Why Exactly Did Jesus Curse a Fig Tree?
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“Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May you never bear fruit again!’ Immediately the tree withered” (Matthew 21:19).
Jesus often told stories that did much more than teach – they transformed. These stories, known as parables, seemed always to represent real life, delivering multiple layers of lessons in each. Often, especially early in His ministry, the disciples would come to Jesus and ask Him to explain the meaning of the parable, and Jesus would do so.
Sometimes, the lessons were not in parables but were actually the gospel writers conveying real life events where there were also multiple levels of teaching. One such occasion is mentioned in two of the gospels: Mark 11:12-14, 20-24 and Matthew 21:18-22.
While one describes the event as happening all at once and the other over two days, these differences are not a contradiction. Rather, they are a result of the writers’ arrangement of the narratives to meet the needs of the audience. However, these differences do not take away from the lessons the story teaches.
Why Include This Story?
Jesus was leaving Bethany on His way back to Jerusalem. He was hungry and saw a fig tree in the distance in full leaf. A tree in full leaf would certainly signal there was fruit on the tree, despite not being the season for fruit. But when Jesus reached the tree, and found nothing but leaves, He cursed the tree. “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” The tree withered immediately, shocking the disciples.
But Jesus? Well, He spoke a few words about the power of faith and prayer – but that lesson was directed to the disciples’ question about how the tree withered so quickly. No deep lesson, as He did with the parables of the Sower or the Wheat and Weeds. Basically, Jesus continued on His way to the city, ultimately to the temple.
According to John, there were a great many things they witnessed Jesus do – enough that “the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25). We can only imagine. But then, that would certainly beg the question – why this story? Why this one where Jesus didn’t seem to be letting on why He cursed the fig tree, causing it to wither and die. Why convey this event when there are likely so many other amazing events with insightful lessons?
Perhaps it is important to look at the chronology. This event occurred the day after Jesus’ Triumphal Entry – just one week prior to His crucifixion – and just prior to the clearing of temple courts. Only the day before, Jesus was greeted entering Jerusalem with crowds of people waving palm branches and yelling “Hosanna.” And yet, Jesus knew that in a week or less these very same people would be yelling “crucify Him.”
“The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:10).
False Pretenses
“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. … Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:18, 20).
When John the Baptist began his preaching, he warned of Jesus’s coming, and he wasn’t quiet about it. And when “…he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing…” he rebuked them, calling them a “brood of vipers.” John warned them to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” and that “…every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:7-10).
Fast forward three years. While Jesus was teaching in the temple, the “chief priests and the elders of the people” came to question Him… again. Of course, because they were in public, these religious leaders would have been in full leaf. They would have displayed a full bloom with their prayer shawls and tassels, carrying their phylacteries (small leather boxes containing parchment scrolls of the Torah.) The Pharisees were careful to protect their image in the public eye, but in this moment, Jesus is going to expose the real fruit of their lives.
They came again to challenge Jesus – this time, questioning his authority for everything He was doing. The healing, giving the blind sight, raising people from the dead, feeding the thousands, the teachings. “’By what authority are you doing these things?’ they asked [Jesus]. ‘And who gave you this authority?’” (Matthew 21:23). While their intent was to undermine Jesus, He returned their question with one of His own – and He agreed to answer their question if they would answer His.
“I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism — where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” (Matthew 21:24-25).
Jesus, of course, knew that they hated John the Baptist. He knew that the Baptizer called the religious leaders a brood of vipers. Jesus already knows they will be unable to answer the question – but He wanted them to admit it publicly.
The religious leaders then discussed it among themselves.
“If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ — we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know’” (Matthew 21:25-26).
Jesus had perfectly and masterfully exposed their real fruit. For these religious leaders, their fear of people was much greater than their fear of God; their desire for public approval was greater than their desire for the approval of God. To these religious leaders, human authority was of greater importance than divine authority. Jesus was showing through his miracles who His authority was from. But they didn’t accept it.
These leaders were the absolute image of people “close to God.” They had all the theological training and knowledge of Scripture (Torah). They had the respect of all the people in the community and were admired. Their image of themselves was impeccable. They had all of the authority of God on behalf of the Jewish religion (or so they thought). And they thought they were sinless – as they implied to the man born blind whom Jesus had healed:
“’You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!’ And they threw him out” (John 9:34).
And then, in Matthew 21, – after telling them the parable of the two sons (v. 28-31) – Jesus says this: “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.” (v. 21:31) In other words – “you guys are in full leaf. You look great. You’re well respected. People say good things about you. You look like you’re close to God. But you’ve got no fruit.”
“For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him” (Matthew 21:32).
Even after you saw and heard John – you saw and heard of the miracles, you saw the healing, and the feeding of the 5,000, you saw the blind see and the lame walk – and yet you did not repent and believe. Despite everything you have seen, despite everything you have learned about Scripture, they are ahead of you in line because they actually responded when I called them.
True and False Disciples
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
Matthew tells us that following His triumphal entry, Jesus had gone to the temple courts and “drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.”
“’It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of robbers’” (Matthew 21:13).
With this cleansing of the temple, Jesus was making a clear statement denouncing the materialistic manner of Israel’s worship. By cursing the fig tree – a plant which was considered a symbol of blessings and prosperity for the nation of Israel – Jesus was pronouncing the coming judgement, and His authority and intent to carry out that judgement.
His rebuke of the religious leaders and their lack of sincerity teaches that religious professions – whether they be called rabbis, ministers, pastors, or priests – are not enough to guarantee salvation. But the message also carries over for all of us today.
Fruitfulness is the only evidence of faithfulness. After all, lots of people go to church, lots of people are religious and claim to follow God, and lots of people proclaim their faith. But for those who are actually faithful, that faith is shown in lives that produce fruit. James also taught this when he wrote that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).
Without the fruit of genuine repentance and the surrender of our hearts, there can be no salvation. Jesus taught this in the Sermon on the Mount when he said “Many will come to me on that day.” Didn’t we do wonderful things in your name, Jesus? Didn’t we proclaim your name to everyone? “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.”
Are We Chasing after the Wrong Things?
Are we like those religious leaders? Looking at our careers, our homes, how we live our lives – are we simply looking for the applause of people in order that others can see how “successful” we are? Seeking the praise of humans is a dangerous path – and a devastatingly unfulfilling path, at that. It leads only to what Jesus saw in the religious leaders and the fig tree.
When we interact with people in our world, we assess their true character not by what they say but by what they actually do. How they live their lives. How they treat other people. Even at work we assess an employee by the fruit of their work, not simply what they tell us. Let’s face it, when we are going to marry someone, we don’t just listen to the words from the mouths, we experience who they are by their actions. Can you imagine if we didn’t?
Jesus looks and sees us chasing after life here on earth – chasing after the praise and recognition from other people in so many aspects of our lives. He knows and wants only what’s best for us, and it ain’t that. He sees us trying to fill a cup that only He can fill. “Why don’t you come to me? I only want what’s good for you, but you’re chasing after the people and things that don’t care about the good for you like I do.”
Jesus calls us to Him, not because he simply wants our obedience but because he knows that obedience to him meets life now and life everlasting. Real life. Fruitful life.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Faithfulness and Fruitfulness
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned” (John 15:5-6).
God judges fruitfulness and He expects those who have a relationship with Him will “bear much fruit”
In God’s view, talk is cheap; He’s not interested in our full leafiness. He’s not interested in what we say, but rather in what we do. We are in danger of being the people who are in full leaf with no fruit, simply because it is an easy trap to fall into.
But we aren’t the ones that make fruit; God is. He just needs our soft, moldable, surrendered heart to do the work within us He has called us to do. All He needs is our yes, our willingness to follow Jesus. Anyone can produce fruit if they are willing to follow Jesus. With God’s help, a tax collector can produce fruit; a prostitute can produce fruit.
It’s a heart issue.
No, this is not about a guilt trip, it is simply about a heart that responds to the call of Christ. Oh, you might believe in God, but maybe you have never truly surrendered your life and your will – everything you are – to His calling. You have not submitted to fully trusting Him with everything. With your life, your relationships, your career, all that you own.
But it is never too late.
God Is Patient with Us
Jesus tells us the parable of a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. When he went to look for fruit, he found none. So he told the man taking care of the vineyard, “For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?”
And yet, the man replied to the owner – Sir, give me one more year to work on it. “If it bears fruit next year, fine. If not, then cut it down” (Luke 13:6-8).
The owner had been very patient. He waited three years for a tree to bear fruit. He was going to continue to be patient one more year.
Charles Spurgeon had a wonderful response to this parable. He said, “God is patient – not passive.” Let’s not mistake God’s patience for passiveness.
Let us take to heart the lesson of the fig tree and look at our own lives. Are we bearing spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), or are we simply giving off the appearance and lip service to satisfy what others might think of us?
We have all of the information, all the lessons. We have everything we need to truly commit our hearts to the call of Christ. Jesus wants us to look at our lives – no matter how long we’ve been following Him – and ask ourselves if we are bearing fruit. If we – if He – can see the fruitfulness of our faithfulness.
So, can He see yours?
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8).
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Valentyn Volkov
Greg doesn’t pretend to be a pastor, a theologian, or a Bible expert, but offers the perspective of an everyday guy on the same journey as everyone else – in pursuit of truth.
Greg can be reached by email or on Facebook @ Greg Grandchamp - Author.