By Luke Sills
Expectation: A Fruitful Life
In Matthew 21:18–22, we encounter one of the most curious yet powerful moments in the Gospels. Jesus, hungry on His way from Bethany to Jerusalem, approaches a fig tree covered in leaves. But when He draws near, He finds no fruit. In response, He says, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” Immediately, the tree withers. The disciples are astonished, but Jesus uses this moment to teach a life-changing truth: genuine faith in Him will bear fruit — and that kind of faith can move mountains.
From the very first chapter of the Bible, God makes it clear that His creation is meant to bear fruit (Genesis 1:11–12, 28). This isn’t limited to physical fruit, but spiritual fruit — the kind Paul lists in Galatians 5:22–23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The fig tree in Jesus’ path was full of leaves, suggesting that fruit should be present. In fact, in fig trees, fruit appears before the leaves. The tree looked alive, but it was empty — a fitting symbol for the nation of Israel at that time, outwardly religious but spiritually barren. And just as the fig tree faced judgment, so too does any life that refuses to produce the fruit God desires.
Jesus said in John 15:5, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” A fruitless Christian life is not just unproductive — it’s dangerous. In Matthew 7:19, Jesus warns, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
The question is personal: if Jesus passed by your life today, would He find fruit?
Faith That Moves Mountains
When the disciples marveled at the withered tree, Jesus turned their attention to another truth: faith. “If you have faith and do not doubt… even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.” (Matthew 21:21)
Faith, in Scripture, is more than mental agreement — it’s unwavering trust in God’s character and promises. Hebrews 11:6 says plainly, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” This means we must see God as He truly is — faithful, powerful, and trustworthy in all He says and does.
But faith is often tested. Like Abraham waiting decades for God’s promise of a son (Romans 4:20–21), or Peter walking on water until he took his eyes off Jesus (Matthew 14:31), we are challenged to believe in God’s power even when circumstances seem impossible.
Doubt is the enemy of faith. James 1:6–8 warns that the doubter is “like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” Faith, on the other hand, holds steady — and it expresses itself in prayer. Jesus connects faith to prayer in Matthew 21:22: “Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” This isn’t a blank check for selfish desires, but a promise that God will act when we ask according to His will, with steadfast trust.
Persistence in Prayer and Fruitfulness
One reason many believers fail to see God’s power is a lack of persistence. We stop praying too soon. True faith grows, like a mustard seed that starts small but becomes large and fruitful. Prayer keeps us connected to the Vine, and without it, fruitfulness withers.
John 15 reminds us that fruit comes only from abiding in Christ. Before we can live a fruitful life, we must first be made alive in Him. That begins with repentance and faith in the gospel — that Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and offers eternal life to all who believe.
The Call to Respond
So, where are you with the Lord today? Are you bearing the fruit of the Spirit? Are your prayers marked by faith, persistence, and trust in God’s will? Or would Jesus find only leaves — outward signs of life but no substance?
Jesus is still calling. Don’t reject Him as Israel once did. Instead, abide in Him, trust Him fully, and let your faith bear fruit — fruit that lasts into eternity.