Jesus curses the fig tree

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Batgirl1415

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In Mark, chapter 11 (I forget which verses), Jesus curses a fig tree because it’s not fig season and it doesn’t have any fruit and Jesus was hungry. What does it mean???

I laughed out loud, I’ve never read this one before, I guess cause it’s such a short thing.
Almost as funny as the talking ***…

But in all seriousness, what the heck does it mean?
 
It means that Jesus was ready to chow, and the fig tree wasn’t cooperating, therefore it was “curse city”. Of course, if it had been bearing fruit what’s the difference, since figs are nasty anyway. BTW, I thought this story was a hoot when I first heard it in grade school. I laughed out loud and got in trouble with Sister Helen Jean for that!! Seems a lot of nuns don’t have much of a sense of humour!

Peace.
 
My NAB has a footnote that says cursing the fig tree is a parable in action representing Christ’s judgement on barren Israel for failing to receive his teaching.
 
Oh I see, haha

I was like, whoah there Jesus, a little hungry are we?
 
It had nothing to do with “season” the way mother nature is concerned. He didnt kill a tree just because He arrived early and it hadnt budded yet, the tree wasnt going to produce anything of value, it was in effect worthless. The same can be said about humans, are we producing good fruit for God?

Luke said:
Luke 13:7 - And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?’
Click to expand...
 
Ok, First off–In Judaism, Fig trees were representative, don’t ask me of what.
Mark uses his famous “sandwich” technique in this part of his Gospel.
First, Jesus curses the fig tree that bares no fruit, then he goes and clenses the temple and denounces all its ‘badness’. Finally, he comes back and the fig tree has withered away. Jesus then says to “have faith, and you can throw this mount into the sea” (the temple was on a mount).
Mark is comparing the temple with the fig tree; it bares no fruit. It is no good. The temple had become a den of thieves. Lots of meaning.
I know it sounds weird at first, though.
 
Hello Batgirl,

Jesus destroying the fig tree is a warning to people who do not produce the fruit of love and obedience to God. On judgement day, Jesus will throw into the fire of damnation those people who have not produced the fruit of the Kingdom of God.

Please visit Parables Painting Pictures of Paradise

NAB MAT 7:13

How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them. "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.Peace in Christ,
Steven Merten
www.ILOVEYOUGOD.com
 
This incident always puzzled me, too, until I bought my own fruit trees and watched the process of growth.

In verse 11:13, “Jesus found nothing but leaves: it was not the time for figs.”

When a fruit-bearing tree begins its spring growth, we see a lot of blossoms as the leaves burst forth. When the blossom falls, the stem that remains from the blossom forms a very tiny “node” at the tip, which is the fruit in its infancy. Some of these stems fall off from the wind and elements, but many remain to form future fruit. Wise gardeners spray at that stage to prevent disease. Of course, this is not the time for fruit (figs or any other kind), just its beginnings.

Looking now at the scripture verse, Jesus saw nothing but mature leaves. Even though it was not the time for figs, what should have been there? Right . . . the tiny stems with a node at the end, which is the evidence of future fruit-bearing.

:tsktsk: Lazy tree, taking up soil nutrients, without any intent to be productive.

I often thought about this with regards to our efforts at holiness. We could compare our blossoms in spring with holy desires to be what God calls us to be. Many will blow off with the wind of temptation, neglect, trials, etc., but some will “take” and go on to form virtue.

As long as we are forming tiny nodes of effort, God is pleased, even if it is not time for mature fruit; but like the man who did not use his talent, we could find ourselves being cursed.
 
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Batgirl1415:
In Mark, chapter 11 (I forget which verses), Jesus curses a fig tree because it’s not fig season and it doesn’t have any fruit and Jesus was hungry. What does it mean???

I laughed out loud, I’ve never read this one before, I guess cause it’s such a short thing.
Almost as funny as the talking ***…

But in all seriousness, what the heck does it mean?
Click to expand...
In the Bible, when Jesus “curses the fig tree,” Jesus is condemning Old Testament Judaism and the Old Law as inadequate vehicles for salvation, so that Judaism will lose its status as “the Chosen People,” and the Gentile Church foreshadowed in the Old Testament in other ways will take over as The Chosen People.
 
The fig tree should have its fruit “set” before its leaves appear. If it has leaves with no fruit, the tree will never bear fruit; it is useless for its purpose (ie, bearing fruit/providing food).
So the symbolism is that if you are completely without fruit, that is a sign that you are completely without faith in Christ, as well.
 
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