Summary: In this church service message on Matthew 21:18-27, the pastor explores Jesus’ dual nature as fully man and fully God, emphasizing His humanity through His hunger and His divinity through His authority and miracles, such as cursing the fig tree to wither for its lack of fruit. The sermon connects the fig tree incident to the spiritual condition of Israel and modern Christians, urging believers to bear fruit through a genuine relationship with Jesus, the True Vine, rather than mere outward religiosity. Jesus teaches about the power of faith and prayer, promising that with unwavering belief, even mountains can be moved, while His confrontation with the religious leaders highlights His divine authority. The message concludes with a call to salvation, inviting listeners to admit their sins, believe in Jesus, and confess Him as Lord for a transformed life.
[Mat 21:18-27 NKJV] 18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw [it], they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” 21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” 23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” 24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 25 “The baptism of John–where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 “But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
