KHRIST PREMALAYA REGIONAL THEOLOGATE, ASHTA

(Affiliated to Pontifical Urbaniana University)

JESUS CURSES THE FIG TREE

A Paper submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Course in Theology

By
Roll No: 926

To

Rev. Dr. Fr. Savari Rayan (SVD)

ASHTA
2021
Introduction

The account of Jesus cursing the barren fig tree is found in two different gospel accounts.
First, it is seen in Matthew 21:18-22, and then also in Mark 11:12-14. Often people get
confused with this passage telling that why did Jesus get so emotional? The key to understand
this passage comes from understanding the context in which it happened. In order to properly
understand this passage, we must first look at the remote and historical settings. For example,
when did this occur, what was the setting, and where did it happen? Also, in order to fully
understand this passage, we need to have an understanding of the importance of the fig tree as
it relates to the nation of Israel and understand how the fig tree is often used in the Scriptures
to symbolically represent Israel.1

Remote Context

First, in looking at the general chronological setting of the passage, we see that it happened
during the week before His crucifixion. Jesus had entered Jerusalem a day earlier amid the
praise and worship of the Jewish people who were looking to Him as the King and Messiah
who was going to deliver them from Roman occupation (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11).
Now, the next day, Jesus is again on His way to Jerusalem from where He was staying in
Bethany. On His way, both Matthew and Mark record that He was hungry and saw a fig tree
in the distance that had leaves on it (Mark 11:13). Upon coming to the tree expecting to find
something to eat, Jesus instead discovered that the fig tree had no fruit on it and cursed the
tree saying, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” (Mark 11:14). Matthew records the
cursing and the withering of the fig tree all in one account and includes it after the account of
Jesus cleansing the Temple of the money changers. Mark explains that it actually took place
over two days, with Jesus cursing the fig tree the first day on the way to cleanse the Temple,
and the disciples seeing the tree withered on the second day when they were again going to
Jerusalem from Bethany (Mark 11:12-14 and Mark 11:19-20). Of course, upon seeing the
tree “withered from the roots up,” the disciples were amazed, as that would have normally
taken several weeks.2

Israel as Barren Fig Tree

1
John L. Mckenzie, Dictionary of the Bible (Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation, 1984), 261.
2
Robert A. Guelich, The gospel According to Mark (Cambridge: British Library Publication, 2002) 70.
As to the significance of this passage and what it means, the answer to that is again found in
the chronological setting and in understanding how a fig tree is often used symbolically to
represent Israel in the Scriptures. First of all, chronologically, Jesus had just arrived at
Jerusalem amid great fanfare and great expectations, but then proceeds to cleanse the Temple
and curse the barren fig tree. Both had significance as to the spiritual condition of Israel. With
His cleansing of the Temple and His criticism of the worship that was going on there (Mark
11:17), Jesus was effectively denouncing Israel’s worship of God. With the cursing of the fig
tree, He was symbolically denouncing Israel as a nation and, in a sense, even denouncing
unfruitful “Christians” (that is, people who profess to be Christian but have no evidence of a
relationship with Christ). The presence of a fruitful fig tree was considered to be a symbol of
blessing and prosperity for the nation of Israel. Likewise, the absence or death of a fig tree
would symbolize judgment and rejection.3 Symbolically, the fig tree represented the spiritual
deadness of Israel, who while very religious outwardly with all the sacrifices and ceremonies,
were spiritually barren because of their sins. By cleansing the Temple and cursing the fig
tree, causing it to wither and die, Jesus was pronouncing His coming judgment of Israel and
demonstrating His power to carry it out. It also teaches the principle that religious profession
and observance are not enough to guarantee salvation, unless there is the fruit of genuine
salvation evidenced in the life of the person. Epistle of James would later echo this truth
when he wrote that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). The lesson of the fig tree is
that we should bear spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), not just give an appearance of
religiosity. God judges fruitlessness, and expects that those who have a relationship with Him
will “bear much fruit” (John 15:5-8).4

Significance of Fig tree

Having reviewed the general chronological setting of the story, we can begin to answer some
of many questions that are often asked of it. First of all is the question, why did Jesus curse
the fig tree if it was not the right season for figs? The answer to this question can be
determined by studying the characteristics of fig trees. The fruit of the fig tree generally
appears before the leaves, and, because the fruit is green it blends in with the leaves right up
until it is almost ripe. Therefore, when Jesus and His disciples saw from a distance that the
tree had leaves, they would have expected it to also have fruit on it even though it was earlier
in the season than what would be normal for a fig tree to be bearing fruit. Also, each tree
3
Raymond E. Brown and Joseph A. Fitzmyer, eds., The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (Bangalore:
TPI, 2019), 619,620.
4
Robert A. Guelich, The gospel According to Mark (Cambridge: British Library Publication, 2002)
would often produce two to three crops of figs each season. There would be an early crop in
the spring followed by one or two later crops. In some parts of Israel, depending on climate
and conditions, it was also possible that a tree might produce fruit ten out of twelve months.
This also explains why Jesus and His disciples would be looking for fruit on the fig tree even
if it was not in the main growing season. The fact that the tree already had leaves on it even
though it was at a higher elevation around Jerusalem, and therefore would have been outside
the normal season for figs, would have seemed to be a good indication that there would also
be fruit on it.5

Message for Us Today

Cursing the fig tree is not just about historical Israel. It’s about us. It’s about all the people of
God throughout time. In fact, this passage does not just remind us that a Christian by
definition must produce spiritual fruit, it is also about the threat of temptation toward false
pretences of fruit. The fig tree, like the bustling temple courts during Passover, was putting
on a good show. And that made it all the worse. It’s one thing to lack fruit out of season. It’s
another thing to lack it while pretending you have it.

Conclusion
Jesus had a much higher agenda than thrashing out his anger due to the tree’s inability to
appease his hunger. A strong point about the coming destruction of the temple and judgment
on the nation could be the reason Jesus wanted the disciples to witness such a shocking scene.
Though there are different interpretations exist, the dominant view tells the scene as a
judgment theme even an indication of harshness lies underneath it.
Bibliography
Edwards, James R., The Gospel According to Mark, Cambridge: British Library Publications,
2002.
Gulich, Robert A., Word Biblical Commentary, USA: Word Book Publisher Commentary,
1989
Brown, E, Raymond and Fitzmyer, A, Joseph, eds., The New Jerome Biblical Commentary Bangalore:
TPI, 2019.

5
Robert A. Guelich, The gospel According to Mark (Cambridge: British Library Publication, 2002) 71.