The Curious Case of the Cursed Fig Tree: Posers, Fruit, and Faith
Once upon a time—because all good stories start that way—there was a tree. Not just any tree, but a fig tree. And not just any fig tree, but one that became an object lesson straight from the mouth of Jesus Himself.
The story comes from Mark 11:12-14, 20-25, and it’s one of those head-scratching, tension-filled moments in Scripture. Jesus, on His way to Jerusalem, sees a fig tree in full leaf. Hungry, He approaches, expecting fruit. But there’s nothing. Just leaves. And in a moment that unsettles many readers, He curses the tree:
“May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”
Fast forward a day, and the disciples notice the tree has withered from the roots up. Peter, ever the one to blurt things out, points it out, and Jesus uses it as a launching pad to talk about faith, prayer, and forgiveness.
Now, let’s be honest: This story is weird. Jesus doesn’t go around randomly cursing trees like some frustrated gardener. And if we take the story literally, it raises all kinds of questions. Was it fair for Jesus to expect figs when Mark explicitly says it wasn’t the season for them? Did the tree just get caught in some cosmic bad luck? And why does a tree matter when He’s about to enter Jerusalem for His final week before the cross?
Literal or Metaphorical? Or…Both?
Some scholars and readers take this story literally—Jesus saw a tree with no fruit and, in a display of divine judgment, He cursed it as a real-life lesson about unfruitfulness. Others see it as metaphorical—more about Israel’s spiritual condition than about botany. And then there are those of us who read it and go, “Uh… both?”
Here’s where things get interesting. Fig trees in that region usually sprout early buds of fruit before the leaves fully appear. If a fig tree had leaves, it was supposed to have fruit too. This tree was making a claim—“Hey, I’ve got leaves! I’m the real deal!”—but when Jesus looked closer, it was all for show. It was a poser.
And that’s the real lesson. This wasn’t just about a tree. It was about people, about faith, about nations, and about empty appearances.
Posers Beware: The Danger of Looking the Part
Israel’s religious leaders had all the leaves—temple worship, sacrifices, Scripture knowledge, outward piety—but Jesus was looking for fruit. And He wasn’t finding it. The fig tree became an acted-out parable, a preview of His temple cleansing that followed right after. Just like the tree, the temple looked healthy on the outside, but it wasn’t producing what God desired.
But before we point fingers, let’s turn the mirror toward ourselves.
It’s easy to have leafy Christianity—showing up, looking the part, checking the right boxes—without the actual fruit of faith, love, and transformation. Jesus doesn’t just want impressive foliage; He’s looking for figs.
The Call to Be Fruitful, Not Just Flashy
So what do we do with this fig tree moment?
- Check for real fruit. Are we just looking spiritual, or are we actually growing in love, kindness, humility, and faith?
- Understand that faith is more than appearance. Jesus’ follow-up words about faith and prayer remind us that an outward show isn’t enough—God responds to authentic belief, not performance.
- Don’t be a poser. Harsh? Maybe. But the fig tree reminds us that looking alive isn’t the same as being alive. True faith produces real fruit, and Jesus takes that seriously.
So the next time you pass a tree with leaves, ask yourself: Is there fruit underneath? And more importantly, is there fruit in me?
This stayed on my mind throughout the day… so part 2 is here.
