Jesus hates hypocrisy, especially religious hypocrisy. In Mark 11:12-14, we discover how much He detests it. He cursed a fig tree that had no figs.
And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. (Mark 11:12-14)
Jesus was acting out a parable. Often He spoke in parables. But this time He showed a parable. He was acting out a judgment against the profession of Jewish religion without producing any spiritual fruit.
So what is it that we are to learn about Jesus in this event?
Jesus is hungry for fruit
Jesus was not cursing the fig tree simply because He was hungry. He used this event to emphasize what really hungered Him. Jesus had a deep down spiritual hunger that went beyond physical food. So, So what ‘fruit’ is Jesus really hungry for? Spiritual fruit.
Spiritual fruit is the Fruit of the Spirit. ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control'(Galatians 5:22-23)A Christian’s life should be characterized by these things. Is the Holy Spirit producing this fruit in your life?
Bearing fruit is also reproducing the life of Christ in someone else. The primary goal of our life is to reproduce. So, who is now a Christian because of your influence? When was the last time you shared the Gospel with someone else? Do you consistently share the Gospel with others? If not, maybe you are all leaf and no fruit.
Jesus is looking for fruit
It seems strange that Jesus would expect figs at a time when figs were not ‘yet.’ But a little of the agriculture year helps.
Since this was the time of Passover, the month was either late March or early April. The early or smaller figs, growing from the sprouts of the previous year, begin to appear at the end of March and are ripped in May or June. The later and much larger figs on the new or spring shoots are gathered from August to October. The early figs appear at the same time as the leaves. They even precede the leaves. This tree was full of leaves and therefore expected to have some fruit. But it had nothing but leaves. Mark is the only one to tell us that Jesus was looking for anything. Any sign of fruit would suffice. But he found none.
Leaves are a sad substitute for fruit, whether you are talking about fig trees or religion. Other ways to put it: All hat and no cattle. All bark and no bite. All icing and no cake. All shot and no powder. All sizzle and no steak. All talk and no action. All show and no go.
Jesus will curse no fruit
Jesus pronounced a curse on the tree. The fig tree is cursed for the pretense of its leaves, not for its lack of fruit. Hypocrisy is more than being what a person is not; it is also failing to produce what is promised. Does our spirituality raise expectations, but fails to produce fruit to feed the hungry?
The fig tree was meant to be a visual parable to Israel, and later to the Church (us). Just because we look good, because our leaves are large and shiny, does not mean that we are bearing fruit pleasing to God.
Jesus’ curse did not make the tree bare of figs; instead, it sealed the way the tree had always been.
Are you bearing fruit or just showing off?
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