Why did Jesus curse the fig tree for not bearing fruit, in Matthew 21:18? Meaning, explanation and commentary.
In the Gospel of Saint Matthew, Jesus meets a fig tree and curses it for not bearing fruit: "Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, ´May you never bear fruit again!´ Immediately the tree withered.
When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. ´How did the fig tree wither so quickly´ they asked.
Jesus replied, ´Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ´Go, throw yourself into the sea´, and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer´", Matthew 21:18-22.
The miracle or sign of Jesus with the fig tree that does not bear fruit is one of the most difficult passages to interpret in the New Testament.
It can be said that this encounter with Jesus has analogies with the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree in Luke 13: 6-9 and the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.
The meaning of history can only be understood if we know what Jesus talks about himself, Jesus refers himself as "son of man": "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am", John 8:27-28
He also affirms: "I am the bread of life", John 6:35; "I am the light of the world" John 8:12; "I am the gate" John 10:9 ; "I am the resurrection and the life" John 11:25; "I am the way, the truth and the life" John 14:6; "I am the true vine" John 15:5; "I am the good shepherd", John 10:11.
Jesus personifies the perfections and the qualities of God: he personifies the wisdom of God in John 6:35 and John 10:9, Jesus personifies the guide of God in John 8:12 and John 10:11, Jesus personifies the joy of God in John 15:5 and the spiritual gift of rectitude in John 14:6.
The tree represents the people who in front of the figure of the "Son of Man" must bear the fruits of conversion. "The kingdom of God is already among you", said Jesus in Luke 17:21. Jesus personifies, makes in himself the kingdom of God and the "world" must bear fruit, what does not bear fruit must be cut. This is a message of a theological nature about the divinity of Jesus, ´Jesus is God´. This story reminds us of the importance of faith together with prayer.
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