Posted on 03/31/2015 8:25:14 AM PDT by RnMomof7
Upon encountering the story of Jesus cursing the barren fig tree, the average Bible student is slightly taken aback by the strangeness of the events that occur. Marks account records the story as follows:
Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, Let no one eat fruit from you ever again. And His disciples heard it.... Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away (11:12-14,20-21, emp. added).
One prominent question naturally arises from a straightforward reading of the text. Why would Jesus curse a fig tree that did not have figs on it, especially since the text says that it was not the season for figs? In response to this puzzling question, skeptical minds have let themselves run wild with accusations regarding the passage. Steve Wells, the author of The Skeptics Annotated Bible, labeled this story as an absurdity and said in a sarcastic tone: Jesus kills a fig tree for not bearing figs, even though it was out of season. He did this to show the world just how much God hates figs (2006, emp. added). Louis Cable, another skeptic, responded to the story with this statement: Now to curse a fig tree for not bearing fruit in March is not unlike kicking a dog because it can not speak English thereby punishing it for the inability to do the impossible (n.d.).
Is it the case that Jesus capriciously, out of anger, cursed the fig tree for not bearing fruit, even though the tree was incapable of producing? With a little research, one quickly ascertains that such is not the case. Not only does an excellent reason exist for the curse upon the fig tree, but an equally good spiritual application should be considered as well.
When Jesus approached the fig tree, the text indicates that the tree had plenty of leaves. R.K. Harrison, writing in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, explains that various kinds of figs grew in Palestine during the first century. One very important aspect of fig growth has to do with the relationship between the leaf and the fruit. Harrison notes that the tiny figs, known to the Arabs as taksh, appear simultaneously in the leaf axils (1982, 2:302) This taksh is edible and is often gathered for sale in the markets (2:302). Furthermore, the text notes: When the young leaves are appearing in spring, every fertile fig will have some taksh on it.... But if a tree with leaves has no fruit, it will be barren for the entire season (2:301-302).
Thus, when Jesus approached the leafy fig tree, He had every reason to suspect that something edible would be on it. However, after inspecting the tree, Mark records that He found nothing but leaves. No taksh were budding as they should have been if the tree was going to produce edible figs that year. The tree appeared to be fruitful, but it only had outward signs of bearing fruit (leaves) and in truth offered nothing of value to weary travelers.
In addition, anyone even slightly familiar with the character of Jesus knows that He did not spend His time on this Earth eradicating barren fig trees as an ecological service to Palestinian farmers. What, then, was the point of such abrupt action against the tree? When one notices the context of the event, Jesus intention seems to become apparent and two fold. First, in its immediate context, the barren fig tree seems to apply to the pretentious religion of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. Following Jesus curse upon the fig tree, the text says that Jesus went to Jerusalem and began to drive the money changers out of the temple (Mark 11:15-19). The activities in the temple that once had been fruitful and wholesome had become empty of value and useless. Allen Black commented: The cursing of the fig tree symbolizes Gods judgment on Israel for not bearing the fruit he wanted from the temple. It foreshadows the cleansing of the temple and ultimately the prophecy of its destruction in chapter 13 (1995, p. 200).
Second, in a general sense, Jesus often insisted that trees which do not bear good fruit will be cut down (Matthew 7:19; Luke 13:6-9). The fig tree did not bear fruit, was useless, and deserved to be destroyed: the spiritual application being that any human who does not bear fruit for God will also be destroyed for his or her failure to produce.
Jesus did not throw a temper tantrum and curse the fig tree even though it was incapable of producing fruit. He cursed the tree because it should have been growing fruit since it had the outward signs of productivity. Jesus calculated timing underscored the spiritual truth that barren spiritual trees eventually run out of time. As for personal application, we should all diligently strive to ensure that we are not the barren fig tree.
Black, Allen (1995), The Book of Mark (Joplin, MO: College Press).
Cable, Louis (no date), Some Famous New Testament Forgeries, [On-line], URL: http://www.inu.net/skeptic/ntforge.html.
Wells, Steve (2006), Skeptics Annotated Bible, [On-line], URL: http://www.Skepticsannotatedbible.com.
Harrison, R.K. (1982), Fig, Fig Tree, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans).
Me too
ah, there are two Israel’s in the Scriptures.
the Israel of the old covenant was Israel after the flesh, national Israel. this Israel was a type of the true Israel.
the kingdom was taken from this Israel due to unbelief and given to a new nation.
the Israel of the new covenant is the true Israel of God, the new nation that has been given the kingdom. this Israel is based not on flesh, but on faith. Jesus Christ is the Israel of God, the promised descendant of father Abraham, so anyone in Christ is a true heir to the promises made to Abraham. the true Israel is comprised of both Jews and Gentiles, who are made one in the Body of Christ.
national Israel will no longer bear fruit, it is the spiritual Israel that all the nations of the world will be blessed.
How do you figure that? National Israel is being brought back together ever since 1948
Jesus is concerned with spiritual fruit, i.e. faith.
The fact that Jews have formed a nation they call Israel does not negate the fact that the kingdom was taken from national Israel and given to another nation.
National Israel will never bear fruit again, we look to the new nation to bear fruit.
Do you know what nation it is that bears fruit?
Have you moved back to the land God promised to bring His people back to?
Good article. Thank you.
The scholars should know the historical context, customs and in this case the agricultural and forestry of the time.
When exegesis is used fully, and not partially, the end product is usually solid.
One of the earlier theologians and teachers John Gill was very good at this.
What hubris.
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Romans 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
What did you say about God revoking the promises to Israel?
I am moving to the land described in Hebrews 11:13-16.
it really helps to realize the OT is chocked full of types and shadows pointing to Jesus Christ.
God is concerned with saving souls and reconciling the world to Himself in the Body of His Son, not some plot of dirt in the Middle East.
What did you say about God revoking the promises to Israel
I said zippo about revoking promises.
I said the kingdom was taken from national Israel and given to a new nation.
The kingdom remains open to all who believe and the covenant made with Abraham has not been voided.
This story about the fig tree is most likely Mark's attempt to clarify Jesus' actions in the Temple.
He uses a sandwich technique here and in other areas by placing the initial curse on the tree before Jesus' actions in the Temple and then finding it withered afterwards.
The destruction of the tree is tied to the actions in the Temple and most likely indicates not the rejection of the nation but prophesies the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.
So God lied to the Israelites in your view?
Ezekiel 36:24 God is concerned with saving souls and reconciling the world to Himself in the Body of His Son, not some plot of dirt in the Middle East.
Jeremiah 30:3 For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
Oh but you did. You may not have realized it but you did.
The kingdom remains open to all who believe and the covenant made with Abraham has not been voided
agree with your first point. the kingdom is based on faith, not DNA.
the covenant made with Abraham is fulfilled in Jesus Christ:
and if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29
Jeremiah 30 refers to “my people Isrsel”
hmm, interesting language.
who are God’s people today?
are those with Hebrew DNA “God’s people”?
not according to Peter:
1 Peter 2:9-10
but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, A HOLY NATION, GOD’S OWN PEOPLE, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were NO PEOPLE, now YOU ARE GOD’S PEOPLE; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Peter is describing those in the true Israel of God, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I dare say 95% of the people inhabiting the land called Israel with Jewish DNA, utterly reject Jesus Christ as Messiah. these are not God’s people if Peter is to be believed.
I also recommend reading Matthew 21:43 to see Jesus saying the kingdom would be given to the NATION Peter tells us we are.
Which part of "I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it' did you not understand?
Which part of “I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it’ did you not understand
what does it profit a man to “possess” some dirt in the Middle East and then die and spend eternity in hell because you did not believe Jesus Christ is the messiah, sent by the Father?
Romans 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Ezekiel 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
one has to be truly spiritually blind not to realize Ezekiel 36 is describing those who are spiritually regenerated in Christ, born again.
it has absolutely nothing at all to do with unbelievers forming a physical nation in the Middle East.
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