PT-2 "An Uncomplicated Analogy" (Matt. 24:32)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/23/2024 7:30 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                     Focus:  PT-2 “An Uncomplicated Analogy”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                Reference: Matthew 24:32

 

            Message of the verses:  “32 "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near;”

 

            I have mentioned many times as I study this 24^th chapter of the book of Matthew that in it Jesus is talking about what will happen during the end-times, the Tribulation Period, which is the 70^th week of Daniel’s prophecy given in Daniel chapter nine 24-27.  With that said then this parable that Jesus is giving must fit into that period of time in order to make sense.  Given that information then the parable should not be that difficult to understand.  MacArthur writes “Palestine had an abundance of fig trees, which were not only grown commercially but were also found in many family yards, for the sake of the delicious fruit as well as for the shad they provided during the hot summer months.”

 

            He goes on to write “Jews were used to the fig tree’s functioning as an illustration.  Jotham used it in his story shouted to the inhabitants of Shechem from the to of Mount Gerizim (Judg. 9:10-11); Jeremiah saw two baskets of figs in his vision after Nebuchadnezzar took captives from Judah to Babylon (Jer. 24:1-10); Hosea used it as a figure in his prophecy about Israel (Hos. 9:10); and Joel used a splintered fig tree to illustrate the devastation of Judah by a plague of locusts (Joel 1:4-7).”

 

            Jesus speaking of fig trees in this parable to His disciples would have been a very familiar thing for them to hear for they knew much about fig trees and even meanings found in the OT that related to them.  Jesus used fig trees in stories that He told in Matt. 7:16; 21:19 and Luke 13:6-9.

 

            The Greek word for learn is “Manthano” and it means to genuinely understand and accept a teaching, to accept it as true and to apply it in one’s life.  It was something used of acquiring a life-long habit.  The Apostle Paul declared that he had “learned (manthano) to be content in whatever circumstances” he was in (Phil. 4:11).  That sort of learning is much more than mere head knowledge; it involves genuine acceptance of a truth and determination to live a life consistent with it.  Jesus wanted the disciples to learn in their inmost beings what He was teaching to understand and receive it with regard to the its great importance (writes MacArthur).

 

1/23/2024 8:00 AM