The Symbolism of the Barren Fig Tree

Mark 11:12-26

A porter at a car auction asked my friend Paul, why did Jesus curse the fig tree?  I listened to Paul tell the story and soon dismissed it until this morning, when it became the text of this paper.  Often the ways of our mighty and holy God are not clear to us mere men who were fashioned in His image.  But that I believe is not true in this case, the fig tree a symbol of Israel and in Hosea 9:10 & 16, we are given this example.  “When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree.
But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.” Now verse 16, “Ephraim is blighted, their root is withered, they yield no fruit.  Even if they bear children, I will slay their cherished offspring.” 

One could take from the account above that Jesus saw Israel as the early fruit, the young buds of the fig tree.   Mark’s account is clear, Jesus was hungry an when he saw the fig tree in the distance full of leaves, yet not the season for ripe fruit, Jesus must have expected the young buds, my study Bible states; “11:13 Jesus spotted a fig tree that bore nothing but leaves.  Even though it was not the season for figs, the leafy tree should have been covered with edible buds.”  I also found it of interest this is Jesus’ last reported miracles and the only one of destruction in the Gospel.  All throughout the O.T., the fig tree was a symbol of Israel.

It seems clear that Mark did not want us to forget that he placed the cleaning of the temple right in the middle of the story.  He wanted us to see the symbolism of the barren fig tree and Israel not barreling good fruit, and God’s judgment on Jerusalem and the temple.  When you and I do not produce good fruit, we should remember that we are not pleasing our Lord.

Now it is the next day and it is early in the morning and Peter sees the fig tree as they are passing by and asks this question.  “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”  Often Jesus’ reply seems out of place, but not this time and it is recorded in verses 22-24, “And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.  Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”  Faith in a big God is always our victory!

I’m fearful that many a prayer is not heard because of unbelief and not being willing to forgive others.  If after reading this you do not understand it, to be true you need to talk with your pastor or priest.  “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice