Jesus Cursing the Fig Tree?

[Guest]

I'm a bit confused about Jesus' curse of the fig tree. I'm looking for some insight into this because at first glance it seems that He used it as an example of what is possible when we have faith in God. After this He begins talking about prayer and so forth. Just wondering if anyone has any insight into this.

Link to Mark 11 (KJV)

Here's the text: (Mark 11:12-14 & 20-22)

12And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 13And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. 14And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

20And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. 22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

[Leonard]

I find it interesting that in just one day Jesus did two things which seem very out of character for Him: He cursed the fig tree, and he made a whip and beat the money changers with it.

The next day He himself is scourged with a whip, and crucified on a tree.................

[Keeperofpeace]

I find it interesting that in just one day Jesus did two things which seem very out of character for Him: He cursed the fig tree, and he made a whip and beat the money changers with it.

The next day He himself is scourged with a whip, and crucified on a tree.................

That's very interesting... Food for thought.

[Guest]

I find it interesting that in just one day Jesus did two things which seem very out of character for Him: He cursed the fig tree, and he made a whip and beat the money changers with it.

The next day He himself is scourged with a whip, and crucified on a tree.................

Hmmm............ You're right. Interesting indeed.

[Tehilah Ba'Aretz]

This is a case of modern English not using the same words as Hebrew or Greek. The fruit of the fig tree grows in two stages. As the tree first begins to put out leaves, there is a flower that looks exactly like a fig. The difference is that it has an opening for a specific species of moth to crawl inside to fertilize the flower. After the flower is fertilized, the opening closes and the flower become the fruit we know as a fig. Before the flower is fertilized it should be called by a different name, it is a pagi. It is edible but not sweet. After the flower is fertilized it grows larger and becomes sweet. So, let's re-do the story...

Jesus is walking up a hill and he is hungry. He sees a fig tree with leaves but it isn't time for figs yet so he goes to check for pagi. When there are no pagi he curses the tree. The next day, when the disciples see that the tree is dead they ask him why he did that. He tells them to have faith in God. Here's the connection...

Without pagi, the fig tree will never grow fruit.

Without faith, neither will any of us.

It's rather sobering when you realize that Jesus cursed the tree because it would never bear fruit.

[EricH]

This is a case of modern English not using the same words as Hebrew or Greek. The fruit of the fig tree grows in two stages. As the tree first begins to put out leaves, there is a flower that looks exactly like a fig. The difference is that it has an opening for a specific species of moth to crawl inside to fertilize the flower. After the flower is fertilized, the opening closes and the flower become the fruit we know as a fig. Before the flower is fertilized it should be called by a different name, it is a pagi. It is edible but not sweet. After the flower is fertilized it grows larger and becomes sweet. So, let's re-do the story...

Jesus is walking up a hill and he is hungry. He sees a fig tree with leaves but it isn't time for figs yet so he goes to check for pagi. When there are no pagi he curses the tree. The next day, when the disciples see that the tree is dead they ask him why he did that. He tells them to have faith in God. Here's the connection...

Without pagi, the fig tree will never grow fruit.

Without faith, neither will any of us.

It's rather sobering when you realize that Jesus cursed the tree because it would never bear fruit.

So He cursed the tree becaue the flowers "pagi" never developed. So there was no potential for fruit?

[Ovedya]

The fig tree represents Israel (Jer. 24:2, 5, 8) and the temple represents the center of God's relationship with Israel.

Immediately following the Lord's cursing of the fig tree was the cleansing of the temple. These two events are connected, representing two aspects of Israel's corruption before God. As the fig tree planted by God, Israel bore no fruit to God. As the center of God's relationship with Israel the temple became corrupted. It is for this reason that Christ cursed the fig tree and cleansed the temple. This can be considered a harbinger - a foreshadow - of the destruction foretold in Mark 12:9 and 13:2

[Guest]

This is a case of modern English not using the same words as Hebrew or Greek. The fruit of the fig tree grows in two stages. As the tree first begins to put out leaves, there is a flower that looks exactly like a fig. The difference is that it has an opening for a specific species of moth to crawl inside to fertilize the flower. After the flower is fertilized, the opening closes and the flower become the fruit we know as a fig. Before the flower is fertilized it should be called by a different name, it is a pagi. It is edible but not sweet. After the flower is fertilized it grows larger and becomes sweet. So, let's re-do the story...

Jesus is walking up a hill and he is hungry. He sees a fig tree with leaves but it isn't time for figs yet so he goes to check for pagi. When there are no pagi he curses the tree. The next day, when the disciples see that the tree is dead they ask him why he did that. He tells them to have faith in God. Here's the connection...

Without pagi, the fig tree will never grow fruit.

Without faith, neither will any of us.

It's rather sobering when you realize that Jesus cursed the tree because it would never bear fruit.

Thanks for your reply. I had not thought of taking a closer look at the fig tree itself. It is indeed a sobering thought that Jesus realized the tree would never bear fruit -- and that without faith we can't bear fruit (to God) either.

[Guest]

The fig tree represents Israel (Jer. 24:2, 5, 8) and the temple represents the center of God's relationship with Israel.

Immediately following the Lord's cursing of the fig tree was the cleansing of the temple. These two events are connected, representing two aspects of Israel's corruption before God. As the fig tree planted by God, Israel bore no fruit to God. As the center of God's relationship with Israel the temple became corrupted. It is for this reason that Christ cursed the fig tree and cleansed the temple. This can be considered a harbinger - a foreshadow - of the destruction foretold in Mark 12:9 and 13:2

Thank you for this also!

[Tehilah Ba'Aretz]

The fig tree represents Israel (Jer. 24:2, 5, 8) and the temple represents the center of God's relationship with Israel.

Immediately following the Lord's cursing of the fig tree was the cleansing of the temple. These two events are connected, representing two aspects of Israel's corruption before God. As the fig tree planted by God, Israel bore no fruit to God. As the center of God's relationship with Israel the temple became corrupted. It is for this reason that Christ cursed the fig tree and cleansed the temple. This can be considered a harbinger - a foreshadow - of the destruction foretold in Mark 12:9 and 13:2

I think the issue, according to what Jesus said, is faith. Israel did not have faith in God. There certainly were those who not only had faith but much fruit within Israel though. Jesus himself was part of Israel at this point so I don't think the curse was against Israel. He was not just producing fruit, disciples, followers; his disciples went forward and turned the world upside down. I understand that Israel as a nation was not then filled with faith in God. The same is true today. However, I would like to be careful not to say that God cursed Israel because there was no fruit.