Figs in the Bible

:"For the plant genus, see Ficus."

The Fig Tree and its fruit the fig is mentioned several times in the New Testament, and in the Old Testament as well; but as more than just the common Mediterranean fruit tree, the Common Fig, it is also a symbol or type, subject to various interpretations.

The Parable of the barren fig tree is a parable of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Luke . In , and , and , ] then they shall not have salvation. [ [http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/?action=getCommentaryText&cid=4&source=1&seq=i.50.15.1 Jesus Calls the Disciples to Remain in Him, the True Vine] , New Testament Commentaries by Intervarsity Press] Many Christians believe that this miracle of Jesus echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah who prophesied the rejection of Israel [] This may be considered in a context of the Biblical definition of spiritual fruit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. [] , correcting those who believed that Israel was rejected forever. There is difference of opinion on what Paul is actually referring to when he says 'all Israel will be saved' [] . Dispensationalist theology maintains that Israel will be restored politically and spiritually as the people of God. Reformed theology teaches that Israel is representative of all of God's children in Christ and includes those who Paul referred to having been 'grafted in' [] . These differences of interpretation reflect differing views of eschatology. A example of a popular dispensationalist theologian is Cyrus Scofield, while the views of Matthew Henry are those of a reformed theologian.

The Cursing of the Barren Fig Tree- Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 11

The stories in the two passages are similar, although the context seems to mark two separate events. Matthew Henry comments on both but does not refer one to another, suggesting he thought they were two separate events. Henry says this:

"... Christ looked to find some fruit, for the time of gathering figs, though it was near, was not yet come; but he found none. He made this fig-tree an example, not to the trees, but to the men of that generation. It was a figure of the doom upon the Jewish church, to which he came seeking fruit, but found none...The disciples could not think why that fig-tree should so soon wither away; but all wither who reject Christ; it represented the state of the Jewish church. We should rest in no religion that does not make us fruitful in good works..." Matthew Henry Concise Commentary on Mark 11v12-26 [ [http://www.rickysoo.com/mhcc/mark.html#mark+11 Matthew Henry's concise commentary] on chapter 11 of the Gospel of Mark] .

Notes

References

*Brown, Raymond E. "An Introduction to the New Testament" Doubleday 1997 ISBN 0-385-24767-2
*Brown, Raymond E. et al "The New Jerome Biblical Commentary" Prentice Hall 1990 ISBN 0-13-614934-0
*Kilgallen, John J. "A Brief Commentary on the Gospel of Mark" Paulist Press 1989 ISBN 0-8091-3059-9
*Miller, Robert J. Editor "The Complete Gospels" Polebridge Press 1994 ISBN 0-06-065587-9