I have heard this taught all my life that Israel is the fig tree that is referred to in this parable spoken by Jesus. But, does the Bible agree with this teaching? Today I will attempt to answer this question. There is much disharmony among Bible commentators about this subject. All I really want to know is Israel ever compared to a fig tree?
Are there any Old Testament scriptures comparing Israel to a fig? Look at Jeremiah 24:5, God is showing the prophet Jeremiah that Israel is compared to the good fig tree that He is going to plant and not pluck up. The bad fig trees are the ones He is going to remove so Israel can possess the land of their forefathers.
So we can see that Israel is compared to a fig tree by God. This answers my first question, and in Hosea 9:10 we see them compared to again as figs. Now let’s look at Matthew 21:19, we find our Lord Jesus and he is hungry, he sees a fig tree with leaves, but it has no fruit on it. This disappointed him, so he speaks to it to decease, and dry up from the roots. Also in Mark 11:14 we see this same story.
A fig tree bears its fruit first, then it puts on leaves. So this tree was pretending to be mature and full of fruit. Jesus was God but he had laid aside his powers to walk this earth as a man, the second Adam. He always looked to God as his source. Jesus was a man when he walked up to this fig tree to eat of its fruit as he was hungry.
As the second Adam, he had the right of dominion that God had given the original Adam in Genesis 1:28, and he was using that dominion as he spoke to that tree. We just read in this story that Jesus was looking to find figs, and this tree was just pretending to be mature, ahead of its neighbors and had fruit, whereas it had nothing, much like the scribes and Pharisees of Israel.
In Luke 13:6 we find the story of a fig tree again, and it is not bearing fruit as it should. The owner of this farm was upset that it was taking up valuable ground and was unfruitful, and he wanted it removed. But his ground keeper persuaded him to allow him to cultivate and fertilize it and give him one more year to try and help it produce fruit and not just leaves.
These scriptures use a fig tree to show that Israel was planted by God to be fruitful, but their spiritual leaders were only pretending to be mature, full of life, when in reality they were just concerned with reaping the praises of men. Israel was about to be judged by God and removed from their rightful position and another was going to take their place. This happened in AD 70, and they were destroyed and in 1948 when they were once again allowed by God to be a Nation again.
This is where our story begins once again as the fig tree of Matthew 24:32 comes into question by me. Let’s look at what a few others think about the fig tree being Israel, and about the signs of the end times as revealed in our Bible in Matthew 24:3 where the disciples come to Jesus privately and asked him what are the signs of thy coming and the end of the age.
Almost all the “Men of God” that I read about before 1948 all had the similar interpretation’s of this verse. Matthew Henry interpreted this verse to show that the generation of Jews will always be here and they will not disappear. That the Jews as a people would not cease, even though they were displaced around the world. Mr. Barnes makes the interpretation that this group of Jews that saw the destruction of Jerusalem would be in their generation, which it was. John Gill also saw it this way, as did others. Were they right? I for one, do not believe they were.
Sometimes we as children of God, too often go along with the prevailing teachings of our peers, instead of just reading and interpreting what we read for ourselves. I guess that’s just the way of all mankind, not wanting to be too different or too radical, when compared to others. But I believe that we are to read and study for ourselves what we are taught by those in leadership. Sometimes they may not have the proper understanding and could be incorrect in their opinion, after all that’s just what they believe.
I believe I have proven to myself that Israel is sometimes compared to the fig tree in our Bible. Now the real question is “what does it mean in versus 32-42? To me, the year 1948 was the beginning of the end of the reign of us Gentiles. It once again established the Nation of Israel by God, and lets us know that the end of time as we know it, is drawing to a close.
The way Jesus spoke these words are no coincidence. The birth of the Nation of Israel, the illustration of Noah, and the Rapture of the Church, the clear warning to keep alert, and be aware of the signs of the times we are living in. Can’t be much clearer than that. I will close this for today with this reminder about teachings and interpretation. Thanks to the WWW, we can read the teachings of those who are long gone, we can still read their thoughts and commentary on any subject we can imagine.
I will close this letter for now with verse 27, and the rapture of the Church. Jesus makes this comment about lightning, “ for as the lightning comes out of the east, and shinneth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.” I will comment on this in my next letter to you. Remember, you will make it, just don’t give up.
See you next week.
In His Service As Kilted Priest
The Kilted Priest 