Decoding the Fig Tree

Let’s delve a little into the symbol of the fig tree that our Lord Jesus speaks about throughout scripture—the barren fig-tree, the budding fig-tree, the withered fig-tree and so on— and decipher what the fig tree represents in totality, batting one scripture against another. You can read this blog post also as a booklet.

Where does the fig tree first appear?

1. In the garden of Eden where Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover themselves – Gen 3:6. God then made them garments of skin to clothe Adam and Eve. – Gen 3:21. 

Are there more references?

Certainly. Let’s list the unique ones and then break them down (later in the post). Note the numbers assigned to each reference. Clicking on the number will take you into the explanation of this reference. While at the explanation, click on the reference <> to return to the reference.

2. Moses teaches the Israelites about the commands, decrees and laws of God before crossing the Jordan to possess the promised land. – Deu 6:1. He mentions how God has promised to give them vines and fig trees in the land of promise. – Deu 8:8

3. The third reference is an interesting one. Gideon’s seventy sons are killed in one day by the reckless scoundrels hired by Abimelek (a son of one of Gideon’s slaves). – Judges 9. Jotham, the youngest son, escapes by hiding and addresses the citizens of Shechem by telling them a story of some trees that went out to anoint a king for themselves. The olive tree was invited first. But it refused saying, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and human beings are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’ (vs. 9 highlights added). So they invited the fig tree to become king over them to which the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’ The vine tree too was not willing to become king, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and human beings, to hold sway over the trees?’ Notice how the oil of the olive honors both gods and humans while the wine of the vine tree cheers both gods and humans but the fruit of the fig tree is only spoken of as being good and sweet. Does it not cheer or honor both gods and humans? The response of the thorn bush is also interesting, so read it too: ¹⁵ “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’ ”

4. The fourth reference is in Solomon’s reign: 1 Kings 4:25

²⁵ During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and fig tree.

The vine and fig tree are mentioned together also in Micah 4:4, 1 Kings 4:25 and Zec 3:10.

5. The fifth reference is also in the context of Solomon’s reign:

1 Kings 10:27 –

²⁷ The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. The fig trees became a common fixture in the kingdom.

6. The Lord struck down the vines and fig trees in Egypt. – Psalm 105:33

7. Prov 27:18 enlists another reference: ¹⁸ Those who guard a fig tree will eat its fruit, and those who protect their masters will be honored.

8. God reveals how His judgment on the nations will cause the starry hosts to fall like shriveled figs from the fig tree. – Isaiah 34:4d

9. Nahum 3:12 – ¹² All your fortresses are like fig trees with their first ripe fruit; when they are shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.

10. Jesus curses the fig tree and it withers.

Mat 21:18-22 ¹⁸ Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. ¹⁹ Seeing a fig tree by the road, 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.

²⁰ When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

²¹Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. ²² If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

11. The disciples ask Jesus three questions in Mat 24:3 – “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” The first question is on when the temple will be destroyed. The second is on the sign of Jesus’ coming and the third is on the end of the age. Jesus answers the first question first (up to verse 8), then answers the second question (9-14) and the last question on the end of the age up from verse 15 until verse 35 (all verses are in the 24^th chapter). He resumes the answer to the second question as a means of comforting the disciples starting Mat 24:36 upto Mat 25:30. He then resumes the answer to the third question in verses 31–46 to provide insight into the proceedings at the judgment seat of Christ. Jesus refers to the fig tree in Mat 24:32-33: “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. ³³ Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. It refers to the end of the age.

12. The next occurrence of fig-tree is in Mark 11:12-26. This incident is similar to that we just read in Mat 21:18-22 but includes additional details on driving out money changers, incurring greater wrath from the chief priest and the teachers of the Law as well as on forgiving anyone who has desecrated you before praying: The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. ¹³ Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴ Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

¹⁵ On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, ¹⁶ and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. ¹⁷ And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

¹⁸ The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

¹⁹ When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

²⁰ In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. ²¹ Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

²² “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.

²³ “Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and do not doubt in your heart but believe that what you say will happen, it will be done for you. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ^25[26] And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

13. The Lord refers to the fig tree yet again in the context of the end of the age. The same scriptures are also found in Luke 21:5-33. All scriptures are provided in the table for comparison. The context is the destruction of the temple and the sign they are ALL about to be fulfilled. “4“Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” – Mark 13:4. Jesus answers similarly as in Mat 24. However he leaves out the reference to the days of Noah (as it is not a sign of the end of the age but of the rapture of the saints) as the disciples did not specifically ask for the sign of His coming. However He includes the general signs of His coming such as discussed in Mat 24:9-14. The day and hour of both the coming of the Lord (rapture) and the day of the Lord (second coming) are not known to unbelievers (likened to the people who would not listen as in the days of Noah and the coming of a thief respectively – this explains why the people mourn at the second coming). But the Body of Christ will be given the knowledge of the day and hour of the rapture according to 1 Thess 5:4-11. This mandates that we should watch in both cases because the moment the wicked perceive delay (and start misbehaving), they will be found guilty. – Mat 24:48. Also read Luke 21:34-36. Amen. It is clear that at the coming of the Lord, He is not seen but at the second coming, all will see Him and be destroyed. The angels will then gather the elect from the four winds and from one end of the heavens to the other. – Mat 24:30-31. The combination of scriptures in Rev 19:15c, 17-18 and Rev 20:5 clarify that all are dead at Christ’s second coming: Our Lord treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God at His second coming and soon after the angel calls out to the birds to gorge on the flesh of all people—free and slave, small and great. – Rev 19:15c, 17-18. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection (of those beheaded who are raised to life and gathered as the elect and given authority to reign with Christ for a thousand years). – Rev 20:5 The elect (and the wicked too) do not need their fleshly body because they receive their eternal body (but the wicked suffer in hell).

Zep 1:18b confirms the fact that no one lives through the dreadful day of the Lord. Amen.

We see also that Jerusalem being surrounded by armies on all sides triggers the same events as the abomination that causes desolation being found at a place he does not belong. Refer Mat 24:15, Mark 13:14 and Luke 21:20.

Mat 24:3-51	Mark 13:3-37	Luke 21:5-36
3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.   9“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.   15“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ a spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25See, I have told you ahead of time. 26“So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. 29“Immediately after the distress of those days “ ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ b 30“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the peoples of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 32“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. The Day and Hour Unknown 36“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. 45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.	3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4“Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” 5Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.   9“You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 12“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13Everyone will hate you because of me, but those who stand firm to the end will be saved.   14“When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 17How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. 20“If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. 24“But in those days, following that distress, “ ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 26“At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens 28“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. The Day and Hour Unknown 32“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with an assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”	5Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” 7“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” 8He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”   10Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.   12“But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13And so you will bear testimony to me. 14But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17Everyone will hate you because of me. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19Stand firm, and you will win life. 20“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 29He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 34“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

14. The Lord requires fruit of the barren fig-tree in this parable. Please note the context of this parable. Luke 13:1-9:

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? ³ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.⁴ Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

⁶ Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. ⁷ So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on

this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

⁸ “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”

15. Jesus mentions the fig tree while speaking to Nathanael.

John 1:48-51

⁴⁸ “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” ⁴⁹ Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” ⁵⁰ Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” ⁵¹ He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

16. Apostle James speaks about taming the tongue in James 3:9-12:

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

What does each reference of the fig tree signify?