I Was Asked;
What does the Parable of the barren fig tree symbolize?

The first mention of the Fig Tree is in Genesis.
Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
They realized they had sinned against God and themselves so what do they do?
They try to cover up their sin by their own devices. They took vegetation and attempted to cover their nakedness. They cared nothing about it till they disobeyed God.

Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

God shed the blood of animals and clothed them with the skins.
You do not do it your way. If you want to please God you must do it His way.

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Cain had the same problem. His fruit stand.
He could have gotten a suitable offering that he could have traded to his brother Able. His mother was given the pattern in the garden for a suitable offering but no, Cain had to do it his way.
From the beginning the Fig Tree has been a symbol of man’s effort to cover his own sin.
Oh, and a fig tree with no fruit? The Bible teaches us about good fruit and bad fruit.

Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mark 11:13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. . . .
19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.
20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

So what about a tree which brings forth no fruit at all?
The Jewish religion is based on the idea of following the Law God gave to Moses.
These “Laws” rather than bring you to perfection actually in practice show you how much you lack.

Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. . . .

Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Jesus found Israel lacking the fruit that they themselves tried to produce.

Jesus just came back from his last run-in with the Jewish leaders and found them empty. In this story of the Fig Tree Jesus is clearing the way for His New Church that He is going to call Saul to launch. A New Dispensation of Grace. Paul will spell out in the first few chapters of Romans that we cannot please God. Our Fig Leaves are not good enough. We must use the Righteousness of God.

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The Fig Tree is a symbol of dead works. People trying to get to their idea of Heaven by their own empty works.

Anyone try to put a fig-leaf apron on you - RUN. The other way.

Safari Woman
Thanks! I think of this often - especially when trying to discern things that sometimes appear to be gray areas -- Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth fo...
  • March 19, 2021
  • ·
  • Like
Captcha Challenge
Reload Image
Type in the verification code above
Back To Top
TOP