In the week prior to the arrest of Jesus He teaches them lessons about faith and forgiveness and it all plays out in the midst of an unusual event involving an unsuspecting fig tree. Figs were a big deal in Bible times even showing up in the beginning of the Bible in Genesis 3. Figs were a symbol of the blessings of God on Israel and they were also a symbol of the judgment of God on Israel. Like the fig tree in Mark 11 and Matthew 21, the religious leaders of Israel looked good on the outside, but they were fruitless – empty in heart.

By contrast, Jesus pointed out that the disciples could live in faith – faith in God – and accomplish things that the Pharisees and their ilk could only dream of. They could remove mountains from the scene and shake up the world if they would believe and not doubt.

There was however, one major proviso to what they could accomplish – they would have to practice forgiveness. Lack of a forgiveness triggers a lack of forgiveness on God’s part and a lack of power in prayer. You must make sure your heart is right with God when you pray and that begins with making sure that your heart is right in the relationships with those in your circles of influence.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, October 27, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Prayer the Moves Heaven: Power with Purpose. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/prayer-that-moves-heaven-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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