Why did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree?

(an explanation for the Sept. 9, 2018 sermon on Mark 11:12-26)

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’

For many Christians, the cursing of the fig tree by Jesus is very confusing. People ask, “Why would Jesus curse a perfectly good fig tree, especially when the text says that figs were not in season?” It’s a good question, and one that people should ask. As we read through Scripture it is important for us to ask questions in order to fully understand what God is teaching us. If we don’t ask questions we will miss out on much that is contained in Scripture.

It is also important to read the whole context of a passage by looking at what happens before and after an event. Oftentimes things are connected, or there are repeated words/phrases, which indicate a deeper meaning. If we only look at a single verse/passage we can take things out of context and misunderstand the full lesson.

Finally, we need to remember that the Bible was written in a particular context and culture over 2000 years ago. What we find foreign, and perhaps confusing, would have been commonplace for the original readers/hearers. Not to mention that the physical setting for the bible is in an environment/climate that is on the other side of the globe. For this reason it’s not a bad idea to have a bible dictionary and/or atlas handy when you are studying the bible. And a good commentary is something else that can be quite handy which can give insight into a passage. However, do remember that a commentary is not Scripture, but a person’s educated understanding of the bible and therefore is not infallible.

Now, to answer the question as to why Jesus cursed the “innocent” fig tree.

There are a few clues within the text that shed some light on what’s happening in this moment. First, Jesus went to the tree looking for fruit (v. 13). Jesus, who had grown up in an agricultural area would know when He could and couldn’t get fruit from a tree. He went to the tree anticipating that there would be something edible because the tree was in leaf. Fig trees produce two crops of fruit, which Jesus would have known, with the early crop growing on the previous years’ shoots as the tree comes into leaf, and the later crop coming in the fall (Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Mark. Mark L. Strauss). Because there was no early fruit after the tree had come into leaf, there would be no fruit later on in the year. The tree was unfruitful even though it had the appearance of being healthy.

The second clue that is found in the text is this phrase in verse 14: “And his disciples heard him say it.” This is key! It is important to remember that there are no wasted words in Scripture — they all serve a purpose. In this instance, Jesus was using this as a teaching moment, a real life metaphor, and wasn’t being petty and cursing the tree out of anger. Jesus knew that the disciples were listening and watching what He was doing. They saw the apparently healthy tree, watched Jesus examine it, and heard His pronouncement. Directly after this encounter they go to the temple to see a seemingly healthy gathering of people, witness Jesus examine it, and then watch as He judges the activities of those in the temple. Even though the temple looked healthy it wasn’t producing any fruit, and so Jesus passed judgement upon its actions. These parallel encounters are not there by chance!

The third clue that we see in the text is Peter’s discovery of the fig tree the next day. The tree is withered from the roots. This ties into the extended metaphor that Jesus established with the temple being compared to the fig tree. Because the tree is disconnected from its life source it is unable to survive, let alone bear fruit. While Jesus’ pronouncement over the fig tree may have seemed harsh (much like overturning the tables and driving people out of the temple), the fact that the tree withered from the roots up showed that the tree was dead, not simply sick and needing to be nursed back to health. Jesus was just stating the truth in His pronouncement over the tree, and He would do the same in regards to the temple, its leaders, and its practices.

Jesus used the fig tree as a metaphor to help illustrate the point He was making in cleansing the temple. The fig tree, like the temple, was diseased at its roots and so was incapable of producing any fruit. Because it was unfruitful it would soon die.

This metaphor can be applied to us as well, as followers of Christ. Are we bearing fruit through our lives, or are we only outwardly looking productive? In order to bear fruit we need to be connected to the source of life or else we will wither away. How connected are you to God? Are you bearing fruit? Are there areas in your life that could use some pruning so that you can bear more fruit?