The warning is for all time. Christ's act in cursing the tree which His own power had created stands as a warning to all churches and to all Christians. No one can live the law of God without ministering to others. But there are many who do not live out Christ's merciful, unselfish life. Some who think themselves excellent Christians do not understand what constitutes service for God. They plan and study to please themselves. They act only in reference to self. Time is of value to them only as they can gather for themselves. In all the affairs of life this is their object. Not for others but for themselves do they minister. God created them to live in a world where unselfish service must be performed. He designed them to help their fellow men in every possible way. But self is so large that they cannot see anything else. They are not in touch with humanity. Those who thus live for self are like the fig tree, which made every pretension but was fruitless. They observe the forms of worship, but without repentance or faith. In profession they honor the law of God, but obedience is lacking. They say, but do not. In the sentence pronounced on the fig tree Christ demonstrates how hateful in His eyes is this vain pretense. He declares that the open sinner is less guilty than is he who professes to serve God, but who bears no fruit to His glory.

Gud skabte dem til at leve i en verden, hvor der må gøres et uegennyttigt arbejde. Han har bestemt dem til at hjælpe deres medmennesker på alle mulige måder; men deres eget jeg er så stort, at de ikke kan se noget andet. De har ingen føling med menneskeheden. De, som således lever for deres eget jeg, ligner figentræet, der så ud til at være meget værdifuldt, men som ikke bar frugt. De overholder gudsfrygten i det ydre, men uden anger eller tro: De hævder at ære Guds lov, men de mangler lydighed. De taler, men de handler ikke. I den dom, der blev afsagt over figentræet, viser Kristus tydeligt, hvor dette tomme hykleri er ham forhadt. Han siger, at den, som synder åbenlyst, er mindre skyldig end den, der foregiver at tjene Gud, men som ikke bærer frugt til hans ære.