“Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response, Jesus said to it, ‘Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.’ And His disciples heard it” (Mark 11:12-14).
Why did Jesus curse this poor, defenseless fig tree (Mark 11:12-14)? What did the tree ever do to Him?
At a distance, Jesus saw a fig tree with leaves and being hungry, He approached it hoping to find some fruit, for figs will quite often appear earlier than the leaves. Upon reaching the tree, all He found were leaves; the tree had produced no fruit. Mark, the author of the book, added the comment that " it was not the season for figs" (verse 13). This statement is somewhat puzzling until we understand the growing and fruiting cycles of fig trees. Notice the following interesting information about the fig season in
Palestine:
"It has been asked, 'How could our Lord expect to find ripe figs in the end of March?' Answer, Because figs were ripe in Judea as early as the PASSOVER. Besides, the fig tree puts forth its fruit FIRST, and afterwards its leaves. Indeed, this tree, in the climate which is proper for it, has fruit on it all the year round, as I have often seen" (Clarke's Commentary).
Fruit tree growers know that ordinarily a small amount of fruit ripens prior to the main crop. It is referred to as the first ripe fruit or the firstfruits. When Jesus approached the tree, it was the time of the firstfruits of figs, but it was not yet time for the main harvest. So, Mark 11:13 must mean that the particular tree on which Christ expected to find figs was barren because it had no figs on it at all. It did not fulfill its purpose, and, as any diligent orchardist would do, Jesus simply eliminated an unproductive tree, not with an ax or a saw, but by faith. Please compare Luke 13:6-9.
The Bible uses the analogy of a vine and Jesus Christ clearly teaches that He is the true vine and we are the branches to be connected to that vine. As branches, we are also expected to bear fruit (John 15:8, 16). But what kind of fruit. Of course, Galatians 5 gives the answer: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (v22-23).
Jesus used this incident to teach His disciples—including Christians today—that outward appearance does not count with God. Instead, what really matters is whether one produces godly fruit in his or her life (Luke 13:6-9; Gal. 5:22-23; John 15:8, 16).
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