Jesus curses the fig tree - why?

[Tannhauser]

Jesus curses the fig tree because it is not in season… it appears that He curses the tree because it does not bear fruit which it cannot bear, because of the season.

Why would Christ then curse the tree to death?

The tree is alive, and Christ effectively kills it… I don’t understand this… it doesn’t seem to fit into His character.

Can somebody explain to me what I am obviously missing.

Thank-you.

 

[Anthony_V]

Try and connect these passage you mentioned and the one below together:

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
Mark 5:13

He is saying that all who reject him in eternity will not bear fruit, not because they will not to, but because they CANNOT bear due to the eternal lack of God (damnation). The fig tree would have never been in season. See below passage:

“Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them.
But whoever blasphemes against the holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”
Mark 3:29

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (there is a whole theology behind that will take too long to get into) is damnation. Salvation is not for the damned, and thus another redundant paradox that matches that of Mark 5:13 and Luke 13: 6-9 (fig tree parable).

 

[Glorthac]

Here’s St. Augustine’s commentary on the subject:
ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf106.vii.xli.html

He basically said Christ our God cursed the fig tree as a warning to us, lest we don’t bear any fruits of righteousness.

And that makes sense with His character, because He loves men much more than trees and animals, as He said: “What man shall there be among you, that hath one sheep: and if the same fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not take hold on it and lift it up? How much better is a man than a sheep?” (Matthew 12:11-12)

Therefore, He’s willing to destroy a mere tree to warn His loved ones.

 

[thenobes]

Yeah, the fig tree wasn’t even trying to bear fruit.

Christ was said not to want even to quench a smoking wick, or break a bruised reed.

But those were things that were once well, and only possibly temporarily sick. The fig tree was always a bad actor.

Yes just a warning for us who neither know the date or the time.

peace
steve

 

[danserr]

Besides interpreting this as a warning for us to bear good fruit, Dorothy Sayers The Mind of the Maker interpreted commented something like, “the cursing of the fig tree seems like a bout of bad temper, until a time comes when we realize that we are called upon to perform impossibilities or perish.”

 

[Shin]

‘A lukewarm religious will be contented with what little he does for God; but God, who called him to a perfect life, will not be contented, and, in punishment for his ingratitude, will not only deprive him of his special favors, but will sometimes permit his fall “When you said, It is enough, then you perished,” says St. Augustine. The fig-tree of the Gospel was cast into the fire, only because it brought forth no fruit.’

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

‘Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. We are full of words but empty of actions, and therefore are cursed by the Lord, since he himself cursed the fig tree when he found no fruit but only leaves. It is useless for a man to flaunt his knowledge of the law if he undermines its teaching by his actions. But the apostles “spoke as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.” Happy the man whose words issue from the Holy Spirit and not from himself!’

St. Anthony of Padua

 

[ryanoneil]

The fig tree is a symbol of Old Covenant Israel.

**They are odious; they have done abominable things, yet they are not at all ashamed, they know not how to blush. Hence they shall be among those who fall; in their time of punishment they shall go down, says the LORD. I will gather them all in, says the LORD: no grapes on the vine, No figs on the fig trees, foliage withered! (Jer 8:12-13)

Like grapes in the desert, I found Israel; Like the first fruits of the fig tree in its prime, I considered your fathers. When they came to Baal-peor and consecrated themselves to the Shame, they became as abhorrent as the thing they loved. (Hos 9:10)**

Jesus curses it because it is barren and has no figs. Symbolically, Jesus is announcing God’s curse on the unfaithful of Israel who refuse him as the Messiah and lack the “fruit” of repnetance.

Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (Mt 3:8-10)

 

[Cristiano]

Jesus curses the fig tree because it is not in season… it appears that He curses the tree because it does not bear fruit which it cannot bear, because of the season.

Why would Christ then curse the tree to death?

The tree is alive, and Christ effectively kills it… I don’t understand this… it doesn’t seem to fit into His character.

Can somebody explain to me what I am obviously missing.

Thank-you.

look at this thread:
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree (Mk 11:12-14)