Q: Why does Jesus Christ curse a fig tree for not bearing fruit out of season?
A: The story is found in both Matthew (21:18-22) and Mark (11:12-24). We find that Jesus had just rode into Jerusalem, hailed as the promised Messiah by the crowds, in what we refer to as the Triumphal Entry. On the Wednesday, riding towards Jerusalem, Jesus spots the tree, notices His own hunger, and identifies that there is no fruit on the tree. Then to the surprise of His disciples, He curses the tree. The next day they take note that the tree has already died, all the way down to the roots.
Two lessons are to be learned from this event:
- Jesus is once again using things around Him to illustrate what He is trying to get across. In this case, Israel is like the tree, which had leaves but no fruit. He says to both the Nation of Israel, and to those who would follow Him, that to be unfruitful is to invite judgment. The tree was without fruit, but because it had leaves earlier than most trees around, it could be expected to have fruit, since fruit was to come before the leaves for fig trees. That next day, Jesus would further denounce Israel in cleaning out the Temple of the money changers.
- Jesus also explained to His disciples, in answer to their question, that miracles can happen for anyone who prays in faith, according to God’s will. Note that faith requires believing that it will happen, and faith also trusts in God, who only acts according to His will. The rapid decay of the tree happened because Jesus believed it would, and knew that it was in accordance with the will of God. The closer we get to God (relationship), the better we get to know His will, and can pray accordingly with confidence.