Issue 1530 – Figs – August 21, 2024

The Bible contains an account of Jesus and a fig tree. This passage is problematic for many people because it makes Jesus seem harsh and vindictive. This morning, we’ll examine the passage and some background information that makes it clearer.
And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there. In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. Matthew 21:17-21
The account is told slightly differently but provides additional details in Mark’s gospel.
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.” And his disciples heard it. Mark 11:12-14
A piece of trivia to put things in perspective: the “fruit” of a fig tree is actually its flower. To be technical, it is a form of inflorescence, a flower structure that forms on certain trees. A tiny wasp crawls in the opening of the fig to access the tiny flowers insides and the flower gets pollinated. The seeds form within the structure of what we consider the fruit.
The fig appears before the leaves. Most fruit trees flower before the leaves come out; the fig is no exception. That means that there should have been figs on the tree.
According to the Babylonian Talmud (a commentary on Jewish law), unripe figs were unfit for consumption on the Sabbath, although they were okay to give to the poor as alms. I have read that unripe figs are quite starchy and a little bitter, but they are quite edible and nutritious.
From Mark’s account, we know it was not the time for the fig harvest. That means that there should have been figs on the tree because it was leafed out. Even if some of the unripe ones had been gleaned by the poor (a common practice, particularly on wild fig trees), there still should have been some fruit.
While it is not named in the account, we can assume that this fig tree was somewhere in the vicinity of the village of Bethphage. It is the only village between Bethany and Jerusalem. Interestingly enough, Bethphage means “house of unripe figs.” While perhaps not quite “ripe” for the Sabbath, the name suggests that the people of this community may have been known for their care of the poor. I would not want to build a theology around this thought, but I found it interesting.
Jesus encountered the fig tree in leaf, holding out empty promises to passers-by. It looked good but offered no fruit. There was no fruit for the poor to eat and no fruit to ripen and be acceptable for the Sabbath. It was simply an empty show. Jesus has no patience for empty shows. He condemned the Pharisees for their empty religion, for they, too, looked good on the outside but produced no fruit.
I see in this passage a warning to those who profess a “religion” or faith but have hearts that bear no fruit. Many churches offer a great show but no gospel. They hold out empty promises that bring no glory to God and no food to the spiritually hungry. Unless these people and churches change, they stand in danger of being cursed by God at the time of judgment.
Like fruitless fig trees, empty religion and fruitless faith satisfy no one.
Until next time, may your faith produce fruit.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)
© K.F. “Kevin” Corbin 2024 – Used by permission – All rights reserved.