In a series of strange events during Jesus’ final week, cursing a fig tree is certainly at the top of the list. On the day after Jesus was hailed, “Hosanna, the Son of David,” He returned to the city, but He became hungry. He saw a fig tree without any fruit. He cursed the tree and it withered and died.
Matthew is not concerned with the timeline as much as Mark. While they are both accurate, Mark makes it clear that Jesus cursed the fig tree before He cleansed the temple, and the disciples only noticed the withered tree on Tuesday when Jesus explained why it had died. Matthew’s point, however, consolidates a series of stories to make a greater point.
The fig tree is a symbol of Israel. It had the appearance and potential to bear fruit, it was full of leaves, but it wasn’t in season. The tree wasn’t ready to meet its creator. It wasn’t prepared. This is explained in greater detail by Jesus’ teaching in the following parables.
The Pharisees rejected Jesus, just as they had rejected John the Baptist. They did not bear the fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8). The Kingdom of Heaven was at hand, but they had missed it. They had all of the teaching and the training that should have prepared them. They had the prophets, namely John the Baptist, to warn them, but they were not willing to see the truth. In fact, they would be the ones who would lead the charge to have Jesus killed.
The disciples give us a bit of comical relief with their response to the withered fig tree. They were more interested in learning how to pull off the trick than understanding the symbolism. Jesus tells them it is a matter of faith and then references Psalm 46, which describes mountains being thrown in the sea. The psalmist explains that God is our refuge and strength. Even though the earth quakes, we will not fear. The disciples are about to have their entire world fall out from under them. Jesus seems to offer this lesson like a time bomb that won’t go off until much later, after He died, when they would need to be reminded, “Be still and know that God is God.”
Are we ready for Jesus to return? Are we prepared to enter into His Kingdom? It's more than simply longing to be in glory. Are we actively doing the work of storing up our treasures in heaven? When troubles come, are we able to weather the storm and trust that God will bring us through?
Today is a day of confession. Let us acknowledge the ways that we have not prioritized kingdom preparedness.