Jesus was hungry. Most scholars today believe that Jesus' ministry lasted three and a half years. This end-times warning system with the fig analogy is picked up again in Revelation 6:13. Thats the heart of Jesus. This Bible study will examine these passages and provide two reasons why Jesus cursed the fig tree. Maybe hes cleaning some of us out right now. It means to stop going in one direction of life, a direction that can be self-destructive, and to turn around and go anotherin a way that's productive and even godly. Because there was this hypocritical fig tree in Bethany that was going to serve as an object lesson about the hypocritical temple in Jerusalem. The temple in Jerusalem was much the same. This is something Jesus is willing to fight for, and ultimately, die for. Normally, a leafy fig tree would be pleasing, since a fig tree in leaf indicates that it has ripe fruit. A fig tree develops a ground-based root system when planted in the beginning of the dormant season, winter, and before its leaves appear in spring. PrivacyPolicyTerms ofUse. You cannot grow a new fiddle-leaf fig tree from a leaf. American King James Version). (Joel, Habakkuk and Haggai) He can bring you too, no matter how far you are from true worship right now. The importance of faith has been a consistent theme for Mark. 25:41). So today we look at the first of these stories, when Jesus made a scene in the temple, found in Mark 11:15-19. So, thankfully, the fig is not cursed. The place that was meant for finding freedom in God became a place where it was hard to find God. Neither you nor I want to be on the receiving end of the ax. As Jesus body was torn on the cross, the temple curtain was also torn, as Matthew tells us from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), meaning, God tore it. The curse is that the tree will not produce fruit until the end of the age. What does Mark 11:13 mean? Jesus cursed the fig tree because it had the appearance of fruitfulness, but it was deceptive. But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. Its about Gods heart for all peoplethe Jews and the Gentiles. The Jewish people felt their actions, deeds, and the states of their hearts were righteous despite God pointing out their sins. But if not, after that you can cut it down" (Luke 13:8-9 Luke 13:8-9 [8] And he answering said to him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: You get everything Jesus deserves. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Yet at the same time, none of us knows how much time we have leftso we'd better get moving! The cursing and withering of the fig tree are interpreted in the Byzantine tradition as an expression of "foolishness." Of a "shady understanding of Scripture which does not bear good fruit." The fig tree is a shrub of the Moraceae family, one of the many species of the genus Ficus. Is tramadol with acetaminophen stronger than tramadol? We don't know. There is something that just feels rich and decadent about figs. They chose not to put up a barrier and God brought the people. Jesus doesnt love hollow religiosity. They looked so good to him. True worship bears fruit, and the temple, though it looked good from afar, didnt, which leads to our next point. I think many people wonder that; maybe you are one of them. So from Genesis to Revelation, the fig features strongly in scriptural symbolism. So God gave us Jesus. I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:4-5 Luke 13:4-5 [4] Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think you that they were sinners above all men that dwelled in Jerusalem? And the prophet Jeremiah-whom Jesus quotes as He cleanses the temple-has this to say about God's coming judgment: "I will take away their harvest," declares the Lord. The fig tree cursing, an enacted parable of sorts, is also a sober warning for us todayin at least two ways. Pruning helps the fig tree's growth process; eliminating branches back to the trunk prevents the tree from developing two trunks. Thats why Jesus says in verse 17, Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. The fig tree is also symbollic of Israel itself It often symbolized the health of the nation both spiritually and physically [1]. But you have made it a den of robbers. Where was it written that it should be a house of prayer? 25And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.. What does a fig tree represent? You might even need to go to a dictionary to look up the meaning. In Fruits. She is a former award-winning journalist with over 2,000 articles published. 2022 One For Israel is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Israel. Unless a person remains united with me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up. The fig tree that you cursed has withered. 22And Jesus answered them, Have faith in God. Was it done in retaliation for an attack on the Romans, or was it just done on the whim of the Roman governor as a display of Roman ruthlessness to keep the locals in fear? Last week, we saw from Mark 11:1-11 the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Cut it down! In this case, its true worship. The parable of the barren fig tree is a parable of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Luke 13:69. If it bears fruit next year, fine! All rights reserved. The temple was 46 years in the making. The three years in this story represent John the Baptist, Jesus, and their ministry as they preached repentance to the nation of Israel. We need another tree from which to eat. He had actually removed a hill in order to build it. You can find the answers to these questions. Let me propose something for us here at Refuge. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Here's what He said: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Jesus cant be ruined. So he cursed it, saying, May no one ever eat fruit from you again., If you think this is a bit odd, youre not alone. It looked okay from a distance. Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is described as God's vineyard, tree, or planting ( Judges 9:8-15; Isa. [5] I tell you, No: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish. And seeing a fig tree(In Mt 21:19, it is "one fig tree," but the sense is the same as here, "a certain fig tree," as in Mt 8:19, &c.). Why settle for anything less when we can have real righteousness? He cleans things out. Just looked around. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it e is near, right at the door. Are you living as part of a bigger, overarching purpose? Jesus becomes the very center of our life and worship. But God is also a God of judgment, and Christ is warning here that a time of final judgment will come on a lifeespecially a life that has had opportunity, warning and the benefit of the doubt. 12-14), True worship promotes life with God (vv. First, Jesus explains the power and importance of faith it is faith in God that gave him the power to curse the fig tree and make it wither overnight and similar faith on the disciples' part will give them the power to work other wonders. Yet at the same time, none of us knows how much time we have leftso we'd better get moving! The church had just installed new carpet and new pews. Luke 21:31 says when you see all these things happening (in the . The fig tree which you cursed has withered." (v. 21). The variety is indeed from Israel and Palestine, where it is popularly grown. He had something better. . This parable, about the Kingdom of God, involves a fig tree, as does the equally brief parable of the barren fig tree. Jesus curses the fig tree As the leaves came in, the tree would grow little nubs. 21:18-19 ). The vine He created was for the purpose of staying rooted and bearing fruit through Him. It means that through this announcement a new order of life is at hand and we need to obtain a mind-set that fits. And you know what that makes you? But it is. The temple in Jerusalem was much the same. How are we going to get that? For what? All rights reserved. Now the disciples learn the fate of the fig tree that Jesus cursed and Marks sandwich is complete: two stories, one surrounding the other, with each providing deeper meaning to the other. We have no control over our circumstances, but we do have control over how we respond. According to some researchers, the image is taken from the Old Testament symbol of the fig tree representing Israel, and the cursing of the fig tree in Mark and Matthew and the parallel story in Luke are thus symbolically directed against the Jews, who have not accepted Jesus as king. It is no wonder that this feature of Gods creation crops up repeatedly in the Bible in wonderfully symbollic ways. We have two options: we can make rules to exclude or remove barriers to include. Treesthe tree of life with its lifegiving fruit and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was used as parameters for the metaphor of the whole Bible. When a church becomes a place where its hard to find God, it becomes something other than what God intends. This is how my Father is glorified in your bearing much fruit; this is how you will prove to be my talmidim. curses the fruitless fig tree, representing unfruitfulness, Apocalyptic Events Bring Revival Around the World, Whats the meaning of Genesis 3:15? It doesnt even seem to make sense, does it? Forget for a moment the bigger question of "the meaning of life" and just focus on you. Some take this to mean that Jesus expects the end of the age before the next fig-harvest, but the phrase "end of the age" always has an eschatological sense. (2020, August 27). They were human, with weaknesses and strengths like everyone else. You may find that the Red Israel fig goes by many names including Khurtmani (as it is known in California) and Red Palestine. From the very beginning in the first few passages of Genesis, to the first psalm, to the first pages of the New Testament, and even when Christ returns, theres a reference of a tree. The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey. A thick, reddish skin covers these large figs that usually weigh in around 80 grams. In the Old Testament, the fig tree was a symbol for the nation of Israel. Is it cheaper to drive or fly to New York? The temple was defiled, but Jesus cant be defiled. 12On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, high school sweetheart, and three cats who are her entourage around the homestead. It looked alive. ["Early figs" ripen in June - and a later (second) harvest comes in August and September.] Israel's Fruitfulness. Time and chance happen to everyone, Solomon once wrote (Ecclesiastes 9:11 Ecclesiastes 9:11I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all.American King James Version). John 15:1-11 says: I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. The good news from this story is God, the Master Gardener is merciful and willing to forgive. The mountain of dead worship they saw in the temple. Repent, and believe in the gospel." Jesus is not cursing the fig tree. The "Fig-tree" is a New Testament symbol or figure of Israel and was used by Jesus Himself. But I don't think that's the case in Matt 24:32, Mark 13:28, and Luke 21:29. Is it too much to ask of people to wear shoes to church? 21:19-21; Mark 11:13,20,21). The blossom is inside of the fruit! The fertilization of the fig tree in this parable may represent Jesus' sacrifice for sin during the crucifixion. A vinekeeper holds out hope that a barren fig tree will bear fruit next year. It covered our sins and in return, He wants to see each of us adding to the Kingdom of God with our hearts, our speech, and in all that we do. It's rewarding to see a tree bending under the weight of apples, pears, oranges or grapefruit. He poured out his Spirit. Showy religion is so boring. Pre-figs, as it were. Here are 10 things nobody tells you about the world's most popular houseplant, the fiddle-leaf fig tree: 1. Before delving further into the parable, we need to look at what Christ was saying before He gave it. They made a profit on the worship of God. When there is sufficient faith on the part of someone petitioning him, Jesus is able to heal; when there is a definite lack of faith on the part of those around him, Jesus is unable to heal. So we need to understand what Jesus was doing. The man who checks bags for bombs on our transport system was eating juicy figs and gave one to me with a smile. He witnessed it so often, He used the tree in this story as a vivid depiction of it. And from his purity, he makes us clean. If people leave the church because the Bible makes it hard for them to worship God, thats between them and God. Therefore, the fig tree in this verse does not represent anything, it is a literal fig tree. The Fig tree in this parable represents us and the nation of Israel. He is available to us all, right now, and every moment from now until we stand before him in heaven. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. Kind of weird, huh? Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Heres why thats so significant. He started to call a lot of young people to himself. 13. [9] And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that you shall cut it down. We have a hunger for true worship, but a dead tree doesnt bear fruit. The fig tree could be understood as symbolic of Israel Joel 2:2125. Answer: The account of Jesus cursing the barren fig tree is found in two different gospel accounts. He blocks more harm from getting in. He is the worship center. Many believe it was figs that were actually the fruit in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, not apples. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! But you have made it a den of robbers. 18And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. The Fig tree is a Biblical symbol of Israel. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. He is the sacrifice to grant forgiveness. The test of true worship is not merely how were feeling about God. Verse 24, Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. This isnt a promise to grant our every wish. The temple had four main sections. The fruit it was not producing was true worship of God as outlined in the Law and the fact they would reject Jesus and arrange His death. And like Adam and Eve after the fall, this fig tree, though full in leaf, was useful only to cover nakedness. 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. While it is not the season for figs, fig trees would produce small, edible buds before beginning to grow actual figs. He is the meeting place. He is patient but His patience will run out. Why did Jesus curse the fig tree when it was not the season for figs? 'You Raise Me Up' Duet Earns A Standing Ovation From The Judges, 7 Tests to See if Your Worship Is Truly Christian or Pagan, 3 Bad Church Approaches to Good Money Stewardship, 5 Critical Rules to Teach Your Kids to Help Them Stay Safe, 4 Things You Should Know about Jesus Revolution, Jesus on Adultery: Its More Controversial Than You Think, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. ; ( v. 21 ) with me, he was hungry was hard find! This fig tree was a symbol for the nation of Israel two reasons why cursed! Hope that a barren fig tree in leaf indicates that it should a! Was useful only to cover nakedness cats who are her entourage around the homestead for us here at Refuge variety. The mountain of dead worship they saw in the Bible makes it for! We stand before Him in heaven wonderfully symbollic ways says when you see all these,. 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