WAS JESUS WRONG? (A BIBLE STUDY)
In Mark 11:13, we find the only instance where Jesus used His power for a destructive act … the withering of the fig tree. This verse has always sort of bothered me. After all, Mark tells us that it was “not yet the season for figs,” yet Jesus cursed the tree because it had no fruit upon it. Was Jesus wrong to do this? Well, we know Jesus was the perfect Son of God, so there had to be a reason why the tree was cursed by Him. I have a couple of theories I’d like to submit, along with some scripture references for deeper Bible study.
1. First, most commentators agree that although it was not yet the season for figs (ripe figs, that is) the tree in question actually gave the appearance of having fruit upon it because the leaves were the right size, shape and coloration for a fruit-bearing tree. So, in essence, it fooled people by its appearance, much like those who pretend to have a relationship with Christ, but have no FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT upon their branches. (Read Matthew 7:15-16, Galatians 5:22-23.)
2. 2 Timothy 4:2 encourages us to be instant “in season and out of season.” In other words, there is never a time in the Christian life where we can say “This is not the season for me to bear fruit.” There is no “OUT OF SEASON” label on a believer in Jesus Christ. We are to be bearing fruit in the best of times and in the worst of times … when things are conducive for fruit bearing, and even when they’re not. Jesus cursing the tree was a teaching opportunity for us to remember that He has great expectations from us. Being a child of God is not for pansies … there are demands of fruitfulness that the Lord places upon us (Read John 15:8, Colossians 1:10, Romans 7:4).
3. The cursing of the fig tree happened on the Monday before the crucifixion. We already know that Jesus wept over Jerusalem that week because they were not willing to receive their Messiah. Jesus often likened the nation of Israel to a fig tree. His parables about fig trees were usually tied to the nation of Israel. So, symbolically, as he cursed the fig tree for giving the appearance of having fruit yet having none, He was saying something to the nation of Israel … their time of fruitfulness was coming to an end and the “time of the Gentiles” was about to begin (Luke 13:6-9, Luke 21:24, Romans 11:25).
4. I can’t help but think about the account in Genesis ... about what Adam and Eve did when they sinned. They covered themselves with FIG LEAVES. I don’t know if it’s significant or not, but isn’t it interesting that it is a FIG TREE that Jesus cursed? The thing that man used to cover his sin, shame and nakedness was symbolically standing before Jesus on the week that He went to the cross to die for mankind. He was about to, once and for all, remove the stain of man’s sin and shame … there is no more need for man to cover himself with the FIG LEAVES of this world … the blood of Jesus is about to fix the problem for eternity! (Read Genesis 3:7, Job 31:33).
In Mark 11:13, we find the only instance where Jesus used His power for a destructive act … the withering of the fig tree. This verse has always sort of bothered me. After all, Mark tells us that it was “not yet the season for figs,” yet Jesus cursed the tree because it had no fruit upon it. Was Jesus wrong to do this? Well, we know Jesus was the perfect Son of God, so there had to be a reason why the tree was cursed by Him. I have a couple of theories I’d like to submit, along with some scripture references for deeper Bible study.
1. First, most commentators agree that although it was not yet the season for figs (ripe figs, that is) the tree in question actually gave the appearance of having fruit upon it because the leaves were the right size, shape and coloration for a fruit-bearing tree. So, in essence, it fooled people by its appearance, much like those who pretend to have a relationship with Christ, but have no FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT upon their branches. (Read Matthew 7:15-16, Galatians 5:22-23.)
2. 2 Timothy 4:2 encourages us to be instant “in season and out of season.” In other words, there is never a time in the Christian life where we can say “This is not the season for me to bear fruit.” There is no “OUT OF SEASON” label on a believer in Jesus Christ. We are to be bearing fruit in the best of times and in the worst of times … when things are conducive for fruit bearing, and even when they’re not. Jesus cursing the tree was a teaching opportunity for us to remember that He has great expectations from us. Being a child of God is not for pansies … there are demands of fruitfulness that the Lord places upon us (Read John 15:8, Colossians 1:10, Romans 7:4).
3. The cursing of the fig tree happened on the Monday before the crucifixion. We already know that Jesus wept over Jerusalem that week because they were not willing to receive their Messiah. Jesus often likened the nation of Israel to a fig tree. His parables about fig trees were usually tied to the nation of Israel. So, symbolically, as he cursed the fig tree for giving the appearance of having fruit yet having none, He was saying something to the nation of Israel … their time of fruitfulness was coming to an end and the “time of the Gentiles” was about to begin (Luke 13:6-9, Luke 21:24, Romans 11:25).
4. I can’t help but think about the account in Genesis ... about what Adam and Eve did when they sinned. They covered themselves with FIG LEAVES. I don’t know if it’s significant or not, but isn’t it interesting that it is a FIG TREE that Jesus cursed? The thing that man used to cover his sin, shame and nakedness was symbolically standing before Jesus on the week that He went to the cross to die for mankind. He was about to, once and for all, remove the stain of man’s sin and shame … there is no more need for man to cover himself with the FIG LEAVES of this world … the blood of Jesus is about to fix the problem for eternity! (Read Genesis 3:7, Job 31:33).
WAS JESUS WRONG? (A BIBLE STUDY)
In Mark 11:13, we find the only instance where Jesus used His power for a destructive act … the withering of the fig tree. This verse has always sort of bothered me. After all, Mark tells us that it was “not yet the season for figs,” yet Jesus cursed the tree because it had no fruit upon it. Was Jesus wrong to do this? Well, we know Jesus was the perfect Son of God, so there had to be a reason why the tree was cursed by Him. I have a couple of theories I’d like to submit, along with some scripture references for deeper Bible study.
1. First, most commentators agree that although it was not yet the season for figs (ripe figs, that is) the tree in question actually gave the appearance of having fruit upon it because the leaves were the right size, shape and coloration for a fruit-bearing tree. So, in essence, it fooled people by its appearance, much like those who pretend to have a relationship with Christ, but have no FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT upon their branches. (Read Matthew 7:15-16, Galatians 5:22-23.)
2. 2 Timothy 4:2 encourages us to be instant “in season and out of season.” In other words, there is never a time in the Christian life where we can say “This is not the season for me to bear fruit.” There is no “OUT OF SEASON” label on a believer in Jesus Christ. We are to be bearing fruit in the best of times and in the worst of times … when things are conducive for fruit bearing, and even when they’re not. Jesus cursing the tree was a teaching opportunity for us to remember that He has great expectations from us. Being a child of God is not for pansies … there are demands of fruitfulness that the Lord places upon us (Read John 15:8, Colossians 1:10, Romans 7:4).
3. The cursing of the fig tree happened on the Monday before the crucifixion. We already know that Jesus wept over Jerusalem that week because they were not willing to receive their Messiah. Jesus often likened the nation of Israel to a fig tree. His parables about fig trees were usually tied to the nation of Israel. So, symbolically, as he cursed the fig tree for giving the appearance of having fruit yet having none, He was saying something to the nation of Israel … their time of fruitfulness was coming to an end and the “time of the Gentiles” was about to begin (Luke 13:6-9, Luke 21:24, Romans 11:25).
4. I can’t help but think about the account in Genesis ... about what Adam and Eve did when they sinned. They covered themselves with FIG LEAVES. I don’t know if it’s significant or not, but isn’t it interesting that it is a FIG TREE that Jesus cursed? The thing that man used to cover his sin, shame and nakedness was symbolically standing before Jesus on the week that He went to the cross to die for mankind. He was about to, once and for all, remove the stain of man’s sin and shame … there is no more need for man to cover himself with the FIG LEAVES of this world … the blood of Jesus is about to fix the problem for eternity! (Read Genesis 3:7, Job 31:33).
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