
The day after the “Triumphal Entry” or “Palm Sunday” Jesus again enters Jerusalem in the morning, but this time he is walking. There is no ceremony, no joyful cheers, just a fig tree that will serve as a living parable. It is early in the morning and Jesus is hungry (Matt. 21:18-22). Jesus sees a fig tree in the distance and draws closer to it in order to eat the figs that these types of trees are known to produce. Upon investigating the tree, Jesus sees that the tree had not produced figs and he curses it. Why?
Since it was common knowledge that fig trees would not produce edible figs for about six more weeks, this action of Jesus seems bizarre. Everyone knew that the fig tree would not produce edible figs at this time of the year. The edible figs would not ripen until late in May. These figs were called “early” figs and were known to precede the main crop of “late” figs that would grow in mid-August and into October. So why is Jesus cursing this fig tree for not producing edible fruit and how does it relate to this final “Passion Week” of Jesus?
The key is found in a closer inspection of the fig tree. If only leaves appeared on the tree and no early figs, then the tree would not produce any figs that year – early or late. On the heels of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and the uproar of what might seem to be excitement and a spirit of welcoming King Jesus, the fig tree represents the people and that from a distance seem to embrace Jesus as Messiah (i.e. displaying “good fruit,” see Jer. 24).
Jesus’ point is that people are like trees that seem from a distance to have good fruit (c.f. Jer. 24), but upon closer inspection show no sign of producing fruit at all.
Jerusalem was a type of fig tree. From a distance it seemed like the people were moving toward bearing ripe fruit (Matt. 21:8-9), but upon further investigation they only had leaves of religiosity (Matt. 21:12- 17). Upon closer inspection, the people have no intention of bowing to Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they show no sign of regenerative change at all (i.e. ever producing fruit). It is the fig trees that seem, from a distance, to be legitimate and genuine but upon close inspection are disappointing and worthless. The same is true of the people in Jerusalem, they seem to embrace Jesus but are fruitless and are headed toward the judgment of God. This is precisely the picture Jesus is painting by cursing the tree. The people of Jerusalem were rich with religious activity in preparation for the upcoming Passover meal, but bankrupt of true spiritual devotion to Jesus now standing among them.
It was the 10th of Nissan (the first month of the Jewish calendar) and there would be thousands of people purchasing a lamb from the local vendors. It was on this day that the disciples would purchase a lamb for Passover, which was to begin at twilight on Friday evening as prescribed in Exodus 12:1-6.They would then care for and observe it for defects for four days. Any defect would eliminate it from being able to serve as a Passover lamb. If it proved to be worthy, the one-year-old lamb would be sacrificed on the 14th of Nissan as a remembrance of God choosing to “pass-over” those who had the blood of the lamb applied to the entrance of their homes (see Exodus 12:1- 14).
How ironic that the Lamb of God, chosen before the foundations of the world (see I Peter 1:20), would be involved in choosing a lamb for His twelve disciples. I wonder what Jesus thought as the disciples discussed the merits of the potential lambs. Imagine the scene: Simon says, “It’s too small.” The sheep chosen would have to feed the entire twelve during the Passover meal. John says, “Are those spots on the left side?” According to the Law, the lamb could not have spots or defects. During the entire evaluation and purchase process, the true lamb that would soon provide complete atonement for sins had been with them all along.
During the close of the day, Jesus would also interact with some Greeks who had, seemingly, converted to Judaism and wanted to speak with Him (see John 12:20-36). Consider how tragic it was that the people who were to receive Christ as Messiah in Jerusalem had a feigned devotion and would soon rejected Him while those who were outside of the Covenant people clamored to spend time with Him. Then, leaving Jerusalem, the disciples noticed that the fig tree from the morning had withered – a stark reminder for all of us regarding the coming judgment for missing Jesus Christ.
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