“Nothing But Leaves”

by Micky Galloway

Mark 11:12-14, “And on the morrow, when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered. And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season of figs. And he answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit from thee henceforward forever. And his disciples heard it.”

In this text we see the humanity of Jesus. “He hungered.” Likewise, we note in John 4:6-7, that Jesus “being wearied with his journey, sat thus by the well … There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.” Fig trees were plentiful near Jerusalem. “Having leaves” was an indication that Jesus might expect to find figs on this tree. J.W McGarvey says, “As the fruit usually appears before the leaves, the leaves were a promise that fruit might be found, and the fruit, though not perfectly ripe, is considered edible when the leaves are developed. Though it was too early for fruit, it was also too early for leaves. The tree evidently had an unusually favorable position. It seemed to vaunt itself by being in advance of the other trees, and to challenge the wayfarer to come and refresh himself” (The Fourfold Gospel). Note also, “The early figs in Palestine do not get ripe before May or June, the later crop in August. It was not the season of figs, Mark notes. But this precocious tree in a sheltered spot had put out leaves as a sign of fruit. It had promise without performance” (A.T. Robertson’s Word Pictures). However, when Jesus came to it, “he found nothing but leaves.” This made it a striking symbol of the hypocrite, who, not content with appearing to be as good as other people, usually puts on the appearance of being a great deal better. When Jesus saw the fig tree full of leaves, but having no fruit, He saw in it a symbol of hypocrisy, a theme that would resonate profoundly in His teaching that day at the temple.

When Jesus came to the Jewish nation, He had every reason to expect them to be productive. They were a special people (cf. Deuteronomy 7:6). They had the written law of Moses (Romans 3:1-2, 10), who wrote of the coming of “the prophet” (Deuteronomy 18:15). Jesus said, “Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me; and ye will not come to me, that ye may have life … For if ye believed Moses, ye would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:39-47). They also had the prophets whose word Jesus came to fulfill (cf. Matthew 5:17).

What did Jesus find in the Jewish nation? As Jesus taught and performed miracles in His own country, “They were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house” (Matthew 13:57). Seven times in Matthew 23, Jesus called them “hypocrites.” Jesus said, “Ye are sons of them that slew the prophets … behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them shall ye kill and crucify” (Matthew 23:31, 34). Twice in this one chapter He condemns them to hell for their hypocrisy! “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves … Ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape the judgment of hell?” (Matthew 23:15, 33). Multiple times throughout Jesus’ ministry, the Jews sought to kill Him. Ultimately, they cried out, “Crucify (him), crucify (him)!” (John 19:6). “And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the robe, and put on him his garments, and led him away to crucify him” (Matthew 27:31).

What will Jesus find in us? We profess to follow Bible authority. “If any man speaketh, (speaking) as it were oracles of God … that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (I Peter 4:11). To do this we must study (II Timothy 2:15; I Peter 3:15). Do you know what the Bible says? Do we read and study the Bible at home? Do we attend regularly Bible classes? We profess to observe the Lord’s Supper as a memorial every Lord’s Day. “And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread …” (Acts 20:7). Do we teach this to our family and friends, yet stay home on the Lord’s Day to entertain family and friends? We profess that “God is a Spirit” and He seeks “true worshippers” who shall worship Him “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). Yet, we are absent more than we are present! Perhaps we are careful to observe the Lord’s Supper on the Lord’s Day, yet we do not observe it “worthily” (cf. I Corinthians 11:27-29). We teach that we should, “Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper …” (I Corinthians 16:2). Yet, we do not give in proportion to our prosperity or cheerfully and purposefully (cf. II Corinthians 9:7). Certainly, this is disappointing to the Lord and discouraging to others.

What Jesus did. Jesus cursed the fig tree for its hypocrisy. “No man eat fruit from thee henceforward forever” (Mark 11:14). The cursing of the fig tree is not to be seen as a fit of anger or as an attack against nature. Jesus condemned the Jewish nation for their hypocrisy and took the kingdom away from them. “Therefore, say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matthew 21:43).

What if Jesus were to come today? What would He find in us? Would He find a mere profession, a great show of leaves? Or would He find us being productive? Would He say, “Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:23)? Or would He say, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:33)? The choice is yours!