The fig tree in Mark 11?

[Ailina]

Could someone explain the meaning of the fig tree incident in Mark 11: 12-14 and 20? Thanks!

 

[Todd_Easton]

Here’s a link to the New American Bible commentary on Mark 11:12.
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[COPLAND_3]

He curses the fig tree for His disciples’ sake, that they might have faith in Him. For He distributed blessings everywhere, and punished no one, yet at the same time, it was right to give them a proof of His chastising power, that they might learn that He could even cause the persecuting Jews to wither away; He was however unwilling to give this proof on men, so He showed them on a plant a sign of His power of punishing, that if He chose He could in a moment exterminate those who were about to crucify Him.

 

[NotWorthy]

In a nutshell, the fig tree incident is representative of what happens to the temple. Follow the logic.

1. Jesus curses the fig tree.
2. Jesus curses the Temple.
3. The fig tree withers and dies.

So, what is going to happen to the Temple?

Here’s a lesson I used in our class at Church. I drew a lot of it from Tim Gray’s “The Gospel of Mark”.

In 11:13-14 we read, “Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. And he said to it in reply, ‘May no one ever eat of your fruit again!’ And his disciples heard it”. That was rather rude of Jesus, wasn’t it – sort of out of character? Then Jesus goes into the Temple and turns over the tables chastising the money changers, calling the Temple a “den of thieves” and just causing a veritable uproar.

Immediately after, within a couple of verses we read, Jesus comes across the same fig tree - Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered."

Now Mark is sandwiching the judgement of the Temple between Jesus cursing the fig tree. Obviously there’s something symbolic about this fig tree. Does anyone know what this tree represents, especially when you consider the context of this scene in Mark? In Hosea chapter 9, we see Israel compared to the fig tree to bear fruit. So in between these two fig tree scenes, Jesus goes into the Temple and calls it a “den of thieves”, echoing Jeremiahs claims about the First Temple in chapter 7, verse 11, “Thus says the Lord of Hosts…. Has this house which bears my name become in your eyes a den of thieves?” The Lord then says that He will destroy the first Temple. So with these words “you have made it a den of thieves”, Jesus pronounces judgment on the new Jerusalem Temple, just as with a few words Jesus pronounces judgment on the fig tree. Then, as we see the fig tree wither and die, we can be assured that the same will happen to the Temple.

 

[nablaise]

interesting. Thanks for the explanations

 

[Joe_Kelley]

The fig tree and the vinyard are frequently symbolic of Israel throughout the prophets and the Gospels.

 

[NotWorthy]

When you read the parable of the tenants of the Vineyard in the Synoptics, think of Isaiah, chapter 5:

1 Let me now sing of my friend, my friend’s song concerning his vineyard. My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside; 2 He spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; Within it he built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press. Then he looked for the crop of grapes, but what it yielded was wild grapes. 3 Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard: 4 What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done? Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? 5 Now, I will let you know what I mean to do to my vineyard: Take away its hedge, give it to grazing, break through its wall, let it be trampled! 6 Yes, I will make it a ruin: it shall not be pruned or hoed, but overgrown with thorns and briers; I will command the clouds not to send rain upon it. 7 The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his cherished plant; He looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed! for justice, but hark, the outcry!