The Withered Fig Tree

Sometimes it would really be helpful to go back in time and live in Jesus' culture in order to know what in the world He is talking about! With 2000 years separating us, it can be difficult to understand His references. The account of the withered fig tree is one such example. When we read that He cursed the tree for not having any fruit on it, despite the fact that it was not yet in season, the judgment seems harsh and unreasonable. What message are we to take from it?

Jesus is thougt to have been crucified on April 6th, in accordance with where the Jewish Passover would have fallen that year. At the is point in the gospel narrative, Jesus is a few days away from Good Friday. Fig trees in the climate of Jersualem would have been expected to produce leaves by the end of March. Coincident with this, a crop of small buds called "taqsh" in Arabic, appears as a forerunner to the actual figs. They grow to the appearance of green almonds before dropping off. The taqsh buds were often eaten by peasants and others when hungry. Three precursors to figs were seen as an indicator of whether or not the tree would produce true figs roughly six weeks later. Since Jesus, hungry and hoping to eat some of the taqsh buds, found nothing but leaves, He rightly rendered the tree fruitless.

The significance of this story is that it serves as a parallel to the parable spoken in Luke 13:6-9. In this parable, a fig tree that was nurtured for three years without producing fruit was finally cut down in order to make room in the vineyard for a tree that would yield fruit. The fig tree is meant to represent the nation of Israel, who by refusing Jesus was cut off in favor of more fruitful "trees" (the Gentiles). The message from Jesus cursing the fruitless fig tree is that judgment for those who do not heed His voice will be severe and permanent.

Tomorrow's reading: Matt. 21:28-22:33; Mark 12:1-27; Luke 20:9-40