The Bible Said What? Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

The Bible is overflowing with passages that can be difficult to understand. It’s hard not to raise an eyebrow or two when we come across curveball stories in scripture — like in Mark 11, when Jesus destroys a fig tree because it wasn’t bearing fruit. At first glance, Jesus’ actions in this story seem pretty random, even erratic. But is there a deeper meaning here? Let’s take a look at the passage: 

12 …when they came from Bethany, [Jesus] was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. – Mark 11:12-14 

I’ve wrestled with this Gospel story every time I’ve read it. My initial interpretation of the passage is that Jesus cursed the tree simply because He was hungry and the tree didn’t have what He wanted. This would be a pretty thoughtless abuse of power and is very unlike the character that we see Jesus display throughout the rest of scripture. Believe it or not, that’s our first clue that there’s more to this story than meets the eye! Any time we see a deviation from someone’s normal patterns of behavior, it gives us an opportunity to ask questions about what’s going on under the surface. For more context, let’s look at what happens next: 

15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city. – Mark 11:15-19 

I never saw the connection between these two passages until I read a commentary by Dr. Dan Doriani, who explains the meaning behind the cursed fig tree by first unpacking Jesus’ upheaval of Jerusalem’s temple.  

“The problem is corruption of the temple’s purpose,” Doriani says. “The noise of commerce and animals prevents the silence that is the context for prayer, worship, and instruction…. By driving out the merchants and toppling their tables, Jesus asserts himself as the temple’s Lord and Judge. His denunciation is also prophetic, and the call to restore the temple to its proper role is priestly as well.”1 

Translation? The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ time had allowed the corruption of God’s house. The temple would have been busy with visitors, merchants, and worshippers alike, but its purpose — that is, prayer, worship, and teaching God’s Word — was no longer protected or revered. The temple looked prosperous from the outside, but in reality, it was being tainted by the very leaders who had been entrusted with its care. We see in the Gospels that the Jewish people were likewise spiritually neglected by these same leaders, many of whom had become self-righteous and prideful in their pursuit of holiness. But what does any of this have to do with the fig tree?  

20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.” – Mark 11:20-23 

This Gospel story is a sandwich of three parts: Jesus’ initial encounter with the fig tree, the cleansing of the temple, and then finally, Peter’s reaction to the tree, which has withered under the Lord’s curse. The pattern suggests that the fig tree is a symbol of the temple, its leaders, and the Jewish people, many of whom outwardly practiced obedience to God, but lacked the fruit of changed and contrite hearts. In this context, we can infer that Jesus’ prompt to “Have faith in God” is also connected to the larger theme. 

“When Jesus judges the fig tree,” Doriani writes, “he foretells judgment not on all Israelites but on those who, like the luxuriantly leafy but fruitless tree, appear to be alive but are barren (Matt. 13:22). Jesus has just inspected the temple and found it wanting. The spectacle of worship—the priests, the music, the sacrifices, the gleaming buildings—is grand but fruitless.” 

“As Jesus speaks, both the Mount of Olives and the Temple Mount are visible,” Doriani continues. “If he is referring to the Temple Mount, he is saying that faith can move the metaphorical mountain of vain religion. Prayer is powerful: ‘Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.’ The phrase ‘if you have faith’ prevents abuse; evil prayers have no power.” 

When a hungry Jesus approached the fig tree in Mark 11:12, He represented people everywhere around us who are hungry for hope, joy, and purpose. The question we face today is this: when these people encounter churches and believers, will they find Christ — and then be satisfied? Or will they find a barren bush? 

Reflection Questions: 

1. Am I genuinely pursuing Christ with my life, or am I playing a Christian role?  

1. How am I modeling authentic Gospel hope to a hungry, hurting world? 

1. When’s the last time I’ve been honest before God? How can I sit honestly with Him today?