Big Shiny Leaves, But No Fruit (Paul R. Blake)

"And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it" (Mark 11:12-14).

The casual reader often views the cursing of the fig tree as a capricious, petulant act. Instead, it provides a profound moral lesson for all generations. There are two distinct varieties of figs that grow in Palestine: the boccore (early) and the kermus (late). The boccore has both leaves and fruit early in the season. It commonly produces ripe fruit in May, but under ideal conditions it will have fruit as early as the end of February. At that time of year, very few other trees have leaves (including most figs), and so the early fig would stand out as the only tree with foliage.

This particular tree stood out from the others, because the text states: "and seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves..." Now, the expectation of a Mideastern native who sees a boccore fig tree in full leaf is that there is a strong likelihood of figs under the leaves, even though it was too early in the season for most fig trees to have fruit. If a fig is in full sunlight, protected from cold winds, and in well watered soil, it ought to have figs early in the year.

Since we are not first century Mideastern Jews, this obscure bit of agronomy is pointless unless it has a moral application. In this case, we are given a clue at the end of verse 14: "and His disciples heard it." Christ's original motive for approaching the fig tree was hunger: "He went to see if perhaps he would find something on it." After walking some distance ("from afar"), and having his expectations disappointed, he made the best of the situation. He used it to teach a moral principle.

The fig tree was somewhat showy; it had broad green leaves when no other tree around it had any. It had all the appearance of productivity, but had nothing to show for it. Jesus placed a curse on that tree so that no one else would be deceived by it. This serves as a good illustration for Israel's religious exhibitionism.

Israel was cared for by Jehovah and kept under ideal conditions. God incubated them as a nation in the fertile Nile delta during the pre-Mosaic period, He taught them to depend on Him for sustenance and for law in the wilderness, He helped them conquer Palestine, and He tried to guide and protect them for the next 1000 years. They should have been a devout, zealous, morally upright nation. Instead, they were a barren fig tree... lots of big, shiny, green leaves, but no fruit. They made a big show of religion, but were filled with sin and hypocrisy.

For comparative study, see Christ's parable of the barren fig tree in Luke 13:1-9. For further information on the empty shell nature of the Jewish faith in the first century, see Matthew 23:1-5,13-15,23-28, 21:28-44; Romans 2:17-24.

Indeed, the account of the cursing of the fig tree serves as a stern warning to late 20th century members of the Church of Christ. We profess to be the people of God, members of the one true church as founded in the New Testament. Are we producing the fruit that proves it, or are we just covered with showy leaves?

Fishermen - A Parable (Author Unknown)

Now it came to pass that a group existed that called themselves fishermen and there were many fish in the waters about them. In fact, the whole area was surrounded by streams and lakes and the fish were hungry. Week after week and month after month and year after year the group called themselves fishermen and met in meetings and talked about those called to fish, the abundance of fish, and how we might go about fishing.

Year after year they carefully defined what fishing meant, defended fishing as an occupation, and declared that fishing be the primary talk of fishermen. These fishermen built large beautiful buildings for local fishing headquarters and their plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and that everyone should fish. However, the one thing they did not, they did not fish!

In addition to meeting regularly these men determined to send out fishermen to places where there were many fish. This sending committee was headed by those who had great vision and had courage to speak about fishing and to promote the idea of fishing in far away streams and lakes where many other fish of different colors lived.

They hired staff and held many meetings to define fishing, to defend fishing, and to decide what new streams should be thought about. But the one thing the staff and the committee members did not do, they did not fish!

Large, elaborate training centers were built whose original and primary purpose was to teach fishermen how to fish. Over the years courses were offered on the needs of fish, the nature of fish, how to find fish, and the psychological effects of fishing. Those who taught had Doctorates in "Fisheology." But the teachers did not fish! They only taught about fishing.

Further, the fishermen built large printing houses to publish fishing guides. Presses were kept busy day and night to produce material solely devoted to fishing methods. A speakers' bureau was also organized to schedule special speakers on fishing. After one stirring meeting entitled "The Necessity of Fishing," two young men left the meeting and actually went fishing, and one of them actually caught two fish! He was honored for his great catch and was scheduled to appear at all the big meetings to tell how he did it. So he quit fishing in order to have time to tell his experiences to other fishermen.

Now it is true that many of the fishermen sacrificed and put up with all kinds of difficulties. Some lived near the water and had to put up with the smell of dead fish. Some had to endure the ridicule of some who made fun of these fishermen's clubs because they claimed to be fishermen but they did not fish.

And they wondered about those who thought it was of little use to attend the meetings and talk about fishing. I mean, after all, were they not following the Master who said, "Come and I will make you fishers of men?" Imagine their chagrin when someone actually suggested that they were not really "fishermen." Yet it did make sense. Can we rightfully call a person a fisherman if year after year he never catches a fish?

Can a person really be following Jesus if he is not fishing?

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:1-8)

Are you bearing fruit? Are you fishing?