⚡

The Barren Fig Tree

The Barren Fig Tree

And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” Luke 13: 6-9

Cultural Context

Fig tree in a vineyard?

Planting figs in a vineyard would have been unusual but not unheard of in ancient Palestine. Vineyards were typically dedicated to grapevines, as grapes were a valuable crop used for wine production. However, ancient agricultural practices in Palestine sometimes involved mixed farming, where different crops were planted together to maximize the use of the land or diversify the yield.

Israel and Fig (Tree) /Vine (yard)

Figs, fig trees, vines and vineyards are often used symbolically in the Bible to represent Israel and its spiritual state. These passages generally reflect God's relationship with Israel, portraying both blessing and judgment depending on Israel's faithfulness or disobedience.

I discovered Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your ancestors like the first fruit of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, consecrated themselves to Shame, and became abhorrent, like the thing they loved. Hosea 9:10

Here, God compares Israel to the early fruit of a fig tree, reflecting how He viewed the nation in its beginnings. The imagery highlights God's affection for Israel when it was faithful.

“I will gather them and bring them to an end.” This is the LORD’s declaration. “There will be no grapes on the vine, no figs on the fig tree, and even the leaf will wither. Whatever I have given them will be lost to them.” Jeremiah 8:13

This verse speaks of judgment on Israel, where the lack of figs symbolizes spiritual barrenness and God’s withdrawal of blessings.

How sad for me! For I am like one who— when the summer fruit has been gathered after the gleaning of the grape harvest— finds no grape cluster to eat, no early fig, which I crave. Micah 7:1

Micah laments the moral decay of Israel, comparing it to the absence of first-ripe figs, which normally represent abundance and God's favor.

Throughout Solomon’s reign, Judah and Israel lived in safety from Dan to Beer-sheba, each person under his own vine and his own fig tree. 1 Kings 4:25

This is a picture of peace and prosperity in Israel during Solomon's reign, where the fig tree is a symbol of national security and divine blessing.

Relationship with Jesus cursing the Fig tree

While there might not be an explicit relationship between the parable and this incident(based on some details and the conclusion of each account), it is insightful to note the common themes between both.

Too long, please open your Bible Mark 11: 12-25

Was Jesus overreacting?

In Palestine, there is a clear season for figs, and most fig trees produce fruit in the season. However, some fig trees could produce fruit out of the normal fig season due to climatic condition. So the final test for whether a fig tree would have fruit wasn’t just the time of the year, but the presence of leaves; because leave always preceded fruit.

Markan Sandwiches

Markan sandwiches are a literary technique with a theological purpose i.e they emphasize major motifs of the gospel.

Properties of Markan Sandwiches

  • They consist of two episodes or stories which are narrated in three paragraphs and follow an A1-B-A2 pattern. So Mark starts a story, branches off to tell another story and then goes back to complete the original story he started with.
  • The B-episode consists of only one story
  • A2 normally contains an allusion at its beginning which refers back to A1, e.g., repetition of a theme, proper nouns, etc.
A1)  3:20-21 – Jesus’ family goes out to restrain him  B)  3:22-30 – the Beelzebul controversy A2)  3:31-35 – Jesus’ family arrives; who is his “true family”?
A1)  4:3-8 – Jesus tells parable of the sower and the seed B)  4:10-12 – Why does Jesus speak in parables? A2)  4:13-20 – Jesus explains parable of the sower and the seed
A1)  5:21-24 – Jairus asks Jesus to heal his dying daughter B)  5:25-34 – a hemorrhaging woman touches Jesus’ clothes A2)  5:35-43 – Jesus raises the daughter of Jairus to life
A1)  6:7-13 – Jesus sends out the twelve apostles on a mission B)  6:14-29 – the death of John the Baptist is recalled A2)  6:30-31 – the apostles return, reporting what they had done
A1)  11:12-14 – Jesus curses a fig tree outside of Bethany B)  11:15-19 – Jesus expels sellers and buyers from the Temple A2)  11:20-25 – the fig tree is withered; the importance of faith
A1)  14:1-2 – chief priests want to arrest and kill Jesus     B)  14:3-9 – a woman anoints Jesus at Bethany A2)  14:10-11 – Judas arranges to betray Jesus to the chief priests
A1)  14:17-21 – Jesus predicts his betrayal     B)  14:22-26 – Institution of the Lord’s Supper A2)  14:27-31 – Jesus predicts Peter’s betrayal
A1)  14:53-54 – Peter enters the courtyard of the high priest, and sits by a fire B)  14:55-65 – Jesus is interrogated by the council of the chief priests A2)  14:66-72 – in the courtyard, Peter denies knowing Jesus three times

Significance of the event

In that incident, Jesus’ pronouncement of concerning the fig tree is his demonstration of the coming judgement on Israel. We understand that by looking at his references to Isaiah and Jeremiah.

Too long, please open your Bible Isaiah 56: 6-8
Too long, please open your Bible Jeremiah 7: 1-15

Meaning of the parable

This parable is specifically about Israel. The earlier verses (1-5) set the stage for the parable. The earlier verses express the reality of judgement, but the parable further stresses that the judgement was really close and was only being pushed back for a little while through His ministry.

It should be obvious that analogically speaking, people are trees, and actions are fruits. This analogy isn’t unexpected as is seen in other scriptures

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. Matthew 3: 7-8
Too long, please open your Bible Matthew 7: 16-20

The privilege of being God’s people came with expectations. If those expectations weren’t met, then judgement would be meted out against them.

Too long, please open your Bible Isaiah 5: 1-7
I have known only you out of all the clans of the earth; therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities. Amos 3:2

Application for our day

We are to keep ourselves aware not only of God’s mercy but of the reality of judgement. Just like Israel, we are chosen by God’s mercy, and the expectation to bear fruit still remains. This is a call to repentance and fruit bearing.

For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God Colossians 1: 9-10