INTRODUCTION - IT IS PALM SUNDAY ALL OVER THE WESTERN WORLD, SMALL BITS OF PALM DISTRIBUTED - HERE - OLIVE!

• The week of our Lord's Passion, three known trees, & one unknown one, are mentioned in Bible
• As we study about these trees, know well that they are but symbols of men before God- hear!
• This is the week for us to dig deeply around our spiritual roots, & examine our fruit! 

I. THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE - Luke 13:1-9

God does not deal with men by accident, but has a message for us in every event -watch Jesus

A. IF MEN HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR SINS (Luke 12:59) WHAT ABOUT PILATE & THE ROMANS? Luke 13:1-5

1. Men rushed to Jesus for Him to condemn Pilate & Soldiers for killing Galileans in worship!
2. But Jesus turned instead to the fact of death in God's economy-Were they greater sinners?
3. By Military-v.1, or accident-v.4- What different-"Except ye repent" -All die-

B.  JESUS THEN SPAKE TO THEM A PARABLE-SHOWING THE HEARTBREAK OF BEING UNFRUITFUL, LIFE, DEATH - VAIN!

1. "A certain man-" This is God the Father with full authority, power of life & death-
2. "had a fig tree"- symbol of the nation of Israel- belonging to God, He expected fruit of it.
3. "in his vineyard"- In the family of nations - All will be judged of God- but one stands tall!
4. "He sought fruit- found none"-a dead, lifeless religion. "Cut it down" a waste of time, ground
5. "dresser of vineyard" a picture of Jesus Christ- pleading, trying to coax life from dead men
6. "This year" just one more chance "dig it, dung it" bare it to roots! give help!-also prune
7. "If it bear fruit, well" A cause of rejoicing in Jesus. "if not, cut down" - man or nation!

If we do not accomplish the purpose God has placed us here for- then we are cut off-living

II.  THE SIGN OF THE FIG TREE Matt 21:18

Great Bible truths are taught, illustrated, given in parables, and actually lived out for us

A.  BEHOLD THE FIG TREE MATT - 21:18 - A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TREE TO SERVE THE LORD JESUS

1. Jesus on his way back into Jerusalem, night of prayer in cave- stress, hungry-needing help
2. He saw a fig tree- came to it- maybe even walked a ways out of the way-FOUND NO FIGS
3. Nothing but leaves for the master! The song -nation, church, person-fancies-but no figs!

B.  BEWARE THE CURSE - Matt 21:19b - LEST YOU SHOULD BLAME JESUS - TREE ALREADY DEAD, DIDN'T KNOW IT

1. let no fruit grow - Matt 21:19b - the purpose of life is to reproduce, if not - then quit fooling around
2. "Let no man eat"- Mark 11:14 if the Master could not eat, then why should any one else!
3. If a man will not produce for the Lord he will not enjoy his life for himself! - Ps 1- tree!

C.  BE WARNED OF THE DEATH Matt 21:19c, & 20 - DEATH OF THE DISEASED TREE KEEPS PLAGUE FROM OTHERS

1. The tree withered and died- Matt. & others stayed & watched-marveled -God's power shown-glory
2. Mark & some others didn't notice till next day-some men are already dead, & don't know it!
3. Jesus said "Have Faith ... Doubt not", v.21- If you are fruitless, dead- put faith in Jesus Christ

"Ask in Prayer, believing" 22 -If you are empty, do something about it-dig, fertilize, water -

III.  NOW A NEW PARABLE OF THREE TREES!

Let's compare just three trees from the last week of our Lord; we know not of the cross-

A.  THERE WERE PALM TREES, DURING THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY - Matt 21:8 - AND THEY WERE WAVED BEFORE THE LORD

1. These are the symbol of Rejoicing- Lev 23:40, Psa. 92:12, Rev. 7:9 -fruitful, but special
2. On the great Palm Sunday- the multitudes ran ahead, waving the branches, crying Hosanna
3. But anyone can be a "holiday" good time, great crowd, - Christian - only there for celebration?

B.  THERE WERE FIG TREES, VALUABLE FOR FOOD, BUT COULD NOT BE COUNTED UPON- Matt 21:18, Mark 11:12

1. When all goes well, with proper water,& care, a good year- fruitful food sweet & good!
2. But when picking figs watch out! Hard work, high limbs, and leaves are acid like- burns & hurts
3. But when the crop fails- the tree is good only for a temporary shade- then a real mess!

C.  THERE WERE OLIVE TREES - THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, GETHSEMANE - Matt 26:30, 36 - ALWAYS FRUITFUL!

1. All over Israel- fruitful, useful for food, oil, firewood, shade, still producing at 2,000 years
2. It was in an Olive orchard -Jesus sought to pray -the old olive trees sheltered him from wind
3. Though the disciples could not watch even one hour- The olive trees stood true!

Keep the little olive leaf from your bulletin- put it in front of your Bible- remember!

CONCLUSION - IN GOD'S GRACE, WE CAN CHOOSE WHAT KIND OF A TREE WE ARE GOING TO BE! -CHANGE YOUR DESTINY

1. Spring is here, life is available - Will you have faith to have life in Jesus Christ?
2. Let the Lord work in your life- dig down deep, let repentance have its work- get right with God
3. If you do not let the Lord use your life- you can expect no less than the fig tree!

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