19. And when he saw a fig-tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig-tree withered away.

20. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig-tree withered away?

21. Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig-tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

The immediate use made of this withering of the fig-tree, was to confirm the faith of the apostles, by an evident example of that power, a share of which was to be communicated to themselves. They had witnessed the power of God. Let them have faith in him, and ask in such faith, and they should be enabled to exercise a like power. Circumstanced as they would soon be, when they proceeded to fulfil the commission given them, they would need the full assurance of faith: such faith as Peter and John showed, when they said to the cripple at the gate of the temple, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk:"6 such faith as Paul acted on, when he said to Elymas the sorcerer, "The hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season." This therefore, his latest miracle, would be before their minds, and teach them to ask in prayer, believing, and not wavering. It must be the character of all prayer;

Acts iii. 6.

7 Acts xiii. 11.

and whatever is so asked, according as it is expedient for us, we shall receive."

But though our Lord seized the opportunity of this miracle for the confirmation of his apostles' faith, its significant nature, and the particular season when it was performed, show clearly that it conveyed a further meaning. It was intended to signify the judgment of which this and the three succeeding chapters are full, the rejection of the Jewish nation. It declares the accomplishment of Isaiah's prophecy,9 "O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to: I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be trodden down." The Lord had come, "seeking fruit of the fig-tree planted in his vineyard:" it bore an outward profession; its leaves were flourishing. St. Paul bare record that the nation "had a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge:" they "rested in the law, and made their boast of God." 2 But when the Lord came, he found nothing but leaves only a mere profession : show without fruit: pretension without performance knowledge without practice. The time of trial had been long and patient: "what more could be done to the vineyard?" So the day of utter destruction was at hand; Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever.

8 1 John v. 14.

Rom. x. 2.

• Isa. v.
3-5.

Rom. ii. 17.

This was spoken of the nation at large. And the whole transaction is an illustration, evident to the eye, of the words which conclude the parable of “the talents." "From him that hath not, shall be taken away even that he hath." The Jewish nation had possessed privileges, "great every way:" they had long been under cultivation, God being the husbandman: like the barren fig-tree, they had borne no fruits of righteousness: and, still worse, the fruits of unrighteousness were flourishing amongst them. Now they would be deprived of the advantages which they had enjoyed, but abused: "an enemy would come, and take away their place and nation."

We must remember, that the dealings of God with nations, are a specimen of his dealings with individuals. God applies the culture of his word, and distils the dew of his grace upon the heart: and expects that "the earth should drink in the rain that falleth oft upon it, and bring forth herbs meet for him by whom it is dressed." And "unto every one that hath, shall be given, and he shall have more abundance." 5 But on the tree which bore no fruit a dreadful sentence was pronounced-and left, no doubt, as a solemn warning-"Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever."

•

$ Ch. xxv. 29.

4 Heb. vi. 7.

5 Ch. xxv. 29.

LECTURE LXXXIX.

THE VAIN PROFESSION OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS.

MATT. XX. 23-32.

23. And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

It was no unreasonable question, By what authority doest thou these things? But it was unreasonable in the chief priests and elders to ask this question now, when the whole ministry of Jesus had proved the authority in which he came. He had declared

from the first who gave him this authority: how "God so loved the world, that he had given his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but have everlasting life." Thus he bore witness of himself. John the Baptist bore witness of him, saying, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him." But he had greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father had given him to finish, the same works that he did, bore witness of him that the Father had sent him."

"3

1 John iii. 16.

2 John i. 32.

3 John v. 36.

Thus he had clearly shown the authority on which he acted and now there should "no more sign be given them." Their question is met by another question, which sufficiently discovered their state of heart not that state which God favours with fresh blessings, fresh tokens of his mercy.

24. And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men and they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? 4

26. But if ye shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

27. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

28. But what think ye? A certain man had two sons ; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard.

29. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

30. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

31. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, the first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

32. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

• Why did ye not believe him, when he testified of me as the Christ, the Son of God?