Written by Paul J Bucknell on March, 25, 2024
Mark 11:12-21 Why Did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree?
12 On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. 13 Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening…. 20 As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. 21 Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” (Mark 11:12-14, 20-21, NASB)
A Submitted Question on the Cursed Fig Tree
The above verses tell us that our hungry Lord cursed a fig tree when he found no fruit on it. The text tells us that it was not the season for figs. I think we all believe and agree that the word of God is the truth.
Someone asked me if this is true. Christ did curse the fig tree, even though aware that figs weren’t in season. This thinking is logically unreasonable, or might there be something wrong with these verses? Do you agree with this man? And why do you think Christ cursed a fig tree out of season?”
The Perfect Coronation Plan
Mark’s words are very logical and reasonable! Consider that you created a unique object to function in a certain way, but when you depended upon it, it failed.
What would your response be? Disappointment! You think, “Better not have it!” This was Jesus’ response. He cursed the fig tree. It didn’t serve its purpose!
As noted in the many Old Testament prophecies, God perfectly worked out His redemptive plan; Jesus the Son came to complete the plan.
But something was out of place—sin and darkness crept into the new world, first seen in the Garden.
Palm Sunday
Jesus’ Coronation Day, better known as Palm Sunday, was a once-in-a-lifetime situation leading into Passion Week. This was earth’s most extraordinary day! All four Gospels record this amazing event (Mat 21; Mark 11; Luke 19; John 12). All should heartily prepare.
Mark 11:1-10, the previous verses, gives us a wide-open view of this special day and all the many celebrations. Jesus’ instruction to get a colt for Him marks the day’s uniqueness. The disciples discovered that God had supernaturally arranged an unridden colt for Him to ride so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled (Zech 9:9). This, indeed, was a divinely appointed day! The crowds filling Jerusalem for the Passover feast and singing the Hallel also highlight this fantastic time (for more). All this happened before Monday morning on His way to reenter Jerusalem.
Bearing Fruit
There are numerous explanations for why the tree did not bear fruit. I like the farmer’s explanation that some fig trees just do not bear figs even after several years. Jesus observed this, too, in an earlier illustration.
6 And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7 And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9)
Fig trees often bear fruit even after one year, but this one didn’t. Even if out of season, it should have some figs still on it—even if from the last season—bit it didn’t. It was right to look and expect fruit. Where Luke 13 stood as a warning, now the Jews had rejected their king, the day prior. There are a few other explanations, some quite complex since the Israeli growing season differs from ours. However, if the leaves were out, the fruit should be coming. The disciples, however, didn’t question the season but the miracle. Why did Jesus curse the fig tree?
The fig tree should have known its more significant purpose of serving its Maker—the King who saves His people—on a day when He was hungry and ready to serve His people. Something suspiciously malicious, however, had gone wrong.
The fig tree’s refusal to offer fruit on this appointed day proves this. All this lost anticipation and the tree’s withering portrayed Jesus’ disappointment with His people, Israel.
The fig tree represented Israel (Hos 9:10; Luke 13:7). God’s people, chosen back thousands of years earlier, were to confirm Jesus as the Messiah King but instead rejected Him and would despicably crucified Him in a few days. It wasn’t just the dull fig tree missing its opportunistic moment but Israel—His unfruitful and barren people. God expected His people to bear fruit and display it by recognizing and accepting her Messiah; this was her purpose. Instead, she killed her prophets.
“Israel was that barren fig-tree; and the leaves only covered their nakedness, as erst they had that of our first parents after their Fall. And the judgment, symbolically spoken in the Parable, must be symbolically executed in this leafy fig-tree, barren when searched for fruit by the Master.” (The Life and Times of Jesus by Alfred Edersheim, p. 1243)
The people of Israel, though hailing Him as King, did not recognize their opportunity to serve their King and Savior, once ascending to Jerusalem. Israel—born and chosen to adore God—rejected her king and savior.
The High Passover was just days off when Jesus would be hung on a cross, taking on our curse (Gal 3:13). Israel went on her way without consideration for God’s greater redemptive purposes. She not only missed her King and Savior but killed Him, the Son of Man.
Lessons from the fig tree
We can ask ourselves, “What has God made you and me for? Are we unfruitful like the fig tree or Israel, not bearing fruit for which God made us?” “Why are we sometimes so unresponsive to our Lord’s wishes?” “Have we wept at Jesus’ abounding love for us, dying for us sinners?”
May God raise a generation that responds to His abounding grace and proclaims the great mysteries of God!
