📌 NEXT WEEK AUGUST 10-16, 2026.

TREASURES WEEKLY Theme: What Made “Figs” Good or Bad

Have you ever noticed how two people can go through almost the same experience yet come out of it completely differently? One person becomes wiser, more humble, and stronger. Another becomes bitter, stubborn, or distant. The experience itself was the same, but the outcome was very different. Why? Because what truly shapes a person is not simply what happens to him; it is how he responds. That is a principle we see repeatedly in the Bible, and nowhere is it illustrated more vividly than in Jeremiah chapter 24.

At first glance, the vision Jehovah gave Jeremiah seems rather simple. There were two baskets of figs placed before Jehovah’s temple. One basket contained very good figs, the kind that were ripe and desirable. The other contained figs so bad they could not be eaten. But this was not a lesson about fruit. It was a lesson about people. More importantly, it was a lesson about the kind of heart Jehovah values.

What makes this account especially interesting is that both groups belonged to the same nation. Both were descendants of Abraham. Both knew Jehovah’s name. Yet Jehovah viewed one group as “very good figs” and the other as rotten figs that were fit for nothing. That immediately teaches us something important. Jehovah does not judge people simply because of where they come from, what privileges they have enjoyed, or what title they may carry. He looks much deeper. He examines what is happening in the heart.

That should encourage us, but it should also move us to think carefully. None of us wants to assume that everything is fine simply because we attend meetings, share in the ministry, or have served Jehovah for many years. Those things are precious, but Jehovah never stops looking at the condition of our heart. His desire is not merely that we appear faithful on the outside. He wants us to remain loyal from the inside.

To understand this vision, we first need to appreciate the situation God’s people were facing. Jerusalem was going through one of the darkest periods in its history. Babylon had already carried many Jews into exile. To those remaining in Jerusalem, it probably looked as though the captives were the unfortunate ones. After all, they had lost their homes, been separated from relatives, and were now living in a foreign land. Those still living in Jerusalem likely considered themselves the fortunate ones. They still had the city. They still had the temple. They were still living in the Promised Land.

But Jehovah saw matters very differently.

When Jeremiah described the vision, Jehovah identified the captives taken into Babylon as the good figs. That must have surprised many people. How could those who had been carried away be described in such a positive way?

The answer was not found in their circumstances. It was found in Jehovah’s purpose for them and in the attitude they would eventually develop.

Among those captives were faithful individuals whose names are very familiar to us today. Daniel was there. So were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Ezekiel was also among those taken into exile. Their lives had changed dramatically. They were no longer living in Judah. They were surrounded by a pagan culture that constantly pressured them to compromise their faith.

Yet those faithful servants did not allow difficult circumstances to weaken their relationship with Jehovah. If anything, they drew even closer to him.

Daniel continued praying faithfully, even when doing so placed his life in danger. His three companions refused to bow before the golden image, even though they faced the fiery furnace. Ezekiel faithfully carried out a challenging prophetic assignment among discouraged exiles.

These were not perfect men. But they were people whose hearts remained loyal to Jehovah.

That helps us understand why Jehovah referred to the captives as good figs.

Notice that Jehovah did not merely say he knew who they were. He lovingly said that he would set his eye upon them in a good way.

What a beautiful expression.

Parents often keep a close eye on someone they deeply love, especially when that person is facing hardship. They are always watching, not because they are suspicious, but because they care.

In an even greater way, Jehovah was watching over these faithful exiles.

Although they had been removed from their homeland, they had not been removed from Jehovah’s care.

That is an encouraging lesson for us.

Sometimes faithful Christians go through circumstances they never expected. Serious illness may interrupt years of active service. Financial difficulties may force major changes. Political unrest may require moving to another place. Others may experience family problems or persecution because of their faith.

From a human standpoint, such situations can make us wonder whether we have somehow lost Jehovah’s blessing.

The account of the good figs reminds us that difficult circumstances are not proof that Jehovah has abandoned us.

In fact, some of Jehovah’s greatest servants accomplished remarkable things while facing difficult circumstances.

Think of Daniel again.

Had he remained comfortably in Jerusalem, would Jehovah have used him in the extraordinary way recorded in the Bible?

Would he have interpreted dreams for kings?

Would he have witnessed Jehovah’s power in the lions’ pit?

Would he have received those remarkable prophecies that continue strengthening our faith today?

Humanly speaking, exile looked like a tragedy.

From Jehovah’s viewpoint, it became part of a much greater purpose.

That reminds us that Jehovah often sees blessings developing long before we can recognize them ourselves.

Sometimes we pray for Jehovah to remove a difficult situation, but instead he gives us the strength to remain faithful while passing through it.

Only later do we realize how much we have grown spiritually because of that experience.

The Jewish exiles eventually experienced something they could never have imagined when they first arrived in Babylon.

After many years, Jehovah moved King Cyrus to issue a decree allowing them to return to their homeland.

What joy that must have brought!

The journey had been long.

The discipline had been painful.

But Jehovah had not forgotten his promise.

A faithful remnant returned to Jerusalem.

They rebuilt the city.

They rebuilt the temple.

Most importantly, they returned to Jehovah with their whole heart.

Notice that last point.

Their greatest blessing was not simply returning home.

Their greatest blessing was returning to a close relationship with Jehovah.

That is always Jehovah’s ultimate goal.

Whenever he disciplines, guides, or trains his servants, it is never merely about changing circumstances.

It is about drawing hearts closer to him.

That lesson still applies today.

None of us is living in literal exile.

But all of us live in a world that constantly pressures us to think differently from Jehovah.

Every day we are surrounded by attitudes that encourage independence, selfish ambition, pride, and moral compromise.

Remaining spiritually healthy requires the same determination shown by those faithful exiles.

Like Daniel, we must choose faithfulness even when no one else seems to be doing so.

Like Ezekiel, we continue serving Jehovah even if our assignment becomes difficult.

Like those faithful Jews who eventually returned, we keep our confidence that Jehovah always fulfills his promises.

As we think about the good figs, another comforting truth becomes clear.

Jehovah never measures us by our location, our position, or our outward circumstances.

He measures us by our heart.

Someone may have impressive privileges yet gradually allow pride to develop.

Another servant may quietly endure difficult circumstances while remaining loyal every single day.

Jehovah sees both.

Nothing escapes his attention.

That realization should never make us anxious.

Instead, it should reassure us.

Our heavenly Father notices every act of faithfulness that perhaps no one else ever sees.

Every sincere prayer…

Every difficult decision to obey Bible principles…

Every sacrifice made out of love for him…

Every quiet act of endurance…

None of it is overlooked.

Jehovah’s eyes remain upon those whose hearts belong to him.

That naturally leads us to the second basket in Jeremiah’s vision.

If the good figs were identified by their humble response to Jehovah, what made the other figs so bad that they were completely unfit?

That answer is just as important for us today because it helps us recognize attitudes we must carefully avoid.

The contrast between the two baskets of figs teaches us that Jehovah is not only looking for people who have opportunities to serve him; he is looking for people who have a heart that responds to him. The first group allowed Jehovah’s discipline to shape them. But the second group resisted correction and continued in a course that showed they did not truly value their relationship with him.

Those remaining in Jerusalem during Jeremiah’s time may have felt secure. They still had the temple. They still lived in the land. They may have believed that their connection with the city and the temple guaranteed Jehovah’s protection. But Jehovah showed that physical surroundings or religious association alone could not make someone acceptable to him.

The problem was not that they lacked information. Jehovah had repeatedly warned them through his prophets. They knew what Jehovah expected. They knew the consequences of disobedience. Yet they continued refusing to change.

Among those described as bad figs was King Zedekiah and those who remained in Jerusalem after the earlier exiles had been taken away. Sadly, Zedekiah had opportunities to respond differently. Jehovah lovingly provided guidance through Jeremiah, but instead of listening, Zedekiah repeatedly rejected it.

One example shows the condition of his heart. When Jeremiah delivered Jehovah’s message, Zedekiah did not humbly accept the correction. Instead, he allowed fear of people and political pressure to influence him. Eventually, he rebelled against Babylon, breaking the oath he had made, and brought terrible consequences upon himself and the nation.

But perhaps the most tragic part was not simply that Zedekiah made mistakes. All imperfect humans make mistakes. The deeper problem was his unwillingness to humble himself and accept Jehovah’s direction.

That is what made him like a bad fig.

A bad fig was not simply a fig with a small imperfection. It was spoiled from within. It had reached a condition where it was no longer useful.

Spiritually speaking, the danger is that a person can allow a wrong attitude to develop inside until correction no longer moves him.

That is why the heart is such an important focus in Jeremiah’s writings.

Jehovah does not only examine actions. He examines motives, desires, and attitudes.

Two people might make the same mistake, but Jehovah can see the difference between someone who is sincerely sorry and someone who has no desire to change.

One person may respond to correction by saying, “I need to improve. I want Jehovah’s help.”

Another may respond by making excuses, blaming others, or becoming resentful.

The outward situation may look similar, but the heart condition is completely different.

This is why the account of the figs is so valuable for us today.

It is not simply asking, “Am I doing the right things?”

It encourages us to ask, “What kind of person am I becoming?”

Am I allowing Jehovah to shape my thinking?

Am I quick to accept correction?

Am I willing to make adjustments when I see something in myself that needs attention?

Those questions are not meant to make us feel discouraged. They are evidence of Jehovah’s loving care. A person who regularly examines himself gives Jehovah the opportunity to help him remain spiritually healthy.

The apostle Paul expressed a similar attitude when he encouraged Christians to examine themselves. This is not because he believed faithful Christians were automatically in danger of becoming bad people. Rather, he understood the importance of regularly checking the condition of our heart.

A person who maintains a healthy heart does not wait until there is a serious problem before taking action.

Think about physical health.

A wise person pays attention to warning signs. If something seems unusual, he does not ignore it and hope it disappears. He takes action because he values his health.

The same is true spiritually.

Perhaps we notice that we are becoming less enthusiastic about spiritual things.

Perhaps prayer becomes more routine instead of personal.

Perhaps Bible reading becomes something we do only when convenient.

Perhaps we begin allowing entertainment, material goals, or the opinions of others to influence our thinking more than Jehovah’s principles.

These may seem like small things, but small changes in direction can eventually take someone far away.

That is why honest self-examination is so valuable.

King David gave an excellent example of this attitude. He asked Jehovah to examine him and reveal if there was any harmful way in him.

What a humble prayer!

David was not assuming that he had nothing to improve. Even though he was a faithful servant of Jehovah, he wanted Jehovah’s help to see himself clearly.

That is the attitude of someone who wants to remain a good fig in Jehovah’s eyes.

We should never think, “I have served Jehovah for many years, so I no longer need to examine myself.”

In fact, the longer we serve Jehovah, the more we appreciate our need for his help.

A mature Christian understands that spiritual growth never stops.

There are always qualities to strengthen.

There are always attitudes to refine.

There are always opportunities to become more like Christ.

And Jehovah lovingly helps us in that process.

One way he does this is through his Word.

The Bible acts like a mirror. It does not simply tell us what we want to hear. It reveals areas where adjustments may be needed.

Sometimes a scripture may highlight an attitude we need to change.

Sometimes a Bible account may reveal a quality we need to develop.

Sometimes a principle may help us see a situation from Jehovah’s viewpoint rather than our own.

The question is: How do we respond when Jehovah’s Word reveals something about us?

Do we become defensive?

Or do we allow it to shape us?

The good figs teach us the right response.

They accepted Jehovah’s dealings with them.

They allowed their experiences to draw them closer to him.

They did not view correction as proof that Jehovah had rejected them.

Instead, they recognized that Jehovah was helping them.

That is an important lesson because at times we may also receive correction or direction that challenges us.

Maybe a Bible principle affects a personal choice we have made.

Maybe counsel helps us see that our attitude needs adjustment.

Maybe we realize that we need to make changes in our priorities.

At such moments, we have a choice.

We can be like the good figs and allow Jehovah to refine us.

Or we can become like the bad figs and resist because we do not want to change.

The difference is not whether we have weaknesses.

Everyone does.

The difference is whether we have a heart that is willing to respond.

Jehovah does not expect perfection from imperfect humans.

But he does expect humility.

He looks for people who love him enough to listen, adjust, and keep moving forward.

That is why the message of Jeremiah’s vision is so encouraging.

It does not simply warn us about what to avoid.

It shows us what Jehovah values.

He values a heart that trusts him.

He values humility.

He values loyalty even during difficult circumstances.

He values those who allow him to shape them.

And when Jehovah finds such a heart, he responds with love.

So how can we continue being like good figs today?

We can do so by regularly examining ourselves and making needed adjustments.

We can ask Jehovah to help us see our true condition.

We can accept counsel with humility.

We can keep our relationship with him as our greatest treasure.

Because ultimately, being a “good fig” is not about appearing good before others.

It is about being precious in Jehovah’s eyes.

Conclusion

The vision of the two baskets of figs reminds us that Jehovah sees beyond appearances.

The people in Jerusalem may have looked secure because they still had the city and the temple. But Jehovah saw something deeper. He saw hearts.

The exiled Jews who remained loyal to him were like good figs because they allowed their experiences to draw them closer to Jehovah. The others became like bad figs because they resisted correction and refused to change.

Today, Jehovah is still examining hearts.

He is not looking for perfect people because none of us could meet that standard. Instead, he looks for people who are humble, teachable, and willing to adjust.

So we can regularly ask ourselves: “What does Jehovah see when he looks at my heart?”

Do I allow his Word to guide me?

Do I respond positively when I receive loving correction?

Do I continue strengthening my friendship with him?

If we keep that attitude, we can be confident that Jehovah will continue to view us favorably.

Like the good figs in Jeremiah’s vision, we can remain precious in his eyes—not because we are without faults, but because we have a heart that wants to please him.

And there is no greater privilege than knowing that Jehovah looks upon us with approval and continues caring for us as his beloved servants.