Cursing of the fig tree
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The cursing of the fig tree in Bethphage (Greek: Βηθφαγή; Aramaic בית פגי "house of (unripe) figs") by the Christ on the morning after Palm Sunday, i.e. on Holy Monday, is described in the Gospels according to Matthew and Mark. In Mark, the narrative frames the cleansing of the Temple, which according to Matthew had already taken place the day before.
Gospel of Matthew
„18 In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. 20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” 21 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”“
Gospel of Mark
„Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city.
The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree
20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”“
Spiritual background
According to Rudolf Steiner, the fig tree is a symbol of the old natural clairvoyance, as is the related Bodhi tree under which the Buddha experienced his enlightenment, but which belongs to a different species of fig, namely the ficus religiosa. The old natural clairvoyance, which must disappear to make way for new more conscious forces of spiritual knowledge, was fed by the same pure etheric forces that underlie reproduction. These forces are indicated by the fig tree or the fig leaf. Since antiquity at the latest, therefore, figs, in which, as in all fruits, astral forces are also active in addition to etheric forces, have always been regarded as aphrodisiacs. The initiates of pre-Christian times were able to make use of the pure etheric powers for spiritual vision. This is also indicated in the Gospel of John by the conversation of the Christ with Nathanael:
„47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”“
Literature
- Emil Bock: Die drei Jahre, Urachhaus Verlag, Stuttgart 1981, ISBN 3-87838-229-4
