Why Did Jesus Curse a Fig Tree?

[TimothyH]

You are misunderstanding biblical interpretation by saying these things. The Catechism is our primary source for sorting out how to interpret biblical passages:

As you can see, the literal sense is not the only way Scripture is interpreted. If it were a good deal of the Bible would have no relevance to our lives at all.

The Church clearly teaches that the literal sense of scripture ist most important and the spiritual senses flow from the literal sense.

***DIVINO AFFLANTE SPIRITU
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS XII

…let the Catholic exegete undertake the task, of all those imposed on him the greatest, that namely of discovering and expounding the genuine meaning of the Sacred Books. In the performance of this task let the interpreters bear in mind that their foremost and greatest endeavor should be to discern and define clearly that sense of the biblical words which is called literal. ***

This is also stated very clearly in the catechism.

A proper understanding of the spiritual senses comes only from a proper understanding of the literal sense. This is why so many Churches teach error, because they have no understanding of the cultural, economic, political and historical contex.

-Tim-

 

[Della]

The Church clearly teaches that the literal sense of scripture ist most important and the spiritual senses flow from the literal sense.

***DIVINO AFFLANTE SPIRITU
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS XII

…let the Catholic exegete undertake the task, of all those imposed on him the greatest, that namely of discovering and expounding the genuine meaning of the Sacred Books. In the performance of this task let the interpreters bear in mind that their foremost and greatest endeavor should be to discern and define clearly that sense of the biblical words which is called literal. ***

This is also stated very clearly in the catechism.

A proper understanding of the spiritual senses comes only from a proper understanding of the literal sense. This is why so many Churches teach error, because they have no understanding of the cultural, economic, political and historical contex.

-Tim-

Our OP seems to have the idea that only the literal reading is the way to understand Scriptures. Why would we care about Jesus cursing a fig tree if it didn’t have a meaning apart from him being hungry and not finding any fruit–if the account told us no more than that, you see.

Also, the OP misunderstands the difference between Jesus telling us not to swear by this or that or to not curse enemies vs. Jesus exercising his divine initiative to take life in order to demonstrate a point for his disciples.

Definitely, we need to take the literal meaning first, but as you pointed out, it’s a starting point to understanding and not the only means by which we understand Scripture passages.

 

[jrotiker]

I have given some time today to research the growing and fruit bearing characteristics of fig trees.

I have also given some time today to research the symbolism of fig trees.

I also sought the answer to my question through other web sites.

Thank you TimothyH and SonCatcher… Your answers moved me in a good direction.

Thank you to All.

 

[jrotiker]

This explanation is very helpful for me. It is not from a Catholic source. I believe there may be a few subtleties in textual interpretation that will be challenged but for my purposes, this explanation best summarizes my learning through this forum, The New Catholic Answers Bible, The Catholic Catechism and my general research.

Mark 11, 12-26

hurtingchristian.org/PastorsSite/weeklystudies/mark/mark11-12-26.htm

 

[Della]

This explanation is very helpful for me. It is not from a Catholic source. I believe there may be a few subtleties in textual interpretation that will be challenged but for my purposes, this explanation best summarizes my learning through this forum, The New Catholic Answers Bible, The Catholic Catechism and my general research.

Mark 11, 12-26

hurtingchristian.org/PastorsSite/weeklystudies/mark/mark11-12-26.htm

A good article. I merely scanned it, but didn’t see anything objectionable about it. Along with explanations of the text, which were fine, it only contained admonitions to live the Christian life, which is good advice for all of us.

 

[Brigid34]

Since it did not have the fruit it advertised, Jesus cursed it. We should take away a warning that if we profess our faith but do not live it we will be similarly cursed.

 

[Zooey]

I learned about this in a verse-by-verse commentary:

A mature fig tree has 2 crops. The first crop of figs forms together with the leaves. The second crop forms before the leaves drop, so there should always be figs as long as there are leaves. When the verse says “it was not the time for figs” a horticulturist would understand that it was also not the time for leaves. Yet by showing leaves, it was advertising that it had fruit.

Since it did not have the fruit it advertised, Jesus cursed it. We should take away a warning that if we profess our faith but do not live it we will be similarly cursed.

This is my understanding, also. That this tree represented those who, having had every help toward producing fruit, was doing nothing at all.
I live in a fruit farming area (not figs; apples, pears, & the like; & some stone fruit). I can tell you that a tree that behaved like this one in the Bible would be getting cut down very rapidly, in order to make room for the fruitful ones. Those would be sharing the care of the good trees whilst being of no good to anyone. Such a tree might well cause its fellows to become diseased and/or dead trees as well. Not a good thing for the orchards at all!!