Jesus and the Fig Tree
By James Donahue
Among the strange Bible stories is that of the encounter Jesus had with a fig tree as told in Matthew 21:19 and Mark 11:13-14. It seems that while he and his disciples were hiking from Bethany Jesus comes to a fig tree where he looked for its fruit for a snack. But he found the tree barren of figs so he condemned it to wither and die.
“And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away.” Matthew 21:19
Of course the question we ask as Bible students is why Jesus would do such a thing. His unexpected attack on a fig tree like that seemed to serve no purpose except to give us an example of his power over living things of the Earth.
The Gospel of Mark offers a few hints, however: “And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it.” Mark 11:13-14
Mark then explains that the fig tree had its leaves before it was the “time of figs.” Fig trees develop their fruit in the early spring even as the leaves are budding. Thus it was unnatural for a leafed out fig tree to be barren of fruit. Thus it was that Jesus cursed the tree and according to Mark, “his disciples heard” what he said and were present to observe what happened to the fig tree. Yet neither account explains why the incident was carefully included in their written Gospels.
We turn to the Biblical scholars to help us understand the significance of this little story.
The Irish Methodist theologian Adam Clarke, who devoted some 40 years to writing a commentary on the whole Bible, explained that the incident occurred in late March when it was too early for the harvest of figs but since the tree had opened its leaves, it was not unreasonable for Jesus to expect to find fruit.
We must understand that the things Jesus did while traveling with his disciples were designed to teach. Thus, Clarke explained, the fig tree represented the state of the Jewish people; that they professed the true religion and considered themselves the special people of God, but were only hypocrites offering an abundance of leaves but no fruit. His cursing of the tree was a warning of what was to happen in the absence of repentance. If the people did not change their ways “there would come a total destruction and final ruin of the Jewish state at the hands of the Romans,” Clarke wrote.
Of course this is exactly what happened.
By James Donahue
Among the strange Bible stories is that of the encounter Jesus had with a fig tree as told in Matthew 21:19 and Mark 11:13-14. It seems that while he and his disciples were hiking from Bethany Jesus comes to a fig tree where he looked for its fruit for a snack. But he found the tree barren of figs so he condemned it to wither and die.
“And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away.” Matthew 21:19
Of course the question we ask as Bible students is why Jesus would do such a thing. His unexpected attack on a fig tree like that seemed to serve no purpose except to give us an example of his power over living things of the Earth.
The Gospel of Mark offers a few hints, however: “And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it.” Mark 11:13-14
Mark then explains that the fig tree had its leaves before it was the “time of figs.” Fig trees develop their fruit in the early spring even as the leaves are budding. Thus it was unnatural for a leafed out fig tree to be barren of fruit. Thus it was that Jesus cursed the tree and according to Mark, “his disciples heard” what he said and were present to observe what happened to the fig tree. Yet neither account explains why the incident was carefully included in their written Gospels.
We turn to the Biblical scholars to help us understand the significance of this little story.
The Irish Methodist theologian Adam Clarke, who devoted some 40 years to writing a commentary on the whole Bible, explained that the incident occurred in late March when it was too early for the harvest of figs but since the tree had opened its leaves, it was not unreasonable for Jesus to expect to find fruit.
We must understand that the things Jesus did while traveling with his disciples were designed to teach. Thus, Clarke explained, the fig tree represented the state of the Jewish people; that they professed the true religion and considered themselves the special people of God, but were only hypocrites offering an abundance of leaves but no fruit. His cursing of the tree was a warning of what was to happen in the absence of repentance. If the people did not change their ways “there would come a total destruction and final ruin of the Jewish state at the hands of the Romans,” Clarke wrote.
Of course this is exactly what happened.