"...proving that this is very Christ." _ Acts 9:22
"...proving that this is very Christ." _ Acts 9:22

AUGUST 28th

THE BARREN FIG TREE (Continued)

 

Scripture Reading: Luke 13:1–9

 

1There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

 

     Concerning the tower, Proverbs 18:10 reads, "The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." The enemy of righteousness attempted to take all that pointed to the true and mar it. The tower fell killing eighteen people. The next few sentences will unveil the evil intent of the prince of darkness. The word fell actually means to alight. Something has to be in flight in order to alight. Stated differently, something heavenly lighted. Isaiah 9:8 helps to focus even better. It states, "A word hath the Lord sent into Jacob, And it hath lighted in Israel." Lighted means fallen! Jesus Christ is that Word; therefore, evil wanted to blight His purity but failed despite its destructive intent.

 

     Why did the Holy Spirit inspire the number of people on whom the tower fell to be recorded? "Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them…" One of the meanings ascribed to the number 18 in Scripture by E.W. Bullinger is "bondage." Only Jesus could break in pieces the real bondage of mankind which is sin. One example of the use of the number 18 is the number of judges who judged Israel in the Old Covenant. The Bible declares that when the judges ruled there was no king in Israel and every man did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25). What a terrible state! Man’s wisdom was being depended upon as the source of all guidance whether matters were natural or spiritual instead of the wisdom of God that Christ Jesus is.

 

Continued

 

 

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