The True Meaning of the Fig

The Sweet Fruit of Harmony

To this day, figs are a common sight throughout the Land of Israel and it is prized above other fruits as a symbol of bounty. Its fruit is sweet and its ample canopy is one of the best sources of shade in the hot Middle Eastern sun. Unsurprisingly, the Bible’s ultimate expression for peace and security is for each man “to sit under his own fig tree” (1 Kgs 4:25). 

A Better Jerusalem

When Jesus came to Jerusalem, he was displeased with the corrupt worship he observed in the Temple. He taught his followers that in the Kingdom of Heaven, a true “house of prayer for all the nations” would replace the current Temple. As a prophet of peace, Jesus had no desire to destroy the Temple. Instead, he performed a small symbolic act, destroying the fig tree that was intended to represent peace in the Land. 
 

Savor the original word of God

The Gospel of Mark tells us that the fig tree was fruitless because “it was not the season for figs” (Mark 11:13). But now, for the first time in 2,000 years the Jewish people have returned to their land, and the fig tree is again giving its succulent fruit. Now is the time to savor the Word of God in its most authentic form. Enroll in our live online courses and return to biblical Hebrew!