Someone recently asked me why Jesus cursed the fruitless fig tree in Mark 11:12-14 when it was not the growing season for figs. The text states, “On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again!’ And His disciples were listening.”
Based on the “out of season” disclosure in the text, it seemed odd for Jesus to curse this tree for lacking fruit. So, why did He take such drastic measures?
Before answering that question, we must understand a few things about fig trees:
First, fig trees can grow fruit before or after their primary growing season, depending on the geographical climate, elevation, and soil moisture levels. So, the fact that the tree was fruitless during an “off-season” did not mean it should not or could not have figs on its branches.
Second, fig trees typically grow fruit and leaves simultaneously. Although there are instances when they produce fruit before leaves, they never grow leaves without fruit.
Consequently, since fig trees do not grow leaves without fruit, and this tree’s leaves could be seen from a distance, Jesus rightfully expected to see fruit on its branches. Yet, when He neared the tree, He discovered it was barren of fruit despite its appearance to the contrary. So, He cursed the tree, and it withered soon afterward.
This unfruitful fig tree was a picture of the spiritual condition of Israel, which was full of Jews who represented themselves outwardly as God-fearing and God-honoring followers but were spiritually barren inwardly. The fig tree also represents those who claim to follow Jesus but lack the evidence of spiritual fruit to validate it.
James addressed the issue of dead faith in James 2:17, stating, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” He also wrote in James 2:26, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
James went to great lengths to distinguish the difference between genuine salvation (= saving faith) and pretense or charades (= dead faith), using the evidence of good works (= spiritual fruit) as a determining factor. He argued that if someone claimed to be born-again but did not exhibit any good works, their “faith” was inauthentic, imaginary, and nonexistent because genuine salvation naturally produces godly works and obedience.
This same principle is seen with the fruitless fig tree and barren Jews. Both presented themselves as ones who should have possessed authentic fruit but produced none. Therefore, Jesus severely judged the fig tree, which was a foreshadowing, in part, of His future judgment against all spiritual hypocrisy and those who practice it.
Consider what Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:27-28, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
Jesus’ frightful words bring sobriety to the declaration in Hebrews 10:30-31, “For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
I hope this information helps shed light on Jesus’ response to the fig tree and its practical application for us and the world today.
