Many things can be passed off as true, but fail on closer examination. Jesus addresses this mismatch in a powerful episode from the Gospels: the curse of the fig tree (Mt 21:18-22; Mr 11:12-14, 20-25). We see in this miracle that what is at stake is not only the fact that the fig tree does not produce fruit, but that it gives the impression of being fruitful and it is not.
Analysis of the episode
Jesus enters Jerusalem amidst the exaltation of the masses gathered for Passover. In the morning, while traveling from Bethany, he saw a fig tree “with leaves.” By this time in the spring, most of the fig trees had not developed ripe fruit (Mr 11:13). But this particular tree caught Jesus’ eye because it was already completely covered in leaves. It is a precocious fig tree. Its foliage indicates that it was going to have early figs.
With that expectation, Jesus inspects the tree. He is immediately disappointed. Full of leaves, but there is no fruit. All the expectation, no satisfaction.
In an astonishing twist, Jesus curses the tree and causes it to wither from the roots, lest it bear fruit again. He takes us by surprise; This seems surprisingly out of character for Jesus, the child-receiver, compassionate healer, and storm-calmer.
What do we learn from this peculiar scene?
At first glance, it is a lesson in the power of faithful prayer (Mt 21:20-22). But there is something else behind the scenes. The curse of the fig tree, a kind of parable, is also a sobering warning to us, in at least two ways.
1. Lack of fruit leads to judgment
Throughout the Old Testament Israel is described as God’s vineyard, tree, or plantation (Judges 9:8-15; Is 3:14; 5:1-7; Jr 12:10; Ez 17:2-10 ; 19:10-14). As any agricultural Israelite knew, the firstfruits of the harvest belonged to God (Ex 23:19; Neh 10:35-37), which helps to conceptualize their relationship with God: as His own special plantation, they were to bear fruit. spiritual as a covenant people (Ps 1:3; Jer 17:8-10). The fruitfulness of Israel (literal or not) is not the basis of its relationship with God, since it is God who gives fruitfulness (Deut 7:13; 28:4). Lack of fruit is a sign of God’s curse for his rebellion (Deut 11:17).
This foundational metaphor for the spiritual health of Israel flourishes vividly in the age of prophecy. The time had come for God’s people to bear fruit that would bless the world (Is 27:6). Several times the prophets describe God inspecting Israel for “early figs” as a sign of spiritual fruitfulness (Mi 7:1; Jr 8:13; Hos 9:10-17), but do not find “Neither early fig that I want so much.” Thus, in the two exiles (the Assyrian and the Babylonian), God pours out the curse of sterility (Hos 9:16) and Israel becomes a rotten fig (Jer 29:17).
But not all is lost. God promises that one day he will plant Israel again and produce healthy figs again (Jl 2:22; Am 9:14; Mi 4:4; Zec 8:12; Ez 36:8).
With this background of images in the minds of Jesus’ disciples, light bulbs would have gone on immediately as they reenacted the story of Israel cursing the fig tree.
The fruitless fig tree takes us back to earlier points in Jesus’ ministry, when God’s people were called to bear spiritual fruit (Mt 3:8-10; 7:16-20; 13:8; Lk 3:7-9). Jesus sought the children of God with compassionate earnestness (Lk 13:34). The Jewish crowds, gathered to celebrate God’s past act of redemption (the Passover/exodus), hailed Jesus as “king” as he led a new exodus on a donkey loaded with meaning (Zech 9:9).
The eschatological restoration has arrived. Everything is lining up. The fruits of Israel will now be harvested; the blessing will be poured out now. While the rest of the nations, the other fig trees, are not yet ripe, this tree is “with leaf.” Both Matthew and Mark, by “inserting” the episode of the fig tree, focus the lens on the place where everything will take place: Jerusalem.
- Matthew: Jerusalem → Fig Tree → Jerusalem
- Mark: Fig tree → Jerusalem → Fig tree
Except there is no fruit. The fig tree has failed once again. The celebration of Easter, the tumult, the crowds, the songs; everything is a show. Jesus enters God’s house of prayer and finds it a “den of thieves” (Mark 11:17). Lots of action, lots of noise, but no justice. Leaves, but no fruit.
Thus, by inspecting the fruitless tree, Jesus pours out divine judgment through two sign-acts: the future act of cursing the temple and the enacted metaphor of cursing the tree.
2. Think of your own figs
But not all is lost. When the disciples ask Jesus to explain what just happened, He changes the subject and talks about prayer. Why? Although they still don’t fully understand it, they will be the new caretakers of God’s people (Mt 21:33-45). They will be the instrument through which Israel will be transformed, as the Jewish core of Christ-followers spreads its branches throughout the world and bears fruit in all nations (since Acts). As Jesus teaches here, they will do it by the power of faithful prayer.
Therefore, the curse of the fig tree does not refer only to historical Israel. It’s about us. It is about all of God’s people throughout time.
The Old Testament expectation that the people of God’s covenant would bear fruit did not wither on that road between Bethany and Jerusalem when that poor fig tree quickly found its destiny. In fact, the mandate for God’s people to bear spiritual fruit has intensified in the new age, not weakened (Jn 4:36; 15:2-16; Ro 1:13; 6:21; Gal 5: 22; Phil 1:11; 4:17; Heb 12:11; James 3:17). Not to earn God’s affection for gardening, but to produce what he made us (re)born for.
This passage not only reminds us that a Christian, by definition, must produce spiritual fruit (even if only small early figs). It also deals with the threat and temptation of false claims of fruit.
The fig tree, like the bustling temple courts at Easter, was putting on a good show and that was even worse. One thing is the lack of fruits out of season. Another thing is to lack them while pretending to have them.
So be warned.
Our personal life can seem to be “on sheet.” Our sheets can look like those of a super mom, a winner, a perfect family, the best Christian with a schedule full of ministry activities. But the root may be withered. There may be no fruit of holiness or intimacy with God. What’s worse: our leaves can even fool us.
Our churches may be doing the same. The pages of a church can look impressive: growing attendance, major campaigns, smart pastors, and awesome music. But what will the Lord find upon close inspection? Will he find only leaves? Or will you find figs too?
This is an adaptation of an article originally published in . Translated by Íñigo García de Cortázar.