It is the only instance in the Bible where our Lord Jesus Christ used His miraculous power to destroy something in nature. Many who do not understand the Scriptures are eager to find fault or a negative connotation in this event. But what they do not understand is that Jesus intended for this event to be taken as a parable and it sets the stage for its sequel to be unfolded in his Olivet Discourse.
John the Baptist spoke directly to the skepticism of the Pharisees and Sadducees, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 3:8-10)
The principle that a tree should bring forth good fruit was taught by Jesus on several occasions. In the parable of the barren fig tree, Jesus used a fig tree (symbol of Israel) that had not yet produced fruit for three years to represent the nation of Israel. The fig tree in the parable had not produced any good fruit (ripe figs) during the three years of Christ’s ministry to the Jewish people. Jesus was telling Israel that His ministry with them was drawing to a close within the next year, and their opportunity to repent and accept Jesus as their Messiah would soon pass.
“And he told this parable: A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground? And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” (Luke 13:6-9) Since Israel did not produce good fruit (ripe figs) at Jesus’ first coming, the nation was cut down, as a tree, in 70 A.D. by the Roman army and the Jerusalem Temple was destroyed. So, is God done with Israel? As Paul wrote, “Certainly not!” (Romans 11:1)
Just as Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom was cut down like a tree and then restored, likewise the nation of Israel, represented by a fig tree, was cut down for failing to recognize Jesus as their Messiah and not recognizing “the time of thy visitation.” (Luke 19:44) The Kingdom of God was taken from Israel but will be restored after the Lord refines them “as silver is refined” and tests them “as gold is tested” at the end of the age. (Matthew 21:42-44; Zechariah 13:7-9; 14:1-16; Jeremiah 30; 31; 23:3-8; Romans 11:25-26; Hosea 6:1-3; Hebrews 8:10; Ezekiel 11:17-20; 36:22-29)
JESUS CURSES THE FIG TREE
Upon His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and final week, Jesus performs and speaks the parable. “And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it….And when evening came they went out of the city. As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.” (Mark 11:11-22)
Why do you say that the parable was “intended?” The fig tree usually produces leaves in March-April and then starts to bear fruit in June, with another crop in August, sometimes a third in December. Our Lord was not displaying unnecessary annoyance, Jesus knew the tree would not be in season, hence “a fig tree in leaf.” He seized this moment to state the parable, making lesson on failure to be fruitful. The day before Jesus had chased out the moneychangers from the temple as well. The condemning of the tree and the cleansing of the Temple were both symbolic acts that illustrated the sad spiritual condition of Israel: fruitless and corrupt.
THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE
Hours later on the Mount of Olives, Jesus is then asked by his disciples, “what will be the sign of your coming (return)?” After sharing the general conditions that will accompany His return, Jesus then speaks a second parable of the fig tree. “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and put out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” (Matthew 24:32-34)
Practically speaking, that when you see a fig tree with branches full of sap (becoming tender) and producing new leaves, these signs mean summer is near and its full harvest. Spiritually speaking, that when the fig tree (Israel) comes back to life, we are to know that Christ’s return is near. The generation that sees Israel come back to life will not die off until all the events involved with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ takes place. All current and future generations were to watch for this event. This parable could not be properly understood until Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. and the Jewish people later dispersed all over the world.
LUKE’S VERSION OF THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE
Not a contradiction, but Luke’s version of this parable gives additional insight as to what we are to watch for “the sign of your coming.” “And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place.” (Luke 21:29-32)
What are we to watch for? “Watch the fig tree and all the trees.” (verse 29) In other words, we are to watch the fig tree (Israel) and all the trees (Gentile nations). When the fig tree (Israel) and all the trees (Gentile nations) come to life, this parable denotes the generation that will see the countdown to the return of Christ begin. So how long is a “generation?” (Psalm 90:10)
For most of us, the fig tree (Israel) is identified when it came back to life officially on May 14, 1948 with the rebirth of the state of Israel and it has flourished ever since. Ours is the generation that has witnessed the miracle of the rebirth of Israel. But what about “all the trees?”
Just as noteworthy is the proliferation of nations during the 20th century. The growth of nations is a long, evolutionary process where dates of a country’s “formation” cannot always be objectively determined. Independence dates prior to 1919 are treated with caution, for centuries there was no international body to recognize statehood. Since the formation, expansion, division, dissolving and reorganizing of nations is subject to wars, internal conflicts and changes in leadership the number of independent sovereign states in the world has been subject to change.
But the role of the League of Nations in 1919 and which the United Nations took over in 1947 has changed all of that. In 1899 there were just 44 countries that had achieved statehood. The 20th century saw 147 new sovereign states added, with many splitting off from the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal and the Soviet Union. In the first half (1900-1950) 38 new states were created while the second half (1950-2000) experienced an explosion of 109 new sovereign states! Since 2000, only five new states have been added. Depending on your sources, today there are 195-197 recognized nations in the world.
The Pharisees and Sadducees were spiritually blind to the signs of Christ’s first coming. He acknowledged them for their ability to interpret the weather based on the appearance of the sky but chastised their failure to grasp “the signs of the times.”
In accordance with the words of Christ, do we recognize the “season” we live? Have “all the trees” flourished as well?
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