Notes on Mark 11:12-14

Translation and Notes

¹²The next day, as he was coming from Bethany, he was hungry. ¹³And when he saw a fig tree from far away that had leaves he thought he might find something on it, but when he got there he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

Mar 11:13 – For it was not a season of figs – It was net (as we say) a good year for figs; at least not for that early sort, which alone was ripe so soon in the spring. If we render the words, It was not the season of figs, that is, the time of gathering them in, it may mean, The season was not yet: and so (inclosing the words in a parenthesis, And coming to it, he found nothing but leaves) it may refer to the former part of the sentence, and may be considered as the reason of Christ’s going to see whether there were any figs on this tree. Some who also read that clause in a parenthesis, translate the hollowing words, for where he was, it was the season of figs. And it is certain, this meaning of the words suits best with the great design of the parable, which was to reprove the Jewish Church for its unfruitfulness at that very season, when fruit might best be expected from them. — John Wesley

I have to disagree with John Wesley on this. I think that the matter of in season or out of season was a difference between the illustration and its application. That is Jesus was using the show (leaves) versus the fact (fruitlessness) as a parable, and the season was not the issue. “Because it was not the season for figs” is an explanatory note by the gospel writer rather than an essential part of the parable.

¹⁴And in response he said to it, “May nobody ever eat fruit from you again!” And his disciples heard it. — Mark 11:12-14

The momentary condition became permanent. I wonder if it is possible that Jesus simply recognized that this tree was never going to produce and pronounced on it what he knew was already the case?

These notes are a supplement to my podcast Cursing the Fig Tree – an Acted Parable.