Did Jesus Have a Fig Tree Problem?

Trees and plants feature significantly in the Gospels. Jesus speeks about mustard, wheat, weeds, vines, etc. While wheat, grape vines, and even mustard are positively portrayed, the fig tree does not come off well.

First, there's the parable of the unfruitful Fig tree in Luke 13:6-9.

6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. 9 And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Then there's the weird cursing of the fig tree in Mark 11:12-14

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.

It rough being a fig around Jesus. In Mark, he expected the fig tree to have fruit when it wasn't the season for figs! But to make things worse, the fig tree gets cursed. And then in Luke, there's pressure to produce figs in season for an impatient land owner when it seems reasonable to give the tree a little more time tand attention. Especially since if it eventually does produce figs, it would do so for a long time. On the other hand, if it still doesn't produce figs, the opportunity cost would've been high. That time and attention could have been given to another tree that would've produced fruit.

I think the lesson is that we should pray to be mustard seeds, wheat, or grapes. It's too much pressure being a fig tree.