Answer: There are two New Testament accounts of Jesus leveling a curse against a fig tree. “Then He told this parable: A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. At a distance, Jesus sees a fig tree with leaves, and being hungry, He approaches it hoping to find some fruit, since a fig tree often produces figs earlier than it produces foliage. Jesus’ cursing the fig tree for its fruitlessness ( Mark 11:12–13, 20–23 ) was an allusion to the fruitlessness of Israel. Our understanding of the “fig tree curse” begins with Jesus’ parable in Luke 13:6-9. 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. Mark, the author of the book, adds the comment that "it was not the season for figs" (). NOTE: Matthew refers to the cursing of the fig tree only after the cleansing of the temple and says the tree withered “at once” ( Mt 21:19 ). WHY DID JESUS CURSE THE “POOR” FIG TREE? Parable of fig tree Jesus cursing fig tree in a season where fig trees are not supposed to bear fruits were confusing to me at first. Why Did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree? Jesus does not explicitly interpret the event, yet the meaning seems clear: Jesus’ predicted judgment on the temple will come to pass as surely as did his prediction that the fig tree would wither. (Mark 11:20-22) Now it probably seems strange that Jesus cursed a tree just because he was hungry and was disappointed, but we’d be missing out on what Jesus was teaching His disciples if we didn’t look closer. When the Lord first saw the tree, he was yet “afar off.” He could only discern that it had leaves (v. 13). Upon reaching the tree, all He finds are leaves; the tree had produced no fruit. The tree is one of the earliest to show its fruitbuds, which appear before the leaves; thus a fig tree with leaves would be expected to also have fruit. Some dismiss the Lord as petulant, throwing a tantrum because He was… In order to put this situation into sharper focus, the student needs to examine the meaning behind this action by Christ. But why did Jesus cause the tree to wither? But thanks to several good resources from the internet. Why did Jesus curse the fig tree and cleanse the Temple of the money changers on the days immediately following his triumphal entry in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. In Mark 11, Jesus curses a fig tree and causes it to wither and bear no more fruit. The story has confused many Bible readers over the years, who have wondered why exactly Jesus cursed the tree. Dr. Pitre connects the fig tree to the fall of Adam and Eve and the cleansing of the Temple to Isaiah's prophecy of eunuchs who will minister to the Lord. Why Did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree? Christ was allegedly wrong in causing that tree to wither away and never bear fruit again. En route from Bethany over the Mount of Olives toward Jerusalem, Peter notices the tree that Jesus cursed the previous morning. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. – A Bit Extreme? They can be found in Matthew 21 and Mark 11. by Shawn Brasseaux A noted atheist once grumbled about the Bible account in which Jesus cursed the fig tree. The account Mark gives offers more detailed information about this curse from Jesus. The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. “Rabbi, see!” he exclaims, “the fig tree that you cursed has withered.” —Mark 11:21. The fig tree you cursed has withered!” “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. Mark 11:12-14. 12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 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. 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