Why does Jesus curse a fig tree?
Matthew 18-22
Jesus Curses a Fig Tree
Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 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.
When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
Jesus 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. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
So during my nightly reading of the Bible, I read this passage. At the time, I didn't know how to take this reading. It was so odd and a bit out of character. I mean, Jesus gets mad that the fig tree didn't have any fruit so he curses it. Compare this to when he fasted for forty days and forty nights and he wouldn't be tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread. A little different reaction, don't you think?
But after reflecting on this reading, I realize that I like this passage a lot. Jesus is the Son of God but he is human, after all. His reaction is petty. If he could make a tree wither at his words, he could have easily just had it grow fruit right on the spot. For a moment, Jesus shows human emotions of anger and revenge. It's a reminder that Jesus does have those thoughts and feelings but he has to choose to be kind and compassionate. I think that's why Jesus does show so much mercy and compassion to others. Because he has been humbled to be a lowly human like us, he understands how hard it is. And everyone has a moment where they snap and lash out with anger, even when they are trying to be good.
To me, this passage is comforting because even Jesus had a such a moment of anger. Times are hard, and we need to all be forgiving when it happens to us and forgive ourselves when we lash out in anger.
Oddly enough, the disciples were amazed that the tree withered so quickly. This passage happens after great miracles like Jesus feeds a crowd of five thousand people from a few fish and loaves of bread. But this, they are amazed at. Sometimes I don't understand the disciples.
But I like how Jesus turned this moment into a teachable lesson. Jesus 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. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” I was surprised to read that He said we could do to the same to the fig tree and even move mountains - if we just believed and do not doubt. This is a great reminder of the power of God and the power of faith.
Jesus Curses a Fig Tree
Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 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.
When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
Jesus 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. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
So during my nightly reading of the Bible, I read this passage. At the time, I didn't know how to take this reading. It was so odd and a bit out of character. I mean, Jesus gets mad that the fig tree didn't have any fruit so he curses it. Compare this to when he fasted for forty days and forty nights and he wouldn't be tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread. A little different reaction, don't you think?
But after reflecting on this reading, I realize that I like this passage a lot. Jesus is the Son of God but he is human, after all. His reaction is petty. If he could make a tree wither at his words, he could have easily just had it grow fruit right on the spot. For a moment, Jesus shows human emotions of anger and revenge. It's a reminder that Jesus does have those thoughts and feelings but he has to choose to be kind and compassionate. I think that's why Jesus does show so much mercy and compassion to others. Because he has been humbled to be a lowly human like us, he understands how hard it is. And everyone has a moment where they snap and lash out with anger, even when they are trying to be good.
To me, this passage is comforting because even Jesus had a such a moment of anger. Times are hard, and we need to all be forgiving when it happens to us and forgive ourselves when we lash out in anger.
Oddly enough, the disciples were amazed that the tree withered so quickly. This passage happens after great miracles like Jesus feeds a crowd of five thousand people from a few fish and loaves of bread. But this, they are amazed at. Sometimes I don't understand the disciples.
But I like how Jesus turned this moment into a teachable lesson. Jesus 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. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” I was surprised to read that He said we could do to the same to the fig tree and even move mountains - if we just believed and do not doubt. This is a great reminder of the power of God and the power of faith.
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