In Mark 11:12-14 Jesus comes across a fig tree. In that part of the world, fig trees are common. Apparently, based on these passages, fig trees bear figs only in certain times of the year.
When Jesus comes across a fig tree, figs are out of season. Jesus was expecting, presumably, to find figs on it to eat, and all he finds are leaves. Jesus then curses the tree for not having figs. What to make of his reaction? After all, God, in addition to the heavens and the earth and all living things, created the seasons. As such, the fig tree was powerless to produce figs out of season. Yet Jesus is apparently angry at it. Is there a lesson here?
Some of Jesus’ disciples, including Peter, were with him when he cursed the fig tree, and in Verses 20-24 they pass by the tree the next morning, to find it withered. Peter brings it to Jesus’ attention. Jesus responds to him, saying “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.”
There is no doubt of the lesson, but it seems odd to make a fig tree wither to make that point. Perhaps it harkens back to Genesis 1:26 in which God says for man to have dominion over the earth? Does Jesus causing the fig tree to wither a demonstration of man’s power over the earth? Here is a question...The earth is ruled by Satan. If man can cause mountains to be thrown into the ocean with God’s help, then why can’t he destroy Satan with His help as well, through prayer? Think of all the sin and temptation to sin that could be abolished. Is Satan no more powerful than a fig tree, as far as God is concerned?
After reading the passages about the fig tree, if the point is to show the power though prayer, then instead of causing the fig tree to whither, why couldn’t Jesus make the fig tree produce figs despite figs being out of season? Would not God have no objection to bearing fruit?
Or is the lesson here that man’s power through prayer is unbridled, and it is up to us in our faith in God to know the wisdom to use such power carefully? Now we’re really stretching away from the fig tree, I guess.
Newton, this commentary on THE FIG TREE really helps to understand why Jesus did that and what lessons are in it for you and me.
Hope you find it a blessing ~
The entire night Jesus spent in prayer, and in the morning He came again to the temple. On the way He passed a fig orchard. He was hungry, “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.” DA 581.3
It was not the season for ripe figs, except in certain localities; and on the highlands about Jerusalem it might truly be said, “The time of figs was not yet.”
But in the orchard to which Jesus came, one tree appeared to be in advance of all the others. It was already covered with leaves. It is the nature of the fig tree that before the leaves open, the growing fruit appears. Therefore this tree in full leaf gave promise of well-developed fruit.
But its appearance was deceptive. Upon searching its branches, from the lowest bough to the topmost twig, Jesus found “nothing but leaves.” It was a mass of pretentious foliage, nothing more. DA 581.4
Christ uttered against it a withering curse. “No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever,” He said. The next morning, as the Saviour and His disciples were again on their way to the city, the blasted branches and drooping leaves attracted their attention. “Master,” said Peter, “behold, the fig tree which Thou cursedst is withered away.” DA 582.1
Christ's act in cursing the fig tree had astonished the disciples. It seemed to them unlike His ways and works. Often they had heard Him declare that He came not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. They remembered His words, “The Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.”
Luke 9:56. His wonderful works had been done to restore, never to destroy. The disciples had known Him only as the Restorer, the Healer. This act stood alone. What was its purpose? they questioned. DA 582.2
God “delighteth in mercy.” “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.”
Micah 7:18;
Ezekiel 33:11. To Him the work of destruction and the denunciation of judgment is a “strange work.”
Isaiah 28:21. But it is in mercy and love that He lifts the veil from the future, and reveals to men the results of a course of sin. DA 582.3
The cursing of the fig tree was an acted parable. That barren tree, flaunting its pretentious foliage in the very face of Christ, was a symbol of the Jewish nation. The Saviour desired to make plain to His disciples the cause and the certainty of Israel's doom. For this purpose He invested the tree with moral qualities, and made it the expositor of divine truth. The Jews stood forth distinct from all other nations, professing allegiance to God. They had been specially favored by Him, and they laid claim to righteousness above every other people. But they were corrupted by the love of the world and the greed of gain. They boasted of their knowledge, but they were ignorant of the requirements of God, and were full of hypocrisy. Like the barren tree, they spread their pretentious branches aloft, luxuriant in appearance, and beautiful to the eye, but they yielded “nothing but leaves.” The Jewish religion, with its magnificent temple, its sacred altars, its mitered priests and impressive ceremonies, was indeed fair in outward appearance, but humility, love, and benevolence were lacking. DA 582.4
All the trees in the fig orchard were destitute of fruit; but the leafless trees raised no expectation, and caused no disappointment. By these trees the Gentiles were represented. They were as destitute as were the Jews of godliness; but they had not professed to serve God. They made no boastful pretensions to goodness. They were blind to the works and ways of God. With them the time of figs was not yet. They were still waiting for a day which would bring them light and hope. The Jews, who had received greater blessings from God, were held accountable for their abuse of these gifts. The privileges of which they boasted only increased their guilt. DA 583.1
Jesus had come to the fig tree hungry, to find food. So He had come to Israel, hungering to find in them the fruits of righteousness. He had lavished on them His gifts, that they might bear fruit for the blessing of the world. Every opportunity and privilege had been granted them, and in return He sought their sympathy and co-operation in His work of grace. He longed to see in them self-sacrifice and compassion, zeal for God, and a deep yearning of soul for the salvation of their fellow men. Had they kept the law of God, they would have done the same unselfish work that Christ did. But love to God and man was eclipsed by pride and self-sufficiency. They brought ruin upon themselves by refusing to minister to others. The treasures of truth which God had committed to them, they did not give to the world. In the barren tree they might read both their sin and its punishment. Withered beneath the Saviour's curse, standing forth sere and blasted, dried up by the roots, the fig tree showed what the Jewish people would be when the grace of God was removed from them. Refusing to impart blessing, they would no longer receive it. “O Israel,” the Lord says, “thou hast destroyed thyself.”
Hosea 13:9. DA 583.2
The warning is for all time. Christ's act in cursing the tree which His own power had created stands as a warning to all churches and to all Christians. No one can live the law of God without ministering to others. But there are many who do not live out Christ's merciful, unselfish life.
Some who think themselves excellent Christians do not understand what constitutes service for God. They plan and study to please themselves. They act only in reference to self. Time is of value to them only as they can gather for themselves. In all the affairs of life this is their object. Not for others but for themselves do they minister. God created them to live in a world where unselfish service must be performed. He designed them to help their fellow men in every possible way. But self is so large that they cannot see anything else. They are not in touch with humanity. Those who thus live for self are like the fig tree, which made every pretension but was fruitless. They observe the forms of worship, but without repentance or faith. In profession they honor the law of God, but obedience is lacking. They say, but do not. In the sentence pronounced on the fig tree Christ demonstrates how hateful in His eyes is this vain pretense. He declares that the open sinner is less guilty than is he who professes to serve God, but who bears no fruit to His glory. DA 584.1