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People often ask the question, "why did Jesus curse the fig tree if it wasn't the season for figs?" Don't that sound a little odd? Did Jesus kill the fig tree although it was producing in a completely normal way? What is the explanation for this harsh judgment on an innocent tree?
Author Fred T Wright, in his book, Manners and Customs of Bible Lands, says this about the fig tree. "The normal habit of the fig tree is that fruit begins to form on the fig tree as soon as leaves appear. Leaves and fruit also disappear together. But it was said of this fig tree which Jesus and His disciples saw on the Mount of Olives, "for the time of figs was not yet," Mark 11:13.
Actually, this was no excuse for the fig tree, because if it wasn't time for figs, it was also not the time for leaves to appear. By a show of leaves, it was like many people, pretending to have fruit which was not there. It was like the Pharisees who professed to be very religious, but whose lives were fruitless. Therefore, Christ cursed the fig tree as an object lesson to all not to be hypocritical."
The Henry Morris Study Bible makes this comment about the fig tree; "The Palestinian fig tree normally produces both leaves and small figs in early March, so this tree should have borne figs along with its leaves. Israel had often been symbolized as a fig tree in Scripture; Isaiah 34:4, Jeremiah 24:1-8, Hosea 9:10, Luke 13:6-9."
Matthew Henry adds an interesting comment to the account of the fig tree. Henry says that another reason Jesus cursed the fig tree, was so it would not continue to deceive people, spreading its leaves as if to say, now is the time for figs, but it had no fruit to offer. Just like the fig tree, the Jewish people and most of the religious leaders were deceivers as well, and Jesus warned of impending judgment, paraphrased.
Another question people often ask is, why does the account in Mark seem to contradict the one in Matthew? It says in Matthew 21;19b, "And immediately the fig tree withered away." The account in Mark seems to imply there were 24 hours from the time Jesus cursed the fig tree until Peter makes the announcement about the tree being dried up from the root. I really don't see a problem here at all, Matthew may have recorded the comments of a different person who saw the leaves wither. Mark chose to record the comment of Peter the day after it was cursed; by that time, it was dried up from the root.
It would seem that the tree withered immediately, and also dried up exceedingly in a day's time. The account in Mark would clearly make it appear to be a miracle. Normally trees die from the top down, or give outward signs (water sprouts or leaves changing color) that they are in a struggle for life. Usually the sap will cease to be pushed to the top and will settle in the trunk and base of the tree causing discoloration of the bark. According to Mark, it was a complete miracle.
God is still in the miracle-work today; He can take a rebel and make him into a servant of Christ. He can affect someone's heart and mind and bring them into submission to the Holy Spirit. How is He going to deal with you and me? Now that's something to think about!
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Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years. He has self-published three books, "Common Thoughts on The Word" in 2016 and "Eye of a Needle" in 2017 and "Common Thoughts on The Word II" in 2019. He has also had articles published in The Coming Home Journal and local newspapers and has written a children's book.