The Two Baskets Of Figs
Jeremiah 24:1-10
Introduction
This is Jeremiah’s 12th sermon. It is also his sixth parable. We have already looked at the
almond rod and the boiling pot; the marred girdle; the wine bottle, the potter and the clay; and
the broken bottle.
The Historical Setting
The year is sometime after 597 B.C. to 587 B.C.
2 Kings 24:10; “At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against
Jerusalem, and the city was besieged”.
The passage in 2 Kings 24:11-16 tells us that Jehoichin king of Judah, his mother, his servants,
his princes, his officers went out to the king of Babylon; in the 8th year of his reign (597 B.C.).
The king carried out the treasures of gold, from the king’s house and the Temple; and “he cut in
pieces all the articles of gold which Solomon the king of Israel had made in the temple of the
Lord (24:13); all the captains, all the mighty men of valor; ten thousand captives; none remained
except the poorest in the land. All the valiant men, seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths,
one thousand, all who were strong and fit for war, these the king of Babylon brought captive to
Babylon (see verse 24:16). This included the prophet Ezekiel. Nebuchadrezzar placed Zedekiah
on the throne.
The people who remained in Jerusalem began to look down on their captive brothers. In Ezekiel
11:14-21--Ezekiel understand the advantages are not with those left behind; and Jeremiah comes
to the same conclusion. Zedekiah and his followers will be destroyed in the land. The exiles
will be God’s people, because they will return to God!
Jeremiah receives the vision during the reign of Zedekiah--after the Babylonians have exiled
King Jehoiachin and the leaders of the city.
Remember for more than 200 years the Lord has been warning the people through the prophets.
During the reign of the last four kings Zedekiah, Shallum, Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin--God
intensified and repeated the warning.
Those of you who have been following along in our study in Jeremiah know the pattern-warning--ignore the warning--judgment. Repeated, persistent, rebellion brings judgment.
Nebuchadnezzar has taken the city of Jerusalem and the first wave of captives have been
removed from the city. Jehoichin has been taken captive along with “artisans” and “craftsmen”
Those who remained counted themselves fortunate. But man’s logic is not always God’s logic.
The people who remained began to feel smug, safe and superior.
1
The Two Baskets Of Figs
Jeremiah 24:1-10
The parable is given in part to correct that misperception. God’s ways aren’t always our ways.
God’s plans aren’t always our plans. The Lord gives this vision and parable for a much needed
lesson. The lesson includes the idea of the hope contained for those who are disciplined by
God and the tragic punishment for the wicked.
Discipline may bring momentary pain or hardship. But discipline brings with it hope and peace.
God will use the Babylonian captivity to bring about a purging and peace and hope. God will
use it for good. Even when discipline comes God promises to watch over and protect his people;
and to make them secure and use the discipline as an opportunity to change hearts.
Jeremiah makes use of parables frequently. The text gives us the information and the
explanation.
Jeremiah 24:1–10 (NKJV) 1The Lord showed me, and there were two baskets of figs set before
the temple of the Lord, after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah
the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princes of Judah with the craftsmen and smiths,
from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
“The Lord showed me” (inspiration).
Scholars argue the nature of the vision. The text simply says; “the Lord showed me” but leaves
out the details.
The fig is a small pear shaped fruit that grows on small trees. They are related to the mulberry
family and are widely cultivated. The fig is the first tree mentioned by a recognizable name.
You will remember that Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together to cover up their nakedness;
after their sin. Fig leaves are first used to describe man made religion--or human righteousness
or a shield to hide human sins. The fig leaf is large and smooth and pleasant to the touch. But it
shrinks quickly to about one fourth its size. And so it is with human religion--large, pleasant, but
in the end it shrinks quickly and cannot hid sin forever.
A clue is provided for us-- “the two baskets of figs set before the temple of the Lord”.
The baskets are an offering to the Lord.
Offerings to God usually fall into two broad categories: acceptable and unacceptable.
2One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first ripe; and the other basket had very
bad figs which could not be eaten, they were so bad.
Figs were often gathered all year around. The first figs gathered in June were considered a rare
delicacy. The early figs are good! More crops would come in August and then the winter figs in
November.
2
The Two Baskets Of Figs
Jeremiah 24:1-10
3Then the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “Figs, the good figs, very
good; and the bad, very bad, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad.”
The two baskets are types and pictures of offerings; good and bad; acceptable and unacceptable.
What constitutes an acceptable offering to the Lord?
God wants our heart and our lives. We are told that Jesus is our sacrifice and our offering.
We are told to present our bodies as living sacrifices wholly and acceptable to God. This is the
acceptable offering that God is looking for.
Most people want to hang on to their sins, their rebellion, their disobedience. They want to
fulfill selfish lusts and selfish desires. They have no desire to obey God’s commands or live
righteously.
The Bible says, “And he (JESUS) speaking to them all, if any man will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23 KJV).
Four Promises (vv.4-7)
4Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who
are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good, into
the land of the Chaldeans.
“whom I have sent out of this place for their own good”
The exile appears to some a tragedy--but it is God’s discipline!
God give four promises:
1. God promised to use the Babylonian Captivity for good (v.5a).
2. God promised to watch over and protect His people in Captivity (v.6a).
3. God promised to encourage and build up and protect them in Captivity (v.6b).
4. God promised that he would use the Captivity to work in their hearts and change their hearts
(v.7).
Determined Discipline For Good (v.5a)
Who are the good figs? The people who have been taken early on to Babylon (think Daniel and
his friends!). What do you do with good figs? You make fig preserves. You take care of them,
and enjoy them. The Lord is making a promise to preserve those who are in Babylon.
3
The Two Baskets Of Figs
Jeremiah 24:1-10
Watchful Discipline For Good And Restoration (in the land) (v.6a)
6For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land;
The Lord promises to watch over His people and protect His people. The watchfulness and
protection is in the context of discipline. The people have suffered, the people have been
conquered, the people have lost possessions and loved ones, wealth, power, and now they are
being mistreated and abused and exiled to a foreign country.
This does not look like watchfulness or protection! Yet in the end there is a promise! “I will
bring them back to this land”.
Discipline That Restores The Soul (v.6b)
“I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up”
It appeared that some were being torn apart, torn down, but they would not be utterly destroyed.
Some would be made stronger, surviving the captivity; some would even prosper in the captivity.
For all outward appearances it looked like the uprooting would be permanent; but God could see
into the future--God saw a remnant return to the Land. The Lord God would return and restore
some to the Land--but remember it was to accomplish His great purposes. The ultimate purpose
being the coming of the Messiah. Jeremiah and his generation needed the comfort and assuance
needed for ever generation; God will sustain His people; God will comfort and assure His
people; no hardship, no pain, no misfortune, no suffering can undo the promises of God in Christ
Jesus. We have God’s wonderful promise; God cares for His own and securely plants them in
His strength.
Discipline That Works And Changes Hearts (v.7)
7Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and
I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.
Look at the promise; “I will give them a heart to know Me”!
Both Ezekiel and Jeremiah promise a new heart (Ezekiel 11:20).
“and they shall be My people, and I will be their God” this is a statement of covenant.
“for they shall return” (shub) to Me with their whole heart”.
4
The Two Baskets Of Figs
Jeremiah 24:1-10
God promised that he would use the captivity to work in the hearts of the people. The pain, the
suffering, the uprooting, the loss of all things was to cause them to seek the Lord, to cry out to
God. In crying out to God, they would repent of their sin and turn back to the Lord. In
surrendering wholeheartedly to the Lord; they would renew their relationship with God and take
the necessary steps to know Him. The suffering and hardship, the trial and the captivity would
cause them to turn to God, and worship God, and surrender to God and serve God!
They would purpose in their hearts to obey God and keep His commandments and serve as a
strong testimony for Him in the midst of a pagan and unbelieving world.
No wonder Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke
13:3). “Repent, ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times
of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
At the end of Paul’s life he wrote to his friend and companion in ministry Timothy; 2 Timothy
4:18; “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly
kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 12:11 (NKJV); 11Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful;
nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been
trained by it.
Rotten Figs (vv.8-10)
8‘And as the bad figs which cannot be eaten, they are so bad’—surely thus says the Lord—‘so
will I give up Zedekiah the king of Judah, his princes, the residue of Jerusalem who remain in
this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt.
Who are the bad figs? King Zedekiah, his princes and the “the residue of Jerusalem who remain
in this land”.
The bad figs are the apostates who are left behind to support the wicked King Zedekiah.
Some of the people attempted to flee by finding refuge in Egypt.
These people are determined to resist Babylon with the help of Egypt.
9I will deliver them to trouble into all the kingdoms of the earth, for their harm, to be a reproach
and a byword, a taunt and a curse, in all places where I shall drive them.
5
The Two Baskets Of Figs
Jeremiah 24:1-10
What do you do with rotten figs? You throw them away.
The picture may carry a long way into the future.
10And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence among them, till they are consumed
from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.’ ”
The Lord reminds Jeremiah he will use war, famine and hardship to execute judgment against
Judah. Babylon will prevail. As a result of the siege, the people would suffer starvation, plague
and various diseases. God wants our surrender. We owe our lives to Him. God will judge our
evil thoughts and deeds. God judged the unrepentant figs in Jeremiah’s day.
“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with his angels; and then he shall
reward every man according to his works” (Matt. 16:27).
The bad figs become a type and a picture of the judgment that awaits all unrepentant sinners.
Wiersbe (TBEC Vol. The Prophets; p.114)
“In times of national catastrophe, no matter how discouraging the circumstances may be, God
doesn’t desert His faithful remnant. Rebels are scattered and destroyed, but true believers find
God faithful to meet their needs and accomplish His great plans. The people who returned to the
land after the Captivity were by no means perfect, but they had learned to trust the true and
living God and not worship idols. If the Captivity did nothing else, it purged the Jewish people
of idolatry.
Conclusion
The famous missionary Hudson Taylor used to say;
“There are three stages in the work of God: Impossible; Difficult; Done.” He also said, “All our
difficulties are only platforms for the manifestation of His grace, power and love.”
A.W. Tozer’s timeless advice;
“What then are we to do about our problems? We must learn to live with them until such time as
God delivers us from them. We must pray for grace to endure them without murmering.
Problems patiently endured will work for our spiritual perfecting. They harm us only when we
resist them or endure them unwillingly.”
6