True Israelite

John 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses wrote in the Law and whom the prophets wrote about, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” And Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, and said of him, Behold, he is truly an Israelite; in him there is no deceit. But Nathanael said, How do you know me? Jesus answered, “I saw you when you were under the fig tree, before Philip called you.” The true Israelites appear in the Bible in Chapter 1 of the Gospel of John. When Philip told his friend Nathanael about Jesus, Nathanael asked him if anything good could come out of Nazareth, said that Jesus was a true Israelite, and said that he saw him under the fig tree. Let’s look for Bible verses related to the fig tree mentioned here. 1 Kings 4:25 While Solomon lived, Judah and Israel lived in peace from Dan to Beersheba, each one under a vine and under a fig tree. Judges 9:10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, “Come and reign over us.” And the fig tree said to them, “Why should I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go and exult over the trees?” Solomon was a king who correctly judged good and evil. So everyone lived in peace, and it is said that they lived under vines and fig trees. In Chapter 9 of Judges, Abimelech kills all his brothers and becomes king, and Jotham, the last remaining one, gives an example. When he asks the fig tree to become king, the fig tree says that he cannot become king because he has abandoned his fruit, the true Israel. In other words, Jesus is saying that Nathanael is the fruit under the fig tree. As evidence, the Jews were hoping for a king like David because he was a Jew. Before Paul became Paul, he was Saul. Saul is from the tribe of Benjamin and is the first king of Israel. In other words, Paul also wanted a king like his ancestor Saul. However, the true Israel was waiting for a good Messiah. They hoped for a king who could correctly judge good and evil like Solomon. 1 Kings 3:9 Who is able to judge this great people of yours? Give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, to discern between good and evil. Solomon became king at a young age and was unable to make sound decisions, so he offered a thousand burnt offerings. Then God asked what he wanted, and Solomon asked for the wisdom to properly discern between good and evil. Therefore, those who live in peace under a king who correctly judges good and evil are true Israelites. That is why true Israelites wait for the good Messiah.