Under the Fig Tree: Private Devotion is the Test of Our Sincerity Toward God

I was recently meditating on the passage in John 1 where Nathanael had his first encounter with Jesus. Philip told Nathanael about Jesus, but Nathanael was unconvinced about anything good coming from Nazareth (see John 1:43-46). The story picks up with this interaction:

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” (John 1:47-48)

Nathanael was astonished at Jesus’ apparent prophetic knowledge of his heart, life, and activities. But what I want to focus on is the sincerity of Nathanael’s heart and the evidence of this sincerity. Jesus described Nathanael as ‘an Israelite indeed,’ a true son of Abraham not just by natural lineage but by faith and heart-posture. When Nathanael asked how Jesus knew him, He simply said that he saw Nathanael ‘under the fig tree.’

Under the Fig Tree

What struck me as I meditated on this passage is the emphasis on private devotion. Being ‘under the fig tree’ is known to be a Jewish idiom that represents personal study of Scripture and prayer. Apparently, Rabbis and other devout Jews would use the shade of fig trees as a place to meditate on God’s Word, seek the Lord, and pray. So, being ‘under the fig tree’ became an expression for private devotion.

First Jesus declares that Nathanael is a man of sincerity and truth–there is no deceit in him. He is not one given to pretense or religious hypocrisy but one who is pure in heart and truly devoted to God. When Nathanael asks Jesus’ reasoning for making such a statement, Jesus points to his private devotion: ‘when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’ Nathanael’s personal devotion is what indicated his purity of heart.

I believe there is a powerful and important truth that we can glean from this passage: the test of sincerity is not public worship but private devotion. This corresponds directly with the teaching of Jesus about praying in ‘the secret place.’

Praying in the Secret Place

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:5-6)

To be clear, Jesus is not teaching against public prayer or praying in groups. Jesus Himself prayed in public and taught the value of praying with other believers (see John 11:41-32 and Matthew 18:19-20). The book of Acts shows that praying together was foundational to the church’s birth, life, and mission (see Acts 1:14, Acts 4:23-31, and Acts 12:1-19). God’s house is a house of prayer and corporate prayer is absolutely essential. The problem is not the setting but the motives. And there is something about seeking God in private that indicates a depth of sincerity and hunger for God that cannot be found in any other way.

Jesus said that hypocrites love to pray in order to be seen by others. Their reward is to have praise from people who assume their public praying is a sign of spiritual stature. Public prayers are valid and necessary, but only when they are prayed by a person who has sincere devotion in private do they carry any weight in God’s eyes. When uttered for the purpose of being seen by others, such prayers are meaningless, even if the content is good and biblical. It is a sobering truth that even prayer and worship can be an abomination to God–it is only the prayer of the upright that He delights in (see Proverbs 15:8 and Proverbs 28:9).

The secret place removes all pretense and possibility of spiritual showmanship. It’s just you and God, so being seen or praised by others cannot be a hidden motive. A person who expresses worship in a congregation may or may not be sincere. But someone who consistently bows before God in private is far less likely to be a phony. Someone who prays loudly at the prayer meeting could certainly be pure-hearted in their intercession. But the one who intercedes for others when no one else is aware is quite sure to be sincere.

Again, all believers should engage in public worship and prayer. But that is not the true test of sincerity toward God. The one God looks for is the one ‘under the fig tree.’ It is the one who prays in the secret place that the Father sees and rewards. Our public expression of faith, worship, and prayer must spring from a secret history with God that no one else sees. When we are real with God in private, our public worship and prayer can be trusted.

A Call to Be Real

Keith Daniel, an evangelist from South Africa who passed away a few years ago, used to say, ‘You’re only as real as your quiet time.’ I believe there is a lot of truth in that statement. We need to be real with God. Let’s be sincere in seeking Him when no one is watching. Let’s meditate on the Scriptures day and night, delighting in God’s Word and seeking to know Him more. Let’s intercede for others who will never know that we prayed for them. It is the secret place of personal devotion that is the true test of sincerity.

In the days when so many crave public platforms, large social media followings, and the praise of man, Jesus is looking for the ones hidden ‘under the fig tree.’ When He finds these ones who love the secret place and are not craving the applause of man or public spotlight, He is able to reward them openly.

Are you real with God? Do you pass the test of sincerity? Do you seek God in private? Do you praise and worship God in secret? Do you intercede when no one knows about it? There is a fresh invitation to the place of personal devotion. There is a call to draw near to God and diligently seek Him. There is a cry for a sincere and purehearted pursuit of God. Will you answer this call? Like Nathanael, may Jesus find you under the fig tree!