Fig Trees 1

Figs were a sign of prosperity in a land that knew little of it. If a family had a fig tree, they looked forward to the fruit and the food it provided throughout the year. If a king led prosperous times, the people of his domain might be described as “sitting under their own fig trees” (1 Kings 4:25). When Abigail tried to make up for her husband’s foolish treatment of David, she included 200 cakes of pressed figs (1 Samuel 25:18). Isaiah once used figs as a medical treatment for Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:7), though he also used them as illustrations in his preaching. Jeremiah did the same, especially in his parable of good and bad figs (Jeremiah 24:1-10). Hosea also used the fruit for an illustration, as did Jesus. (Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 13:28, Luke 13:6-9). The normal harvest of figs in the land comes in the late spring/early summer and again in the late summer/early fall. When Jesus cursed a fig tree, Mark made sure to note that it wasn’t the season for figs (Mark 11:13). The loss of a single fig tree would cause grief for the family looking forward to a harvest. The loss of Jesus — which was just a few days away — would cause grief to the entire nation.