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life”(1 Timothy 6:18-19).

Jesus and the Fig Tree

Jesus and the Fig Tree

by Britt Gillette

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Throughout the centuries, people have longed to know which generation will witness the return of Jesus Christ. Interestingly, the answer to that question appeared in the form of a fig tree nearly two thousand years ago.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

Both the Gospels of Matthew and Mark tell the following story of Jesus and His encounter with that fig tree:

"In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs on it, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, 'May you never bear fruit again!' And immediately the fig tree withered up. The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, 'How did the fig tree wither so quickly?' Then Jesus told them, 'I assure you, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, 'May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and it will happen. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer" (Matthew 21:18-22, NLT).

Although not spoken to His disciples in the form of a parable, this story about the fig tree and its lack of fruit strikes at the heart of the gospel message.

The Meaning of the Curse

The disappointment of Jesus with the fig tree is an extremely significant event. At first glance, one might think Jesus is merely upset with an actual tree that failed to feed Him when He was hungry. But the fig tree and its fruit play a much larger role. They are symbols of the nation of Israel and its faith.

In Jeremiah 24, the people of Israel are compared to figs, both good and rotten. When Jesus cursed the fig tree, He symbolically placed a curse on Israel. The reason for the curse is straightforward. The fig tree (Israel) failed to bear fruit (faith), even though its leaves indicate it was in season (the appointed time for the coming of the Messiah). Due to its lack of fruit, the fig tree withered. Likewise, Israel's lack of faith when presented with her Messiah led to her eventual destruction at the hands of the Romans in ad 70.

What Is Good Fruit?

Jesus cursed the fig tree because of its refusal to bear fruit, and in so doing, He makes it clear that He expects His followers to bear fruit as well—and not just any kind of fruit, but, specifically, good fruit.

If Jesus expects us to bear good fruit, it's essential to know what constitutes good fruit in the first place. What is good fruit? And how do we bear it? Paul defines "good fruit" in his letters to the Galatians and the Philippians:

"But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT).

This is the fruit we should produce: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Why? Because ultimately, the good fruit we bear comes from faith in Jesus Christ:

"May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God" (Philippians 1:11, NLT).

Good fruit should never be confused with the world's definition of good works. Good fruit is born in the heart and blossoms outward into the world. Its only motive is Jesus Christ. But good works as defined by the world can have many motives, sometimes even evil motives. Yet, no matter how justified we feel in our own eyes, God will always measure our inner motives, never our outward deeds. Placing our trust and faith in Jesus Christ will inevitably produce the good fruits Paul mentioned in his letter to the Galatians. When we exhibit these good fruits, the world will witness through our lives the glory that is Jesus Christ.

Good Fruit vs. Bad Fruit

To make sure we're producing good fruit and not bad fruit, we need to know how to tell the difference. Before He placed the curse on the fig tree, Jesus warned His disciples to beware of false prophets and teachers. In fact, He used fruit as a metaphor for identifying the righteous from the evil, explaining that if a tree doesn't bear fruit, it will be chopped down and thrown into the fire:

 "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You don't pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. A healthy tree produces good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced" (Matthew 7:15-20, NLT).

A good tree will bear good fruit, and a bad tree will produce rotten fruit. Therefore, you can always identify the righteous and the evil based on what they produce.

God's great commandment is to believe in the one He has sent. Those who do will bear good fruit as a natural result. This is because Jesus is the branch on which all good fruit grows, and His righteous branch can't help but bear good fruit. Long ago, the prophet Isaiah identified the Messiah as the branch of Jesse:

"Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot--yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root" (Isaiah 11:1, NLT).

If the generation that rejected Jesus had instead made Him the basis of their faith, the very root of their spiritual sustenance, then they would have borne good fruit that is pleasing to the Lord.

So what do good fruit, bad fruit, and a barren fig tree have to do with the timing of the Second Coming of Christ? To find out, we must first understand why the fig tree had to wither.

The Withered Fig Tree

Why did the fig tree have to wither in the first place? Why did the generation which witnessed the birth of Christ lack faith in God's promise of the coming Messiah? They committed to memory the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament, and they knew the exact year in which the Messiah would appear in Jerusalem. Yet, because they lacked faith, they failed to recognize the time of His Coming. As a result, an entire generation failed to produce fruit for the Messiah. But why?

Although the Jews didn't plan to reject the Messiah, God did have a plan. His plan was to spread the salvation of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. Israel's lack of faith was integral to this process, providing the catalyst for God to offer this salvation to the Gentiles as well. As a result, the salvation God had previously reserved for the Jews alone was offered to the entire world:

"For since the Jews' rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, how much more wonderful their acceptance will be. It will be life for those who were dead! And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their children will also be holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too. But some of these branches from Abraham's tree, some of the Jews, have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, were grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in God's rich nourishment of his special olive tree. But you must be careful not to brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. Remember, you are just a branch, not the root. 'Well,' you may say, 'those branches were broken off to make room for me.' Yes, but remember—those branches, the Jews, were broken off because they didn't believe God, and you are there because you do believe. Don't think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the branches he put there in the first place, he won't spare you either. Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe to those who disobeyed, but kind to you as you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. And if the Jews turn from their unbelief, God will graft them back into the tree again. He has the power to do it. For if God was willing to take you who were, by nature, branches from a wild olive tree and graft you into his own good tree—a very unusual thing to do—he will be far more eager to graft the Jews back into the tree where they belong" (Romans 11:15-24, NLT).

When Israel rejected Jesus Christ, she opened the door to salvation for the Gentiles. But God never forgot His promise to Israel, and He promises the day will come when Israel will fully embrace the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

A Second Chance for Israel

Just as Paul stated in his letter to the Romans, the Lord hasn't forgotten Israel. She will have one more chance to bear fruit for her Messiah, and this opportunity is the key to understanding the hour of Christ's return. Jesus illustrates this when He tells a parable about a planted fig tree:

"Then Jesus used this illustration: 'A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, "I've waited three years, and there hasn't been a single fig! Cut it down. It's taking up space we can use for something else." The gardener answered, "Give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I'll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, you can cut it down."'" (Luke 13:6-9, NLT).

For three years, Jesus spread His message throughout Israel, performing miracles, exhibiting unprecedented knowledge of the Scriptures and offering ample evidence of His claim to be the long-awaited Messiah. Yet despite three years of testimony, Israel refused to believe in the one who was sent.

According to this parable, Israel will get one more year with "special attention and plenty of fertilizer." If she still fails to bear fruit, she will be cut down (destroyed).

As Jesus reveals, Israel will be given a final chance to exhibit faith in Him in the last days, just prior to His glorious appearing. To do so, Israel must first become a nation once again, a miraculous feat that took place in May 1948. The reestablishment of Israel as a nation is the foremost sign to our generation that Christ's return is imminent. And that's why the fig tree is the key to understanding which generation will witness His Second Coming. Through the nation of Israel, God has given the world a sign that is impossible to ignore. Nevertheless, most of the world has chosen to ignore it.

The Sign of Our Generation

In the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24), Jesus revealed to His disciples that the primary sign of the end of the age and His soon return would be the restoration of Israel as a nation. However, He didn't plainly say so. Instead, He once again used the fig tree as a metaphor for the nation of Israel:

 "Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near. Just so, when you see the events I've described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I assure you, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever" (Matthew 24:32-35, NLT).

The fig tree is Israel. It's been six decades since Israel was once again declared a nation against all worldly odds. In Matthew 24, Jesus promises that the generation that witnesses the reestablishment of Israel will not die off until the end of the age comes to pass. Given the Bible's impeccable track record, we have every reason to expect His imminent return. Jesus will return soon, within our generation, and a wise person will prepare accordingly.

Just as the time of His first coming was clearly revealed to the previous generation, the season of His return has been clearly revealed to ours. The previous generation was unprepared for His arrival. Ours should be watching with a patient and enduring faith, fully confident in the glory we are about to witness. Christ is coming. The fig tree is in bloom, and ours is the generation.

Britt Gillette is founder of BrittGillette.Com, a website examining the relationship between Bible prophecy and emerging trends in technology. For more information or to sign up for his email alerts, please visit http://www.brittgillette.com.

Jesus - The way, Truth and Life

"I Am the Way"

Christ is the way to the Father. A way is a path, a route, a roadway. Some say, "How can I know the way when one preacher tells me one way and another some other way? Dear friend, the Lord did not say, "The preacher, or the Pope, or mother or father is the way," but "I am the way." Dear friend, do not follow this preacher or that, or the Pope, or anyone else, but the Lord Jesus himself. He is the Way.

We have all, some time or other, followed a marked path to a given destination. I read a story of one of our pioneer preachers riding horseback along a road in unfamiliar territory, when he came upon a barricade with a sign warning that the bridge was out. Distressed, he lookedabout to study just how he might proceed when he saw what appeared to be a marker showing the way. He went to investigate and sure enough just before he reached the first marker he could see the next, and so on through the heavy wooded section of the river bottom. By following the marked trail he was able to pass through the unfamiliar territory and reach his destination. Just so with the Lord Jesus; he is the marked trail  "the way" through this old sinful world to the wonderful city of God and to bosom of the Father. He says, "Follow me and I will take you to the Father."

Christ is the only way to the Father. "No one comes to the Father but by me." Hence, he is not only the way, but he is the only way to the Father. This way is referred to as the "the way of God," "the way of salvation," the way of truth, and "the way of holiness" (Acts 18:26; Matt. 22:16; Acts 16:17; John 14:6; Isa. 35:8; etc.). Our Lord said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Many say that it doesn't matter what doctrine you believe just so you have Christ, but dear friend, God tells us, "Whosoever . . . abideth not in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ hath both the Father and the Son (2 Jn.9). Yes, indeed, it does make a difference what you believe. Again, the Lord said, "But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matt. 15:9); and "Every plant (doctrine or practice) which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up" (Matt. 15:13-14). Any doctrine that is not found in the Word of God is "of men," not God. All spiritual blessings are in Christ (Eph. 1:3). We have redemption through his blood in Christ (Eph.1:7; Col. 1:14). We must be "in Christ" to be a "new creature" (born again) (2 Cor. 5:17), and we get in Christ by being baptized "into" Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27), and we are "born again" by "obeying the truth" (1 Pet. 1:22-23; Rom. 6:17-18).

There is no other way. All religion that seeks to "come unto the Father" in some other way than in and through Christ (Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, etc.) is doomed to failure, according to this word of Christ (John 14:6). Again we hear the Lord say, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not My words (the gospel of the New Testament), hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48); and all who "obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . shall be punished in flaming fire with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord" (2 Thess. 1: 8-9). This also applies to those who claim to believe in Christ, but reject his teaching. The Lord further said, "Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Many teach that it doesn't make any difference what you believe, or whether you are baptized or not, or "how" or "why" you are baptized, or whether you worship or not and how you worship, etc. Such people are not following Christ, the way, but their own way the way of their choice. The way of Christ is the way of truth. You must believe what Christ tells you to believe, the truth, the gospel (Mk. 16:15; 1 Thess. 2:13); you obey Christ's command to be "buried" in baptism (Rom. 6:3-4), "to be saved" (Mk. 16:16), "for remission of sins" (Acts 2:38), to get "into Christ" (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27) who is the true way; and he will add you to the church he established (Acts 2:41,47), not some de-nomination (Acts 20:29-39; Gal. 1:6-9); and you worship the way Christ tells you to worship (John 4:23-24).

"I Am the Truth"

Truth is truth only because of God. Without God there would be no right or wrong, or truth. Truth, righteousness, holiness, light, and love, in any and all fields, whether mathematical, logical, moral (ethical or religious) are all basically the same thing  just different aspects; and they all derive their meaning from the inherent nature and character of God, who is the origin, source, and essence of each. The statement that two and two make four, or that honesty is good and lying is bad, expresses an everlasting principle in the eternal character of God. God and Truth have the same attributes and character; things equal to the same thing are equal to each other. God and truth are both eternal, immutable, perfect, unchanging, accurate, consistent, immortal, infinite, incorruptible, harmonious, faithful, reliable, trustworthy, dependable, right and righteous. Men can say, "I speak the truth," but only God can say, "I am the truth." The God of the Bible is the only true God because no other being possesses these attributes. Jesus Christ is one with the Father. To know Jesus is to know the Father. To "see" Jesus is to "see" the Father. He is not speaking of the fleshly body. The words of Christ are the words of the Father. The Father is in Christ and he is in the Father.

"I Am the Life"

God is life. In every nook and cranny of the world around us there is abundance and variety of life  living things. Among the millions or billions of kinds of life, human life stands out in uniqueness and singularity. God tells us this is because it alone is a combination of physical life and spiritual life (Gen. 1:26; 2:7). All life is from God (Gen. 1; Psa. 36:9; Acts 17:24-29). Something is eternal. Something cannot come from nothing, therefore some-thing has always been. All that is in existence had to be in that eternal "something." Hence, that which existed eternally possessed life. J.W.M. Sullivan, one of the world's greatest physicists, says, "Life never arises except from life . . . this (fact) leads back to some supernatural creative act"  GOD! (Limitations of Science 94). The Lord Jesus said, "I am come that (men) may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." "Abundantly" refers to the fullness and richness of the life in Christ  Christ's way of life  that higher and nobler life of which human life is capable. See John 8:12; Luke 12:15; Jude 10.

Eternal Life. Life is union (Gen. 2:7), and death is separation (Jas. 2:26). Man has both physical life and spiritual life. At death (separation) both go back to their point of origin  the body to dust, and the soul/spirit to God (Eccl. 12:6-7). Spiritual life (eternal life) is to be united with God, and spiritual death is to be separated from God, banished into darkness and despair (Matt. 25:41,46; Rom. 6:23). The Lord Jesus said, speaking spiritually as he points out in v. 58, "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day . . . so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever" (Jn. 6:54-58). Again God tells us, "He that hath the Son hath life (eternal life,v.13), and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1 Jn. 5:12). Again, Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (Jn. 11:25). Indeed, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life."