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by Mark Sedrak
On Monday of Holy Pascha Week, our Lord Jesus Christ cursed the fig tree that
had no fruit, while on his way from Bethany to Jerusalem.
In the morning, as He was returning to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig
tree by the wayside He went to it, and found nothing on it but leaves only. And
He said to it, "May no fruit every come from you again!" And the fig tree
withered at once. When the disciples saw it they marveled, saying, "How did the
fig tree wither at once?" And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you
have faith and never doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig
tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,’
it will be done. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have
faith" (Matthew 21:18-22).
The first act after the fall was that of Adam and Eve clothing themselves with
fig leaves. So now Jesus is making the same figure of the fig tree the very last
of His wondrous signs. Just as He was headed towards the Cross, He cursed the
fig tree—not every fig tree, but that one alone for its symbolic
significance—saying, "May no one any more eat fruit of thee forever." In this
way the curse laid upon Adam and Eve was being reversed.– Saint Cyril of
Jerusalem
That you might learn that it was for the disciples' sakes that this was done,
that He might train them in confidence, listen to what He said afterward: "You
also shall do greater things, if you are willing to believe and to be confident
in prayer." All this was done for their sakes that they might not be afraid and
tremble at plots against them. He repeated this to enable them to cleave to
prayer and faith. For you shall not only do this, but you shall also remove
mountains; and many more things you shall do, being confident in faith and
prayer. – Saint John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of Matthew.
The fig tree is a symbol of the Jewish nation, which had the outward appearance
of fruits, because they had followed the letter of the law. But they lacked
fruit in that they did not abide by the Spirit of the law and "neglected the
weightier things of the law." They continued to question His authority even to
the last moment (9th hour gospel). Christ had rejected the Jews, as they were
plotting to slaughter Him.
Truly, when He came and found no fruit in [the Jews], He cursed them through the
fig-tree, saying, ‘Let there be henceforth no fruit from you;’ and the fig-tree
was dead and fruitless so that even the disciples wondered when it withered
away…The Lord cursed them under the figure of the fig-tree. And yet, He still
spared them in His loving-kindness, and did not destroy the root and the entire
tree. For He did not curse the root, but [said] that no man will eat fruit of it
thenceforth. When He did this, He abolished the shadow, causing it to wither;
but preserved the root, so that we might [not] be grafted upon it; ‘they too, if
they abide not in unbelief, may attain to be grafted into their own olive tree.’
Now when the Lord had cursed them because of their negligence, He removed from
them the new moons, the true lamb, and that which is truly the Passover. – Saint
Athanasius, Letter 6
See Also:
Monday in Holy Week
This morning, also, Jesus goes with His disciples to Jerusalem. He is fasting,
for the Gospel, tells us that He was hungry. He approaches a fig-tree, which is
by the way-side; but finds nothing on it, save leaves
only.
Tuesday in
Holy Week
Today, again, our Savior sets out in the morning for
Jerusalem. His intention is to repair to the temple, and
continue His yesterday's teachings. It is evident that
His mission on earth is fast drawing to its close.
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