Why Did God Curse the Fig Tree?

Matthew 21:18-19 

Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree in leaf. He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.

In late spring, most trees haven’t developed mature fruit however, this tree already had a full covering of leaves so it’s foliage indicated that it should have had figs. After Jesus saw that the tree bare no fruit, he cursed it never to yield fruit again. 

Why did Jesus curse the tree simply because it had no figs and it wasn’t even the season for figs? It seems a bit extreme at first glance but if we examine this further we see that there are a few things which we can learn from this parable and applied to our own lives.

Today in Israel, there are about two crops of figs a year and every crop cycle goes through the same process. The tree produces it’s fruit then leaves form so when we see a fig tree filled with leaves, we can assume that the figs are grown. 

When Jesus sees the fig tree full of leaves, at a distance it had the appearance of having fruit. However, when he reaches the tree, all he sees is leaves. This was deceiving, a false appearance, in a way it was hypocrisy. 

The tree appeared to be mature and have fruit compared to the other fig trees around it. It made itself look like something it wasn’t. We must be cautious we don’t give the appearance of having or leaving a “better” life than the rest of the world and when people look closer, we are no different than everyone else. 

Our personal lives can seem like “in leaf”, like we are walking a truly Christian life but the root maybe be withered. There may be no fruit, we may have no love for God. Is one thing to lack of fruit when it’s not in season but it’s another thing to to lack of fruit while pretending to have it.

What will God find when he looks at us? Will he find fruit or will he find leaves?

Matthew 3:8-10

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.  And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.