1.07 Parable of the Fig-Tree

VII. PARABLE OF THE FIG-TREE.

Matthew 24:32/.; Mark 13:28/.; Luke 21:29 - Luke 21:31.

Jesus added this parable by way of warning to His prophecy concerning the signs that would precede His Second Coming. Just as 68 THE PARABLES OF JESUS the tender shoots and budding foliage of the fig-tree show that summer is nigh, so the signs in question, when they would appear, should be regarded as heralding the speedy Advent of the Son of Man. The text of the two first Evangelists is almost identical; that of St. Luke shows some divergences from both. He speaks not only of the fig-tree, but of “ all the trees “; and he substitutes “ know ye that the kingdom of God is at hand “ for “ know ye that he is nigh even at the doors.” The commonest trees in Palestine were the figtree and the olive-tree; but as the latter is an evergreen, the former only was suitable for the purpose of the parable. The leaves of the fig-tree first appear about the middle of March, and the summer begins in April. The parable needs no explanation: Jesus Himself has given us the application.

Unlike our forefathers in the faith at more than one period in the history of the Church, we do not live in daily expectation of the Second Coming, nor have we any temptation to identify contemporary events, no matter how strange or unusual, with the signs that are to precede it. Still, for us, too, there is THE PARABLES OF JESUS 69 need of watchfulness. For each one of us death may come at any time, even when no premonitions appear to warn us of its approach; and the judgment which must follow it is for the individual decisive of his eternal destiny.

TAGS: [Parables]