Page 72 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

66 NOTES ON EZEKIEL.
behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel ; the fire devoureth
both the ends of it, and the middle of it is burned. Is it
meet for any work ? Behold, when it was whole, it was
meet for no work : how much less shall it be meet yet
for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is
burned?” (Ver. 1—5.)
There is doubtless a real and intended distinction be­
tween the different trees as employed symbolically in
scripture. Three may be here briefly compared, and
all of them trees valued for their fruit; the fig tree, the
olive, and the vine. The fig tree is the only one which
is applied exclusively to Israel; so much so, that one
can scarcely fail to see in it the peculiar representative
of that nation as distinguished from the Gentiles.
Compare especially Matthew xxiv. with Luke xxi.;
where we have in the first the fig tree alone, in the
second (where Gentiles are introduced in accordance
with the bearing of the Gospel) “ the fig tree and all
the trees.”
The olive, we may see in Romans xi., embraces first
the Jews as the natural branches of the tree of promise
and testimony on earth growing out of the stock of
Abraham; then, on their cutting off because of unbelief,
the Gentiles grafted in contrary to nature as now;
and lastly, through pure mercy, though in accordance
with the promises, Israel to be grafted in again on
their repentance, when the Gentile is cut off, and grace
restores the chosen nation for ever to their own olive
tree.
The vine is more diversified in its application, taking
in first Israel, who became empty, then the Lord with
the disciples as the branches of Him the only true vine,