May there be no more fruit from you forever

Christ's words to the fig tree in Matthew 21:18 seem harsh and out of place. After all, it is a fig tree. Why then, Lord, did you curse it? As we shall see, the reason that Christ cursed the fig tree is allegorical. The fig tree is Israel. However, maybe you are the fig tree at this moment in your life?

There is little better way to understand parables than context. Parables are meant to help the listener understand more clearly, but in modern times, we need the context of the original listeners for the parable to carry the same weight. So, regarding the fig tree, let us paint a picture…

It is time for the fig trees to have little fruits. It is not yet time for the trees to be in full bloom; however, there should be some little fruit on the tree. Christ goes to this tree; instead of finding some little fruits, he finds nothing. This tree is not operating as it should. Now, think for a moment where Christ is at this moment in scripture? He has been speaking to the people and the Pharisees and Sadducees at the Temple.

Now, understanding the context, the fig tree is allegorical of Israel. Christ went to the Temple, perhaps not expecting the people to be in full bloom, but that there would at least be some fruit. He found no fruit, though. How often are we the fig tree? We accepted Christ into our lives ten years ago, but now, we are stagnant and producing no fruit. Christ comes knocking, and we have nothing to show him; no effort, no fruit. This should weigh on our hearts.

We serve a loving and just God who overlooks our faults when we surrender our lives to him and cry out to him, "Abba." He has no love for lack of fruits, but his anger leaves immediately when we look for him.

8 The voice of my beloved!

Look! Here ⌊he⌋ comes leaping upon the mountains,

bounding over the hills!

9 My beloved is like a gazelle or ⌊a young stag⌋.

Look! ⌊He is⌋ standing behind our wall,

gazing ⌊through⌋ the window,

looking ⌊through⌋ the lattice.

10 My beloved answered and said to me,

"⌊Arise⌋, my beloved! ⌊Come, my beauty⌋!

11 For look! The winter is over;

⌊the rainy season⌋ ⌊has turned and gone away⌋.

12 The blossoms ⌊appear⌋ ⌊in the land⌋;

⌊the time of singing has arrived⌋;

the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.

13 The fig tree puts forth her figs,

and the vines are in blossom; they give fragrance.

⌊Arise⌋, my beloved! ⌊Come, my beauty⌋!”

14 My dove, in the clefts of the rock,

⌊in the secluded place⌋  ⌊in the mountain⌋, 

Let me see your face,

let me hear your voice;

for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.[1]

Though we have left his side, he has not left us. As J. Hudson Taylor realized, "As I read, I saw it all! "If we believe not, he abideth faithful." I looked to Jesus and saw (and when I saw, oh, how joy flowed!) that He had said, "I will never leave thee.” "Ah, there is rest!" I thought. "I have striven in vain to rest in Him. I'll strive no more. For has not He promised to abide with me—never to leave me, never to fail me?" And, dearie, He never will."[2] The Song of Solomon allegorizes Christ's love for us in a way that reaches into our hearts and pounds at the door, proclaiming loudly: "You are my beloved, and I love you." Though the beloved in the above passage has lost sight of her bride (Christ), he comes upon the mountains and into the home looking for his beloved. Though his beloved has been in darkness in a spiritual slumber, he awakens her and welcomes her into his love.

Fret not if you are the fig tree. We all are at various times in our walk with Christ. What is important, however, is the speed within which we awaken from our slumber and welcome our Lord back into our lives. He is always with us after we accept him. Even though we may think we are not abiding in him, we are. He never leaves our side. To think he has left us or could leave us is a tool of the enemy. There is no shame in Christ. However, that does not mean there is no fruit. True spirituality will yield good fruit.[3]

[1] The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), So 2:8–15.

[2] Howard Taylor, Geraldine Taylor, and George Verwer, Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009).

[3] The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Mt 7:17–18.