From Romans 3:21-31, we learn that God's righteousness, previously hidden, is revealed through faith in Jesus Christ, apart from works of the law, offering justification (being declared righteous) for all who believe, as Christ's sacrifice (atonement) paid the penalty for sin, making God just and merciful. This truth removes boasting, applies to both Jews and Gentiles, and establishes faith as the principle for salvation, not adherence to the law, though it doesn't negate the law but rather fulfills its purpose.
When we become afraid or distressed, it is exposing how weak our faith in Jesus is. It shows that we are not trusting Him and His plan, and that He's got this! Life is not predictable. There will be storms along the way, but God's unchanging character offers us a firm foundation when things feel unsteady and uncertain.
This story is often read as a lesson in priorities, the take-away being that we need to stop working and spend all our time praying, that being busy and distracted is something to be ashamed of, that Mary had it right and Martha had it wrong.
The answer: FAITH. The problem of no fruit is the problem of no faith. Jesus says “if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done” (Matt. 21:21).
And then comes the greatest lesson of all: the accusers of the woman caught in adultery wanted to do violence to her, but instead, Jesus suffered the violence for her – and for all of us, because, again, in this sense we are all equal because we are all wounded by sin.
First, the text reveals that Jesus wasn't a witness to the crime in question so according to the Law, Jesus wasn't allowed to throw the first stone (Deut. 17:7). Second, this situation was really just a setup (John 8:6). For instance, where was the man that had to be present during an act of adultery?
The woman's act of service and love (Luke 7:44-46) is a demonstration of her gratitude. This gratitude is based upon the fact that her sins “are forgiven” (Luke 7:47-48). In the first instance, Jesus speaking to Simon the Pharisee states that this woman's sins “stand forgiven” (v. 47).
In the Old Testament, the imagery of people being able to sit in the shade of their own fig tree was a common symbol of peace (1 Kings 4:25; Micah 4:4; Zechariah 3:10). Fruit-bearing fig trees were also a symbol of blessing for God's people.
Between visits to the temple, Jesus enacts the fig-tree “parable,” signaling to his disciples that the end is near and that he wants them to think about what not bearing fruit means, especially as it applies to the Jewish leaders and the temple, which will be “cursed and withered.” Jesus' death and resurrection are ...
3 Life Lessons from Mary: Believe, Treasure, Let Go.
Five Lessons We Learn from Martha
Based on Luke 8:1–3, Martha is arguably one of the women of means who supported Jesus and the Twelve, his co-traveling, male disciples. She, her brother, and sister illustrate the concept of hospitality demonstrated by the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37).
Cry Out For Help – While it is true that the disciples panicked when the storm arose, they had enough faith to do something very productive – they asked Jesus to help them. Worry is always useless, but prayer is always effective. Although we may not get exactly what we want, we will get what we need.
Jesus Christ alone can make the wind and water obey. As a result, the storm subsided, and the sea calmed. Christians can be comforted by this while engulfed in their own personal storms. A person's faith in Christ is never misplaced.
We learn to endure, persevere, and submit to the Father so He can make us more like Christ. Reveal Himself to us. Turbulent times give us a more accurate perspective of God and the way He works. Sometimes this understanding comes when we look back on a storm and see how He brought us through.
He says that it is only through Him that we can accomplish anything. A branch can only produce fruit because it is attached to the vine. We can only produce spiritual fruit if we are staying connected to the Holy Spirit.
It could represent God breathing forth the mind of Christ and the sweetness like the fruit, which could represent fruitfulness in one's life. Dreaming of wearing the color peach could represent that you are youthful at heart and have the heart of a child to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
A shady place is a good place to pray and study.
During the heat of the day a person could get relief in the shade. It was an ideal place to read Scripture, contemplate it in prayer, study its meaning, and apply it to daily living. “To sit under a fig tree” is a Jewish figure of speech for meditating on Scripture.
The symbolism of figs
For centuries, figs have been associated with peace, prosperity and fertility. In ancient Greece and Rome, figs were an important part of the diet, and the trees were often planted near houses as a symbol of good luck. Today, figs still play an important role in some religions.
yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs; which they leave, or let fall: signifying that she did not envy the blessings of the Jews, or desire any thing might be done injurious to them; only that this favour might be granted her, which she owned she was unworthy of, that her daughter might be healed.
He saw a fig tree full of leaves, but no fruit. So, Jesus cursed the tree with these words: “May you never bear fruit again!” (Matthew 21:19 NIV) And immediately the tree withered. Jesus knew the fig tree was barren.
The holy things and the pearls represent the things of God, perhaps the gospel itself. The dogs and pigs represent hostile, unworthy people. And so the statement translates into something like this: Do not preach the things of God to hostile, unworthy people.