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Major events in Jesus' life in the Gospels

Nativity Baptism Temptation Ministry Commissioning Disciples & Apostles Sermon on the Mount Miracles Rejection Transfiguration Entering Jerusalem Temple Incident Cursing the Fig Tree Giving the Great Commandment Anointing Last Supper Promising a Paraclete Passion Arrest Sanhedrin Trial Before Pilate Crucifixion Entombment Empty Tomb Resurrection appearances Giving the Great Commission Ascension Second Coming Prophecy This box: view • talk • edit

For the plant, see Ficus. See also Figtree.

The parable of the barren fig tree is a parable of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Luke.^[1] The parable has no parallels in other gospels. A vinekeeper holds out hope that a barren fig tree will bear fruit.

He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

– KJV

The gospels of Matthew and Mark include an account of Jesus withering a fig tree. In (Matthew 21:18–22) and Mark (Mark 11:12–14 and Mark 20-24), Jesus and some associates are leaving Bethany when Jesus approaches a fig tree to collect fruit from it. Since it is the Passover season which would have been early April, the time for figs had not passed. That is, the figs would still be upon the trees and not yet gathered. Hence, when Jesus approaches the fig tree it made no sense that it would have leaves advertising fruit it did not bear. Seeing this, Jesus curses the fig tree to never bear fruit again. In Mark, the next day Simon Peter notices that the fig tree has withered. In Matthew, the fig tree withers immediately and is noticed at that time by unnamed disciples.

Contents 1 Interpretations 2 Christian teaching on the 'Withering of the Fig Tree' 3 The Cursing of the Barren Fig Tree- Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 11 4 The Redemption of the Fig Tree, Luke 13:6-9 5 Notes 5.1 References

See also: Mark 11

N.B. The fig is not actually a fruit, but special structure that is both flower and fruit. Healthy fig trees have figs on them all year round as the next crop is already growing when the current crop is ready. C.f. Fig

The incident with the tree occurs in Mark immediately before and then after Jesus' conflict with the Temple money changers. The cursing of the tree displays Jesus' power and the power of prayer coupled with full belief in God. Mark, placing the fig tree before and after the incident in the Temple, may be using the fig tree as a metaphor, as Jesus himself might have, for what he sees as the barrenness of the priests and the withering of their teaching and authority due to their lack of true faith. As Jesus hoped to find fruit on the fig tree, Jesus hoped to find "fruit", the fruit of true worship of God, at the Temple. The Temple, like the fig tree, is cursed.

Simon Peter observes that the tree withered. Jesus responds that anyone can make a mountain throw itself in the sea, if he truly believes his command will be obeyed. A similar statement is also mentioned in the much earlier Pauline Epistles, where the First Epistle to the Corinthians argues that faith can move mountains.

A different statement is found in the Gospel of Thomas. Instead of referring to a lack of doubt, Jesus advises that mountains can be moved if two people make peace with each other in a "single house."^[2] The early Gnostics interpreted this statement as referring to the paths that lead to gnosis ^[3]. The Gnostic interpretation of this statement is one of several gnostic themes in The Matrix. Awareness of the nature of reality grants great power over it, allowing characters to defy the law of gravity or stop bullets.^[4].

In the Synoptic Gospels, the fig tree is revisited as a parable within the Olivet discourse. Jesus says that when the fig tree puts forth leaves one can tell that summer has arrived. Jesus continues that when this has happened the kingdom of God will be at hand. This is almost always interpreted metaphorically, and is usually considered in contrast to the earlier tree withering. A similar metaphor in The Lord of the Rings shows the White Tree of Gondor bursting into blossom when Aragorn the king returns.

Most modern Christians interpret the parable to suggest that the tree's withering meant the teachings of the Sadducees and Pharisees were far from the truth, and that this poverty of teaching was the source of Jesus' anger at the lack of fruit. At some point the fruits of Christianity will come forth and then an eschatological kingdom of God arrive.

The ancient Gnostics interpreted the two references to the fig tree as being allegorical references to how without gnosis one is spiritually withered, but as an individual takes a path to gnosis it bears fruit, eventually bringing them to the kingdom of God, which Gnostics viewed as a spiritual state that was always available.^{[citation needed]}

The Jewish Encyclopedia^[5] states that the fig tree is a symbol of the coming of the Mashiach:

The simple meaning of these parables, however, was lost later on, and they were taken to be allegories and mysteries, especially when they alluded to the Messianic expectations, about which it was not safe to speak in public, as they assumed the end of the kingdom of Satan (Rome; comp. Mark 4:11, Mark 4:34; Matt 13:1-52, especially Matt 13:35 and Matt 13:39). Thus "the parable of the fig-tree" (Mark 13:28; see Wellhausen, who is at a loss to explain it) is actually a "symbol" of the Messianic advent, according to the Midrash (Cant. R. ii. 13), but was no longer understood by the evangelists, either as an allegory or as a sign of Messianic success or failure, in the story of the blasted fig-tree (Mark 11:13-14, Mark 11:20-23).

In the noncanonical Apocalypse of Peter, Peter discusses the significance of the fig tree with Jesus, who says the fig tree represents "the house of Israel."^[6]

In his essay Why I Am Not a Christian, Bertrand Russell argues that a divine figure would either know that the tree would not have figs or could have simply produced the figs by a miracle and thus finds the story illogical.

There are approximately 30 references to the 'Fig tree' in the Bible (depending on the translation) and approximately 50 references to a vine. Some are literal and some metaphorical. These are in the Gospels:

• The cursing of the barren fig tree by Jesus (Matthew 21:18-22), (Mark 11)
• The parable of the barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9)
• The parable of the budding fig tree (Mar 13:28-29), (Mat 24:32-33), (Luke 21:29-31)
• In chapter 15 of the gospel of John, Jesus says he is 'the vine'.
• There are also references to 'the vineyard' in the Old Testament, believed to be related to Israel in the prophesies of Isaiah^[7].

To understand in context the 'withering of the fig tree' it is important to see if Jesus' teaching elsewhere follows similar themes. We read in John 15 that Jesus says he is the true vine. John 15:6 (English Standard Version) says "If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned." ^[8]. The mainstream Christian view on Jesus' miracle was that Jesus was teaching the disciples that although Israel was God's chosen people (Israel was commonly represented by the fig tree ^[9])- if Israel or any other, claims to be of Christ (or have spiritual life) yet do not keep his commandments (as Christ says this is the sign of his followers) ^[10] then they shall not have salvation.^[11] Many Christians believe that this miracle of Jesus echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah who prophesied the rejection of Israel ^[12] as having special spiritual significance. Isaiah says the reason for this withering or rejection is Israel's continual disobedience. The prophet Jeremiah also refers to Israel as a choice vine planted by God^[13] which has turned against her creator to become a 'corrupt wild vine'. Some say that Jesus responded harshly in such action (as the above mentioned Bertrand Russell). The significance of not bearing spiritual fruit means a branch or plant is spiritually dead and must be cut off.^[14] This may be considered in a context of the Biblical definition of spiritual fruit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.^[15] As understood here, to have such fruit we must be grafted onto Christ, the true vine.^[16]

The apostle Paul seeks to clarify the issue in Romans chapter 11,^[17], correcting those who believed that Israel was rejected forever. There is difference of opinion on what Paul is actually referring to when he says 'all Israel will be saved'^[18]. Dispensationalist theology maintains that Israel will be restored politically and spiritually as the people of God. Reformed theology teaches that Israel is representative of all of God's children in Christ and includes those who Paul referred to having been 'grafted in'^[19]. These differences of interpretation reflect differing views of eschatology. A example of a popular dispensationalist theologian is Cyrus Scofield, while the views of Matthew Henry are those of a reformed theologian.

The stories in the two passages are similar, although the context seems to mark two separate events. Matthew Henry comments on both but does not refer one to another, suggesting he thought they were two separate events. Henry says this:

"... Christ looked to find some fruit, for the time of gathering figs, though it was near, was not yet come; but he found none. He made this fig-tree an example, not to the trees, but to the men of that generation. It was a figure of the doom upon the Jewish church, to which he came seeking fruit, but found none...The disciples could not think why that fig-tree should so soon wither away; but all wither who reject Christ; it represented the state of the Jewish church. We should rest in no religion that does not make us fruitful in good works..." Matthew Henry Concise Commentary on Mark 11v12-26^[20].

The parable of the unproductive fig tree in Luke 13 reveals a different character of God than is emphasized in Mark and Matthew. In this presentation the owner looks for fruit and finds none. Instead of destroying the tree the owner has patience and gives the tree one more chance to redeem itself. The owner also renews his effort to save the tree’s purpose by fertilizing it. The story’s emphasis is on the graceful character of God and not on judgment. In addition, the image of the fig tree evokes the sense that the religion of the day was not producing the desired results of mercy and grace for all. In other words, the religion of that day was not producing the sweet planting that God intended it to be. It had no fruit. In context of the previous verses, this new sign of the time of the resurrected fig tree becomes a metaphor of the sign of God’s grace and patience in the person of Jesus. God in this new revelation in Jesus was giving the fig tree one more chance and providing life giving nutrients to produce results. The image of the fig tree as community raises questions for readers concerning the ways in which God’s patience and grace continue to form and shape faithful communities. The purpose of the community is to bear fruit that blesses the world.^{[citation needed]}

• Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament Doubleday 1997 ISBN 0-385-24767-2
• Brown, Raymond E. et al The New Jerome Biblical Commentary Prentice Hall 1990 ISBN 0-13-614934-0
• Kilgallen, John J. A Brief Commentary on the Gospel of Mark Paulist Press 1989 ISBN 0-8091-3059-9
• Miller, Robert J. Editor The Complete Gospels Polebridge Press 1994 ISBN 0-06-065587-9

v • d • e Parables of Jesus

Assassin • Drawing in the Net • Empty Jar • Faithful Servant • Fig Tree • Friend at Night • Good Samaritan • Good Shepherd • Growing Seed • Hidden Treasure • Lazarus and Dives • Leaven • Lost Coin • Lost Sheep • Master and Servant • Mustard Seed • New Wine into Old Wineskins • Pearl • Pharisee and the Publican • Prodigal Son • Rich Fool • Sower • Strong Man • Talents • Tares • Ten Virgins • Two Debtors • Two Sons • Unjust Judge • Unjust Steward • Unmerciful Servant • Vine • Wedding Feast • Wicked Husbandmen • Wise and Foolish Builders • Workers in the Vineyard