Leaves Without Fruit
In Jesus’ time, the temple in Jerusalem was one of the most impressive buildings in the world. It was meant to be the heart of worship—the place where people met with God. But underneath all the beauty, something was wrong. Instead of helping people pray and offer sacrifices, the temple courts had become crowded with merchants and money changers. Prices were inflated. Travelers were being taken advantage of. The leaders in charge had allowed God’s house to become a marketplace.
From the outside, everything looked alive and busy. But inside, the temple was failing its purpose. It had leaves—but no fruit.
Mark 11:12–21
On the way to the temple, Jesus approached a fig tree. He saw the leaves from a distance—a sign there might be fruit. But when He got closer, the tree had nothing to offer. It gave the appearance of life, but Jesus cursed the tree because wasn’t fulfilling its actual purpose.
Later that day, Jesus walked into the temple. Like the fig tree, it was full of signs of life—people, activity, sound. But again, there was no real fruit. Instead of prayer, there was profit. Instead of worship, there was corruption.
Jesus cleared the temple because it had the same problem as the fig tree - it looked like it was fulfilling its purpose, but it was not. In the same way that the tree was cursed to no longer be fruitful, the temple in Jerusalem would be torn down just a few decades later.
Things to Ponder
Can you think of a time when something looked good on the outside but turned out to be disappointing?
What does it mean for a church—or a person—to bear fruit?
Are there ways your family can be more intentional about living out your faith instead of just talking about it?
What kind of fruit do you hope people see when they spend time with you?
Application Challenge
What would it look like this week to bear real fruit? Maybe it's choosing to pray before a hard conversation, or taking time to care for someone who needs encouragement. Maybe it’s simply following through when you say you’ll do something.
Could God be inviting us to focus less on appearances and more on faithfulness? You don’t have to be flashy to be fruitful. Often, the most lasting fruit grows in quiet soil—when no one else is watching but God.
Prayer Prompt
Lord, help us not just look alive, but be alive in You. Show us where we’ve been all leaves and no fruit. Teach us how to live with prayerful hearts and loving hands. May our lives reflect Your goodness in ways that matter.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.