In Matthew 11:12-25, we run into an interesting passage:
The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
Later, in verse 20, the disciples see the fig tree has withered after Jesus cursed it.
Now, this may seem like a bit of an extreme reaction on Jesus’ part. Sure, he was hungry. But just because a tree didn’t have figs didn’t mean it deserved to wither and die, right? Or did Jesus try to teach us something through cursing this unfruitful tree?
In this article, we’ll dive into the reasons why Jesus cursed a fig tree, what Scripture has to say about figs, and why this matters to us today.
Where Are Figs in the Bible?
Figs are among some of the most popular of fruit in Scripture, and many scholars have surmised that the infamous tree in the Garden of Eden from Genesis 3 had figs (not apples, which are popularly depicted).
Jesus uses figs in the subjects of his parables such as Luke 13:6-9,
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?”
Joel 1:12 talks about withered fig trees during an invasion of locusts on the land,
The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree — all the trees of the field — are dried up. Surely the people’s joy is withered away.
In Revelation 6:12-13, John describes the stars falling to the earth like figs dropping from a tree,
I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.
And Jeremiah 24 features two baskets of figs, one good and one bad. You can find more verses on figs here.
Figs seem to have both positive and negative connotations throughout Scripture.
Fig trees often represented the Lord’s blessing and the nation of Israel. As a part of the Israelite staple diet, the Jews would immediately recognize a fig being used in the subject of a parable of Jesus.
Reasons Why Jesus Cursed the Fig Tree
This still doesn’t explain why Jesus cursed a fig tree. Let’s analyze the information presented above further.
First of all, fig trees often symbolized Israel. Perhaps Jesus had been mad that Israel had produced no fruit during his ministry, and so afterward, the disciples had more of an effort to convert the Gentiles to Christianity, as Gentiles were grafted into the family of God.
Secondly, this is reminiscent of the parable of talents and the passage in Galatians 5 on the fruit of the spirit. If we are true believers, we should be showing fruit.
Likewise, if God gives us gifts, and we do not use them for the kingdom, what was the purpose of him giving us those gifts in the first place?
As also mentioned in this article, the tree Jesus encountered had full leaves; it had bloomed. So, it should have had fruit.
Why This Matters to Us?
Israel, during Jesus’ day, wasn’t the only fig tree not producing fruit. As Christians, we should analyze our walk with God. Have we and are we continuing to produce fruit? Especially for those later in their faith (Jesus had tried to pick leaves from a mature vine, after all).
Have we seen ourselves growing more sanctified in Christ? Have we become more loving, more joyous, more peaceful, more patient, more “fill-in-the-blank-fruit-of-the-Spirit”?
If instead, we’ve found that we’ve grown embittered, more callous, and less Christlike, we ought to examine our hearts.
Yes, we could blame it on any number of factors. Perhaps life has gotten harder or we’ve lost those dearest to us. But, often, trials can reveal our truest selves, and when coming face-to-face with God, we cannot come up with excuses for our lack of fruit.
God takes bearing fruit seriously.
We cannot claim Christianity just in name, or simply say a sinner’s prayer. It requires a lifelong sanctification process in which we become more like Jesus every day.
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Hope Bolinger is an acquisitions editor at End Game Press, book editor for hire, and the author of almost 30 books. More than 1500 of her works have been featured in various publications. Check out her books at hopebolinger.com for clean books in most genres, great for adults and kids. Check out her editing profile at Reedsy.com to find out about hiring her for your next book project.
