It’s not uncommon to read a part of the Gospel that has been read many times before and see something entirely new. Such is the case in today’s Gospel reading with the cursing of the fig tree as described in a book called To Know Christ Jesus (pg. 321-322), by lay apologist Frank Sheed.
“The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry. 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.” (Mark: 12-14)
This appears to be a time when we have a “not so nice” Jesus demonstrating an irrational display of power; almost a kind of tantrum triggered by the Lord’s hunger and him not finding the fruit he wanted. The Gospel has a detail that makes this incident even stranger. “It was not the time for figs.” (Mark 11:13) It was not as though this fig tree lacked some perfection it ought to have, meaning it should have had fruit. It was not the season for figs, so it would have been, in fact, unreasonable to expect to find any. But the Lord cursed the tree anyway.
Sheed suggests that Jesus is was once again teaching his disciples by way of parable, but this time by acting it out instead of telling it. He was teaching, not about fig trees, but about us. It was a warning in “fig tree language” about what would happen to us with only an outward showing of religion (a bunch of large pretty leaves) with no real religion (good fruit). As far as the season for fruit, there is no off-season for mankind as there is for fig trees. We can and should be always about the business of loving God and neighbor.
The Twelve were amazed, but when they called attention to the withered tree, Jesus only answered how they would do greater and more astonishing things, provided that their faith does not waver. One is reminded of the same kind of promise made to the Twelve during the last supper discourse (John 14:12).
What kind of “things” could the apostles do that are greater than some things Jesus did? The specifics are not listed, but I should think the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist might be two of those things being foreshadowed. Raising the dead spiritually from sin is a greater fruit than raising the dead physically. Feeding the multitudes with the body & blood of Christ is far more impressive fruit than feeding the multitudes with ordinary bread. Either of these is much more remarkable than making a fig tree wither.
Here is an excellent explanation of the fig tree parable from someone who knows about fig trees. Short answer: Jesus actions were both correct and a reference to Jewish money changers, etc he met with earlier. The tree should have had fruit from its old branches. The fact that it was not the season is entirely irrelevant.
https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/why-did-jesus-curse-the-fig-tree/
I always thought the story of Ananias and Saphira to be fairly unusual. Imagine a Bishop confronting a politician today about publicily lying to and about God and then the politician dropping over dead. More likely both would drop over dead.
Hi Michael,
The link said this “ Did you know that many fig trees bear more than just one crop?” Many does not mean all, so perhaps this was a fig tree with no figs out of season. Also if the gospel verse said “it was not the time for figs” then, being the word of God, it cannot be completely irrelevant.
Of course in the final analysis, it’s about us producing good fruit, not trees.
That’s why the old branches would be relevant– if it was the time for figs, then the new branches would be what was lacking, not the old.
There is a video on YouTube where Dr. Brant Pitre goes into the cleansing of the Temple and the fig tree titled: “Why Did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree and Cleanse the Temple of the Money Changers” The actual presentation is in the reverse order, he covers the cleansing of the Temple first, and then the fig tree. They are both great presentations. The fig tree part starts at the 9:15 minute mark.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KXpAiLIOzQ
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IIRC this is part of a larger video presentation on the Jewish Roots of Holy Week by Dr. Pitre. According to the presentation it is Jewish tradition that the fig tree was the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.