Posted on 03/31/2015 8:25:14 AM PDT by RnMomof7
Um, the tree withered away and died. The people of Israel were scattered but it did not cease to exist.
>>The modern regathering of Israel is very partial at this point. Great difficulties and some losses in retaining Jewish control of the territory, and a territory which is much smaller than its biblical extent.<<
The reforming of a nation after 2000 years and you're looking at "partial at this point"? God promised He would bring them back to the land He promised them and that's exactly what He is doing.
I was obviously correct given your introspection.
bump for later
“Kyle Butt hopefully will learn there is no reason to address what “skeptics” say.”
Sure there is. If nobody addresses them, then people who are not committed to one side or the other will be swayed by the skeptics, because that is the only opinion they will hear.
Perhaps I should explain better.
We address what skeptics say simply by teaching the Bible.
Not by addressing their idiotic comments directly as if equal in value.
Butts makes a mistake in attributing so much space to skeptic “positions” and quotes when it is not necessary.
The subject of what the cursing of the fig tree means is more than enough and contaminating it with nonsense that is unnecessary just detracts and weakens the apologetic.
I liken to putting on the full armor. No one needs to defend the Bible to skeptics, just like no one has to defend that a sword is a sword.
But we do need to teach each other how to use the sword, but don’t need to argue with skeptics that our sword can function as a sword.
I thought you were inviting it, not setting a gotcha trap that you were then going to crow over when someone tripped it. I really expected better of you, I truly did.
“So much space” ???
A couple of lines or so, and then quite a lot on the real background.
Sounds like proper proportion. You are just being puffed up... confess it!
I am sincere.
Butts writes:
One prominent question naturally arises from a straightforward reading of the text. Why would Jesus curse a fig tree that did not have figs on it, especially since the text says that “it was not the season for figs”?
Yes. We think we are about to get some Bible teaching.
But he follows with:
In response to this puzzling question, skeptical minds have let themselves run wild with accusations regarding the passage. Steve Wells, the author of The Skeptics’ Annotated Bible, labeled this story as an absurdity and said in a sarcastic tone: “Jesus kills a fig tree for not bearing figs, even though it was out of season. He did this to show the world just how much God hates figs” (2006, emp. added). Louis Cable, another skeptic, responded to the story with this statement: “Now to curse a fig tree for not bearing fruit in March is not unlike kicking a dog because it can not speak English thereby punishing it for the inability to do the impossible” (n.d.).
This long passage does not follow from the “prominent question”.
It is frustrating and distracting.
The article would be so much better if it were written like this:
One prominent question naturally arises from a straightforward reading of the text. Why would Jesus curse a fig tree that did not have figs on it, especially since the text says that “it was not the season for figs”? Is it the case that Jesus capriciously, out of anger, cursed the fig tree for not bearing fruit, even though the tree was incapable of producing? With a little research, one quickly ascertains that such is not the case. Not only does an excellent reason exist for the curse upon the fig tree, but an equally good spiritual application should be considered as well.
I am saying this as a Brotherly criticism meant to encourage strengthen and in appreciation of Butt’s work.
Except the vine, like the fig tree was also a symbol of Israel
And so?
You still sound puffed up here. You leveled a condemnation and now you are backing to a “brotherly criticism” without even admitting you have backed.
Sorry, hypocrisy won’t fly here.
Israel’s salvation – the OLIVE tree (Romans 11)
Israel as a nation – the FIG tree (Matthew 21)
Israel’s spiritual state – the VINE (Isaiah 5)
Do you want me to fight with you?
If I came on too strong, ought I not tone it down and explain my thinking and reasoning?
It may have been included in the parables simply to show that he had power.
It is easy to bear fruit in season, when the world loves you, when you meet no resistance.
We must all bear fruit in season and out of season.
I think the fact that leaves did not form until there was fruit was the point... how many people have leaves but have no fruit
I simply made a statement with no expectations whatsoever. The word "introspection" is not an invite for outside comment nor evaluation of ones own thoughts. There were no ulterior motives with expectation of comment.
Nothing but leaves! The Spirit grieves
O’er years of wasted life;
O’er sins indulged while conscience slept,
O’er vows and promises unkept,
And reap, from years of strife—
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves! No gathered sheaves
Of life’s fair rip’ning grain:
We sow our seeds; lo! tares and weeds,
Words, idle words, for earnest deeds—
Then reap, with toil and pain,
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves! Sad mem’ry weaves
No veil to hide the past;
And as we trace our weary way,
And count each lost and misspent day,
We sadly find at last—
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves!
Ah, who shall thus the Master meet,
And bring but withered leaves?
Ah, who shall, at the Savior’s feet,
Before the awful judgment seat,
Lay down, for golden sheaves,
Nothing but leaves!
Nothing but leaves!
“The cursing of the fig tree symbolizes God’s judgment on Israel for not bearing the fruit he wanted from the temple. It foreshadows the cleansing of the temple and ultimately the prophecy of its destruction in chapter 13”
The author misses the point of the judgment; it was the hypocrisy of the religious evidenced by their actions cloaked in rituals that was condemned, not Israel.
I am a hypocrite just as they were if I profess one thing and not do what I profess.
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