Mk 11:11-26
11[Jesus] entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area. He looked around at everything and, since it was already late, went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
12The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry. 13Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. 14And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!” And his disciples heard it...
20Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. 21Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God. 23Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. 25When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”
FIG TREE: This tree (scientific name: Ficus carica) is very common in Palestine and in places around the Mediterranean. Mount Olivet was famous in ancient Israel for its fig trees. Some are still found there.
The fruits of the fig tree are pear-shaped, and these are used for food. The young figs are prized for their sweetness and flavor. The fruits always appear before the leaves. So when Jesus saw leaves on the fig tree by the wayside, he expected some fruits on it. On the other hand, the usual summer crop of fig fruits is not gathered until May or June. When Jesus sought fruits, the fruits might not have been ripe for harvest and for eating.
Jesus’ search for fruits on the fig tree is not simply the reflex behavior of a hungry person. Jesus’ act, in fact, is a parable in action. Luke’s story of the barren fig tree is rendered as a parable about God’s patience… and God’s judgment (see Lk 13:6-9). In the Old Testament the prophets used the image of the barren fig tree to designate Israel’s fate for failing to receive God’s teachings (Jer 8:13; 29:17; Hos 9:10; Jl 1:7). In contrast, to “sit under one’s own vine and one’s own fig tree” became a proverbial expression among the Jews to denote the blessings of peace and prosperity (1 Kgs 4:25; Mi 4:4; Zec 3:10).