The Barren Fig Tree

Apologetics Press ^ | 2006 | Kyle Butt, M.A.

[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. Mark’s 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 God’s 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.

REFERENCES

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), Skeptic’s 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).

[CynicalBear]

What part of "And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers" do you not understand.

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

we are told Ezekiel 36 pertains to the modern state of Israel.

ok, let’s test that theory:

Israel was formed in 1948, 67 years ago.
when did God sprinkle clean water upon them?
cleanse them from their filthiness?
give them a new heart?
put his spirit in them?
when did they start following his statutes?

all these things described above occur when someone is regenerated, translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s Son.

none of these things have happened to national Israel ( although individually some Jews have become Christian just like some have always in the last 2,000 years )

the promised land is heaven, dwelling with God forever.

[imardmd1]

It seems here to be a all or nothing thing, rather than a matter of degree. The tree had budding figs, or it did not. It wasn’t a question of it being scanty.

Every Bible passage needs some study to see what it literally means, You should look up fig farming.

Look up "breba" figs. They are the figs growing in the spring on last year's growth. Jesus reasonably was lookig for some "breba" figs to eat from this tree by the second week of Nisan. If there are leaves, the tree's growth is healthy, but if last year's growth does not produce "breba" figs, it didn't produce last year's summer figs either, and then neither will this year's growth produce summer figs. It will produce nothing but leaves. This usually has something to do with disease in the roots.

There's a moral to this story. The fruit of the Spirit is the perfection of Christ's character, spiritual maturity, in the human. But the fruit of the disciple is--year by year as one goes--more disciples (not just religious activity).

===========

Nothing But Leaves

The Master is seeking a harvest
In lives He's redeemed by His blood;
He seeks for the fruit of the Spirit,
And works that will glorify God.

He looks for His likeness reflected
In lives that are yielded and true;
He's looking for zeal in the winning
Of souls He's entrusted to you.

He's yearning for someone to carry
The life-giving word far and near;
He's waiting for hearts that are willing,
For ears that are open to hear.

Chorus:

Nothing but leaves for the Master,
Oh, how His loving heart grieves,
When instead of the fruit He is seeking,
We offer Him nothing but leaves.

--Mrs. H. S. Lehman, 1924

[firebrand]

I like your answer. If you don’t wait for your next paycheck or your next credit card cycle but do it now because Jesus asks it of you, you will live. Generosity that is done solely for Jesus and for no other reason is eternal.

[CynicalBear]

So you are saying that if it hasn't happened by now God isn't going to keep His promise to them?

>>the promised land is heaven, dwelling with God forever.<<

Here is what God said.

"And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers;"

Please show where God said "the land that I gave to your fathers" was heaven.