What is the meaning of the
parable of the fig tree?
·
Mat 24:32,33 -> “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and
puts forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye
shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”.
Of what parable He was referring
to?
First of all, let’s figure
out the excerpt. In Israel, the Winter finishes in March, 21th. From
this moment, all the trees start to revive and produce new twigs and leaves.
Jesus, as the true lamb of the Passover, was crucified more or less in the
beginning of April (14th day of the month of Abib in the Judaic
calendar – Lev 23:5).
At this time, the fig tree
was starting to recover of the severe Winter. Therefore, it wasn’t time of
fruits. This was the reason why Jesus didn’t find figs in the fig tree below
(Mark 11:13):
· Mat 21:18,19 -> “In the morning,
as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree
by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he
said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered
at once.”
Many people ask: but, why
did Jesus curse this fig tree, once it wasn’t the season for figs?
As we could see in Matthew
24:32, when the fig tree has tender branches and puts forth leaves, it’s a sign
that the summer is nigh and the fig trees already has some figs (although most
of them are still green and only will be ripe in the Autumn). So, this fig tree
is wrong in two ways:
·
It was heralding the
proximity of the Summer, which only would arrive after two and a half months.
It was lying;
·
It promised to be ready
for a good harvest (it renewed faster than the other fig trees), but didn’t
have any fruit. This recall what the writer of Hebrews wrote:
o
Heb 5:11,12 -> “About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you
have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be
teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles
of God. You need milk, not solid food,”.
In this condition, the
only thing for what this fig tree could be “useful” it was at the same way
which we can read in Genesis:
·
Gen 3:7 -> “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they
knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made
themselves loincloths.”.
Of course, this cover
wasn’t efficient. So much so that The Creator made to them other clothes (Gen
3:21). In other words, this fig tree only could give a false sensation of being
covered.
So, have a good day
increasing in intimacy with Jesus so that you don’t come to be find naked when
Jesus comes (2Cor 5:2; 1John 2:28; Rev 3:18).
But, what is this fig tree?
·
Isa 5:1-7 -> “ Let me sing for my
beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a
very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it
of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst
of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes,
but it yielded wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me
and my vineyard. What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not
done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild
grapes? And now I will tell you
what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be
devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. I will make it a waste;
it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will
also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard
of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his
pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for
righteousness, but behold, an outcry!”.
The vineyard is the house
of Israel, which was perverted in the time of Isaiah, as well as in the time of
Jesus.
·
Luk 13:6-9 -> “And he told this
parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking
fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for
three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none.
Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir,
let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then
if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it
down.’””.
And such as, in Isaiah’s
time, the Creator was about to destroy the land of Israel and take them captive
to Assyria, now the Creator was about to destroy Israel and spread the
Israelites to other nations.
The vinedresser is Jesus,
who was evangelizing Israel (the vineyard), as well as their leaders (the fig
tree) during three years. While Jesus was alive, He was the chief leader, the True
Vine which was always green and full of fruit (the green wood):
·
Luk 23:28,31 -> “But turning to
them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for
yourselves and for your children. For if they do these things when the
wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Jesus interceded in behalf
of Israel, asking for one more year amidst them, so that He could try to
evangelize the religious leaders in a more deep way (indeed,
the greatest confront between Jesus and the Pharisees, Sadducees, and masters
of the law took place at the last year of His ministry). If the leaders of
Israel didn’t repent, the fig tree would be cut and the vinedresser (Jesus)
too.
So, when the time were
fulfilled, the Father cut the fig tree (through the curse of Jesus) and, some
days after, Jesus was cut through crucifixion.
And Jesus exhorted the
women of Jerusalem about what would take place in the year 70 A.D. After all,
if the Romans were able to crucify Him (the green and fruitful wood), certainly
they would do something more terrible (the destruction of all Israel and
Diaspora) further, once all the religious leaders of Israel and their rituals
became outright dry.
So, have a good day giving
the fruit of the Holy Spirit so that you can stay in the True Vine (John
15:1,2).
And what can we learn from
all of this?
·
Mat 24:32,33 -> “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When
his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, ye know that summer is
nigh: so likewise ye, when ye
shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”.
Since 1.948, Israel’s
state was created again. Since then, all the religious leaders
adepts to the Judaism are preparing for the rebuilding of their temple in
Jerusalem and for their rituals of worship to their God. As we well know, they
are biding for their messiah what, in truth, is the antichrist. All the vessels
used in the cult were done; priests and my priests are being taught in the law
of Moses. Even the stones that will be used in the construction of the temple
are being prepared.
That is to say, the fig
tree, which was cursed by Jesus, now is reborning; their branches, twigs and
leaves are appearing. Therefore, we are living the Summer. Very soon will
arrive the Autumn, the time of the harvest (Rev 14:14-16).
One curiosity: the first
day of the Feast of the Tabernacles is 15th of “Etanim”
(which is between September-October in our calendar, probably October 1st
– the probable date of Jesus’ birth). And this feast is called also Feast of
the Harvest (who knows it is in this occasion that Jesus will come to rapture
His Church?).
Although we can’t know
precisely the day of Jesus’ coming (Mark 13:32), one thing is for sure: the
time when Jesus will reap His Church is at hand and we need to prepare for His
coming. Today, we are the vinedresser who was made by Jesus to care for His
Church. Of course, in the middle there will be fig trees (people who have
appearance of piety and spirituality, but don’t have the fruit of the Holy
Spirit).
Nonetheless, instead of
judge these people, we need to increase our efforts in order to make Jesus’
salvation known to them. Perhaps it is for this time that the Creator sent us
to this world (see John 12:27). So, don’t condemn nor oust this person of your
life. Seek in Jesus His will and do your best so that this person can have all
the opportunity to be saved.
In the right moment this
person will repent and convert to Jesus or Jesus will take them away from your
life. At any case, you will have fulfilled your mission and will be approved
for a more excellent ministry (Mat 25:21,23) or, if your mission is fulfilled, you
will receive your crown of justice (2Tim 4:8).
Moreover, have a good day
paying attention to the signs that Jesus are giving about the end of times:
·
Luk 12:54-56 -> “He also said to
the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A
shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind
blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You
hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why
do you not know how to interpret the present time?”.
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