From the gospel of Mark we learn that the encounter with the fig tree involved two successive days. Jesus cursed the fig tree on Tuesday morning as He entered Jerusalem to cleanse the Temple, and it was on the following day, Wednesday, that the disciples noticed that the tree was “withered from the roots up.” The cleansing of the Temple was a denunciation of Israel’s worship, and the cursing of the fig tree was a denunciation of Israel as a nation.
从《马可福音》的记载中，我们可知这事的前后过程有两天。耶稣是在星期二早上，当祂进耶路撒冷洁净圣殿时诅咒无花果树，而隔天（星期三），门徒发现那棵树“连根都枯干了”（可11:20）。洁净圣殿是对以色列敬拜的谴责，而诅咒无花果树是对以色列国整体的谴责。
- The Fruitless tree 无果子的树 (21:18-19)
Fig trees are common and much prized in Israel. Its presence was a symbol of blessing and prosperity for the nation, and its absence of judgment and deprivation (cf. Deut. 8:8, Jer. 5:17). Usually, a fig tree produces fruit before it sprouts leaves. As the fig tree was barren when it should have had fruits, Jesus pronounced a curse and the tree would be perpetually unproductive. The fig tree represented Israel spiritually, its leaves were her outward religiousness, and the lack of fruit signaled her spiritual barrenness. Fruit is an evidence of life and salvation – Israel’s barrenness indicated that she was unredeemed and cut off from the life and power of God.
无花果树在以色列是普遍的，并为珍贵。它的存在象征以色列国的福气与昌盛；反则为审判与穷困处境（参：申8:8；耶5:17）。无花果树通常会先结果子才长叶子。由于那颗无花果树应当结果子了，却什么都找不着，所以耶稣降下诅咒，使树永不结果子。无花果树象征了以色列的灵性：叶子是她外表上的敬虔，果子的缺乏则显明她灵性上的荒芜。结的果子是生命及得救的凭据——以色列的荒芜表明她是不得救的，并与神的生命与能力隔绝。
- The Fruitful prayer 有效的祷告 (21:20-22)
When the disciples passed the cursed fig tree the next morning and saw that it was “withered from the roots up,” they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” A diseased tree might take many weeks or months to die but this fig tree withered overnight – it is a miracle. The Lord took the opportunity to teach them a lesson of faith. The phrase “rooter up of mountains” was a metaphor commonly used in Jewish literature to mean nothing is impossible. The lesson is that nothing will be impossible with God (Luke 1:37).
当门徒隔天早上经过被诅咒的无花果树，看到它“连根都枯干了”，他们便稀奇说：“无花果树怎么立刻枯干了呢？”一棵害病的树可经过数星期或数月才死，但这棵无花果树一夜就枯干了——这是一个神迹。主藉此教导他们有关信心的功课。“挪移大山”的比喻在犹太文学中通指凡事都可能；这里的学习点是：出于神的话，没有一句不带能力的（路1:37）。
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- Can Jesus find fruits in your tree? Jesus said, “Every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matt. 7:19) Please examine yourself and respond to the Lord accordingly.
耶稣是否能在你的树上找到果子？耶稣说：“凡不结好果子的树就砍下来，丢在火里”（7:19）。请审察自己并向神回应。
- The fruits you bear are good fruits or bad fruits? Jesus said every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit (Matt. 7:17). We will recognize the tree by their fruits (Matt. 7:20).
你所结的果子是好是坏呢？耶稣说，凡好树都结好果子，唯独坏树结坏果子（7:17）。我们能凭他们的果子认出他们来（7:20）。
- Hebrews 11:6 said, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Do you have faith?
《希伯来书》11章6节说：“人非有信就不能得神的喜悦，因为到神面前来的人必须信有神，且信他赏赐那寻求他的人。”你是否有这般的信心？
