The fig tree and the temple

Damaskinos, early 17th cent. Cretan - St. Catherine's, Sinai

Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard it.

So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'" And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. When evening had come, He went out of the city.

Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away." So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses."

- Mark 11:12-25

On Saturday, we read of Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. He rode on the colt of a donkey, symbolizing peace and innocence. He was welcomed as a king coming forth to claim His kingdom, and as Messiah. People shouted, "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!" He went into Jerusalem and into the temple -- but because the hour was late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard it. The story of the fig tree here may seem like a strange one to our ears, until we understand that a fig tree is symbolic of Israel -- often appearing so in Scripture. Jesus has come as Messiah, openly, and been welcomed as such to the holy city, Jerusalem. It is not the season for figs, so there is no fruit, but the fig tree has sprouted leaves as if in preparation for a crop. It is therefore green and indicating abundance, without a yield. The allegory to Israel becomes very plain in this context. Where are the fruits the Lord has come to claim? Where is the harvest?

So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'" And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. When evening had come, He went out of the city. His first act in Jerusalem, after His triumphal entry, is to cleanse the temple. It is an act of great authority, as befitting a Lord or a king, particularly one of messianic stature. My study bible says, "Jesus acts as the King of Israel would, utterly in control. He disrupts business and makes a sweeping condemnation of the religious system, yet He is untouched." We consider the parable of the fig tree with full foliage and yet no fruit. Where are the spiritual fruits here, of prayer in the house of prayer? We find money, and wealth, and material power, but what of the fruits Jesus seeks? A "house of prayer for all nations" is a beacon of spiritual strength, fruits, and enlightenment for all the world. But Jesus quotes from the prophecies of both Isaiah and Jeremiah here, indicating deep disappointment with the lack of fruits or spiritual harvest. Instead He has found a den of thieves, a mockery of spiritual worship and practice, and most of all hypocrisy. The parallel to the leafy fig tree without fruit is clear.

Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away." So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." The withered fig tree is a symbol of Judgement: the failure to produce spiritual fruit creates a judgment about what is fit for the spiritual kingdom of God. Christ emphasizes faith to the disciples -- this is the first thing we must remember in this teaching. It is true faith that is the method for producing real spiritual fruits, and not hypocrisy. Clearly the disciples are not meant to simply have as a goal to produce spectacular acts in their ministry (like actually moving a mountain), but to cultivate the depth of faith that is possible for them. This is the bedrock and foundation of the future Church. It will be a foundation of faith for all the nations, not one rooted only in one place. And the emphasis is on prayer, as in "my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." People will worship in spirit and in truth -- a symbolic understanding for the disciples that they will go out among all the nations, including both Gentiles and Jews. And the anointing of His Spirit will be to all the world. My study bible says that "they need assurance that they are following His will. The fig tree will be an indelible image in their minds." And moreover, Jesus immediately links prayer and the power of faith with forgiveness and its practice. They are inseparable from one another, and emphasize humility. His kingdom, His power, His servants with great faith -- all are inseparable from humility and the practice of forgiveness, not vengeance. This is a kingdom of peace!

Yesterday I was fortunate to hear a sermon by a young deacon who is in fact to be ordained to the priesthood today. He preached about prayer and its practice. The important thing, he said, is not the words we use exactly, but simply that we talk to God. And he spoke of the power of prayer to bring peace to us, because God is peace. Truly, the love of God, and relationship to God, first and foremost in our hearts means that we embrace this God of peace. He is a God of judgment and love and peace. Can we embrace all of that together? Jesus' words today teach us one powerful thing: that we, too, are to take to heart the image of the fig tree, and to consider what spiritual fruits we produce in His name. We are to worship in spirit and in truth. Are we hypocrites? Do we remember that His is a house of prayer for all the nations? That He considers us His because we bear His spiritual fruits of faith? Let us remember the cleansing of the temple, and the image of the fig tree, as teachings to us. They teach us what we must be about, and serve as warnings. We are not the judge, but we must look to ourselves in prayer, the depth of faith we cultivate, and the power of forgiveness so that we, too, are forgiven. Today's reading serves us as a warning to ourselves. Do we bear the fruits of the tree we are given? Today, in many branches of the Church all over the world, is the celebration of the feast of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. In tradition, she is the mother who begets the new branch, the new vine, the new tree, that will be taken to all the world, both Gentile and Jew, in Christ's name. How do we bear the fruits of faith, as she did?