Four Fig Trees.

Luke 13:6‑9; Matthew 21:18‑21; John 1:46‑49; Matthew 24:32

WE will summarize them in this way: —

Matthew 21:18-21¹⁸Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. ¹⁹And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. ²⁰And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! ²¹Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. (Matthew 21:18‑21). The Fig Tree of Pression.

John 1:46-49⁴⁶And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. ⁴⁷Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! ⁴⁸Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. ⁴⁹Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. (John 1:46‑49). The Fig Tree of Repentance.

Matthew 24:32³²Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: (Matthew 24:32). The Fig Tree of Hope.

In two cases the fig tree is brought in as a parable: in the other two it is a fact.

Luke 13:6-9⁶He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. ⁷Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? ⁸And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: ⁹And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. (Luke 13:6‑9). Some Jews had been surmising that the sudden deaths that had occurred both through Pilate and Siloam’s tongues were evidences of great sin. The Lord Jesus promptly told them it was not so but rather a warning to them to repent or they must perish. Judgment is no empty threat—without repentance it must come.

But the patience and longsuffering is seen lingering over the nation of fruitless sinners, testing them to the uttermost, reluctant to cut them down.

Matthew 21:18¹⁸Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. (Matthew 21:18)—21. This is no parable but a fact. Jesus hungering outside Jerusalem. The Messiah hungry for fruit from that fig tree! Here we see yearnings for the blessing of the sinner and the first fruits of repentance. But there was no fruit, only the leaves of an empty profession. The curse fell and the withering commenced. It was not cut down but left standing as a witness of God’s judgment.

John 1:45-49⁴⁵Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. ⁴⁶And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. ⁴⁷Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! ⁴⁸Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. ⁴⁹Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. (John 1:45‑49). Here is another fact. Nathaniel under the fig tree in repentance. Thus he is seen, without guile, all has been confessed. He is a true Israelite, just as Jacob became Israel when he confessed his true name. Nathaniel seeks the dark shade of the fig tree not to hide him from God but from men. “We have found Him” say these glad messengers, but the case is too serious for Nathaniel, he must be sure. He wants a real Saviour. “Come and see” is their gospel invitation, and as a result He came—He saw—He confessed.

Matthew 24:32³²Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: (Matthew 24:32). Here is another parable. There is hope indicated here—hope of a bright summer which is to come.

When Israel, like Nathaniel, take their place in repentance, the Son of Man will appear for their deliverance, and the Lord compares it to a fig tree putting forth its leaves. “Ye know,” says He, “that summer is nigh.” Signs of vitality in Israel will be manifested when they begin to repent and turn to God. Then the time of their blessing will be near. Our time of glory too is nigh when we shall leave the frosts and snows of earth’s winter for heaven’s perennial summer.

From notes by Art. Cutting.

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