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Yesterday Christ wept over the fate of Israel, today He will warn them of it. And at once accordingly He utters His warning on barrenness. It takes the form of a parabolic action. Deeds speak louder than words, and, therefore, for the sake of a greater impression, Christ places before everyone's eyes the penalty of barrenness, especially of barrenness concealed by hypocritical profession. He pronounces a curse on the tree, which at once, in all its greenness and glory, begins to wither away.

1. BARRENNESS IS A VERY COMMON AND GRIEVOUS SIN. It is very common, because we think there is no particular harm in it. If we avoid committing actual wrong, we think it no great matter if we neglect the discharge of duty. Accordingly, many who would be shocked at being "sinful" are quite unconcerned at being useless. There may, however, be the greatest guilt in uselessness. "Ye gave Me no meat," "ye gave Me no drink," "ye took Me not in," are words which accuse of nothing but neglect, yet are followed by the doom, "Depart from Me, ye cursed." Sins of commission slay their thousands, but sins of omission their tens of thousands.

2. THE SIN OF BARRENNESS IS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED AND GREATLY AGGRAVATED BY GREAT PROFESSIONS. Performance and profession are apt to be in the inverse ratio of each other, for performance comes from a high standard, and a high standard never permits complacency or boasting; while a low standard permits poor performance, and sanctions complacency along with it. In human trees the combination is very frequent of pretentious foliage and poor fruitage.

3. ALL BARRENNESS LEADS TO DESTRUCTION. Nothing is permitted to exist except on condition that it employs its powers. Unused faculties decay; and unemployed opportunities are withdrawn.

4. THE PENALTY OF WILFUL BARRENNESS IS JUDICIAL BARRENNESS. The punishment of uselessness which is voluntary, is such withdrawal of grace as makes it fixed and absolute. Wrong is wrong's penalty. Going further astray is the penal result of going astray.

(R. Glover.)

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KJV: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

WEB: Seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.