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Parable of the Budding Fig Tree

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A fig tree

The Parable of the Budding Fig Tree is a parable told by Jesus in the New Testament, found in Matthew 24:32–35, Mark 13:28–31, and Luke 21:29–33. This parable, about the Kingdom of God, involves a fig tree, as does the equally brief parable of the barren fig tree.

Narrative

According to the Gospel of Luke:

He told them a parable. "See the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near. Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away."

— Luke 21:29-33, World English Bible

Interpretations

Luke presents this parable as eschatological in nature:[1] like the leaves of the fig tree, the signs spoken of in the Olivet discourse of Luke 21:5-28 [2] indicate the coming of the Kingdom of God.

As the British scholar and theologian N. T. Wright has written, "Already present in Jesus' ministry, and climactically inaugurated in his death and resurrection, the divine kingdom will be manifest within a generation, when Jesus and his followers are vindicated in and through the destruction of Jerusalem.[3]

An alternate interpretation is that the fig tree represents the nation of Israel being politically reestablished in their land once again. Accordingly, when the modern state of Israel was formed on May 14, 1948, Hal Lindsey concluded that we are in the last generation.[4][5]

Such an interpretation is challenged by New Testament scholar Barbara R. Rossing. "Lindsey calls those of us living today 'the generation of the fig tree,' referring to his interpretation of the founding of Israel as the fig tree putting forth its buds... Such a move has no literal basis in the Bible itself, however, nor is it true to their 'plain sense' rule of interpretation. It is an example of their highly selective literalism -- with no biblical evidence to support this redefinition of 'this generation.'"[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bernard Brandon Scott, Hear Then the Parable: A commentary on the parables of Jesus, Fortress Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8006-2481-5, pp. 338-340.
  2. ^ Luke 21:5–28
  3. ^ Wright, N. T., Jesus and the Victory of God, London: SPCK; Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1996. p. 365.
  4. ^ Lindsey, Hal. The Late Great Planet Earth. Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervan, 1970.
  5. ^ Lindsey, Hal. 1977. Eternity, January 1977
  6. ^ Rossing, Barbara R., The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation, Westview Press, 2004; Basic Books, 2005. p. 183. ISBN 9780813343143
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