The Fruit Inspector
Remember, the beauty of the Bible is in the details. And here’s another hint: The Bible explains the Bible...
Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is described as God’s vineyard, tree, or planting (6 passages: Judges 9:8–15; Isaiah 3:14; 5:1–7; Jeremiah 12:10; Ezekiel 17:2–10; 19:10–14)
The fig tree is a foundational metaphor for Israel!
And her spiritual health all throughout the OT.
The prophet Isaiah says the time had come for God’s people to yield fruit that would bless the world (Isaiah 27:6).
Several times the prophets (Micah, Jeremiah, Hosea) describe God as inspecting Israel for “early figs,” as a sign of spiritual fruitfulness (Micah 7:1; Jeremiah 8:13; Hosea 9:10–17)—but he finds “no first-ripe fig that my soul desires.”
So in two exiles (Assyrian and Babylonian), God pours out the curse of barrenness (Hosea 9:16), and Israel becomes a rotten fig (Jeremiah 29:17).
But all is not lost. God promises to one day replant Israel and produce healthy figs from her again (Joel 2:22; Amos 9:14; Micah 4:4; Zechariah 8:12; Ezekiel 36:8).
Jesus was…
displaying his power and authority over all creation.
demonstrating the consequences of fruitlessness.
setting the parameters for his church.