“He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, ‘Let no fruit grow on you ever again.’ Immediately the fig tree withered away” (Matthew 21:18-19).
This was a strange sight. It was not the season for figs (Mark 11:13). Some take this to mean that it was not yet the time for gathering figs (see: Albert Barnes; Adam Clarke). However, this tree had leaves. Consider these comments, “Two varieties of figs are common in Palestine, the bicura or boccore, an early fig with large green leaves with fruit which ripens in May or June and sometimes earlier near Jerusalem. Thomson found ripe fruit of this variety as early as May in the mountains of Lebanon, one hundred and fifty miles north of Jerusalem, and Professor Post, of Beyrut (sic), states that fig trees there have fruit formed as early as February, which is fully ripe in April. The second variety is the summer fig or kermus. This ripens its main crop in August, but its later fruitage often hangs on all winter when the weather is mild, dropping off when the new spring leaves come. As the fruit usually appears before the leaves, the leaves were a promise that fruit might be found, and the fruit, though not perfectly ripe, is considered edible when the leaves are developed. (J.W. McGarvey, The Fourfold Gospel, p. 581). This tree promised fruit but bore none. It professed that it was a fruit bearing tree but it produced no fruit.
Jesus cursed the tree (cf. Mark 11:14, 21). This does not mean that he lost his temper. This does not mean that he used profanity. It means that he pronounced a judgment upon this tree.
Questions
Some have real trouble with this incident. Did Jesus really get angry with a tree? Did this warrant the use of super-natural power? Is this a case of pettiness or undue concern?
Israel
I believe that Jesus was using the tree to teach his disciples a lesson about Israel (cf. Matthew 21:43). Israel is compared, many times, to a vine or fig tree (Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21; 12:10; Ezekiel 15:5-6; Hosea 9:10, 16; 10:1; Joel 1:7; Psalm 80:8-ff). It is interesting that in Mark the fig tree is mentioned on each side of the cleansing of the temple (Mark 11:12-14, 15-19, 20-21). This is known as a “Markan sandwich” which is thought to link the two incidents together. Markan sandwiches appear numerous times in the book of Mark. Again, this is thought to closely link two incidents together. Furthermore, consider this comment, “In a symbolic sense, the tree was ‘pretending’ to be that which it was not. It was a perfect visual of the Jewish nation!” (Wayne Jackson, A New Testament Commentary, p. 49).
Application
Have you heard the saying, “All hat, no cattle”? A church member recently was kind enough to let me stay on his cattle ranch while my house was scheduled to have some work done on it. He is a real cattleman. His ranch goes back to the early days of this state. After staying on the ranch, another church member asked me, “Are you starting to feel more like a cowboy?” My answer was, “If I were then I would be all hat and no cattle.” Many want to appear to be what they are not.
Let us not simply profess to be Christians. Let us truly be followers of Christ.
Bryan Hodge 
A Fig Tree Bearing Olives
“With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh” (James 3:9-12).
“It” refers to the tongue. The use of the tongue is under consideration. It is important that we bridle (control) our tongues. One’s religion is useless if he does not do this (James 1:26).
It is not uncommon for man to use his tongue in two ways which are inconsistent. (1) A man may use his tongue to “bless” (Greek eulogoumen meaning to speak well of) God. He may do this in worship. One writer has written, “A devout Jew would repeat the Shemoneh Esreh (or Shemoneh Esrei B.H.) which consisted of eighteen prayers called Eulogies, three times a day. Each prayer begins with, ‘Blessed be Thou, O God.'” (J.J. Turner, The Book of James, p. 105). It is good to praise God. “Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15). (2) The same man may have a pattern of using his tongue to “curse” (Greek Katarometha meaning to curse down) men. One writer has suggested, “He considers himself able to look up to God, and bless him; and down to men and curse them” (Guy N. Wood, A Commentary on the Epistle of James, p. 173).
Why Not
James tells us that “these things ought not to be so” (James 3:10). Why not? (1) Man has been made (perfect tense expressing abiding results – B.H.) in the similitude of God (James 3:9). He should be treated with dignity and respect. He should not be treated as something sub-human, inferior, or beneath oneself. God created this one in his image. (2) It is not useful (James 3:10). The word “ought” (Greek Chre) is related to the original word “to use” (chraomai). The idea seems to be that this is not the proper use of the tongue. We are taught: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). (3) It is inconsistent (James 3:11-12).
Illustration
(1) It is as inconsistent as a spring sending forth both fresh (sweet) water and salt (bitter) water from the same opening (James 3:11-12). (a) If this happened at the same time, the water of the spring would be corrupted. The salt would taint the water and make it unpleasant or unwholesome to drink. One cannot worship God acceptably and hate his brother (cf. 1 John 4:20-21; Matthew 5:23-24). Moreover, many will not listen to our message, even if true, when they are exposed to such inconsistency (cf. Romans 2:21-24). Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited with saying, “Your actions speak so loudly, I cannot hear what you are saying.” (b) If this happened at different random times, who could depend on this water hole? One would not know whether fresh water or salt water would come forth. We should seek to be consistent. “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life” (Proverbs 10:11). (c) However, the real point is that a spring does not do this. It is consistent. A Christian should also seek to be consistent. If we truly love God then we also should care about man.
(2) It is as inconsistent as a fig tree bearing olives or a grapevine bearing figs (James 3:12). (a) The point is that this does not happen. Plants produce according to their kind (Genesis 1:11-13). They are known by their fruit (Matthew 12:33-37; Matthew 7:15-20; Luke 6:43-45). (b) However, imagine the confusion which would be caused if a fig tree produced olives or a grapevine produced figs. Imagine the confusion which would exist if one never knew what type of fruit to expect on any kind of tree. What kind of fruit do you think Jesus sought from a fig tree? (Matthew 21:18-19; cf. Luke 13:6-9). God’s people should be known for producing a certain kind of fruit (cf. James 3:13-18; Galatians 5:19-23).
{Note: It is possible for a single citrus tree to produce different types of citrus fruit (e.g. lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit), and for different types of apples (red, green, yellow) to grow on one apple tree. These trees are called fruit salad trees. This is accomplished by humans engineering this, by grafting of variety of fruit branches of the same family on to one tree. Those on a citrus are still citrus. These on an apple tree are still apples. There are limits. One cannot successfully graft fruit from different families on to one tree (e.g. apples and oranges). [See: Better Homes and Gardens, Yes Fruit Salad Trees Exist and Here’s How to Grow Them by Derek Carwood, January 10, 2023, bhg.com; Also, Can Citrus Bear Different Fruits? Google A.I,; And, Fruit Salad Tree, Google A.I.]}
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