Meditations

Mark 11

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. ¹⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.  -kjv

¹² 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.  -niv

¹² The next day when they came out from Bethany, He was hungry. ¹³ After seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, He went to find out if there was anything on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴ He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples heard it.  -hcsb

Observations and Comments:

The horticulture aspect of this passage is that one will expect to find fruits on the fig tree as the fruits will usually appear first before the leaves. The fig tree in this case has leaves but no fruits, meaning it is barren. The context of this is in reference to the chief priests and the scribes and the elders challenging Jesus’ authority. The cursing of the fig tree is actually scolding the priests and scribes for their religiosity without any spiritual fruits. Hence, Jesus cursed the fig tree. Learned this from OpenLine Moody Radio last Saturday.