Fig Tuesday on the Easter timeline
- Eljoh Hartzer, MTh
- Feb 11
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 20
On the third day of our Easter timeline, Jesus gave His final teachings before His death. The Olivet Discourse and His debates with the Pharisees are put into context when understood with the account of the withered fig tree that also happened that day.
Hint: At the very end of this article is a free worksheet for you to personally and prayerfully engage deeper
This series of articles will cover the key events of Easter in the order that they're celebrated in in the Christian tradition.
Click the following titles to read about the true meaning of Easter and each day of Holy Week:
What happened on Easter Fig Tuesday
In the broader story of the Easter timeline, this is right after Jesus threw the merchants out of the Temple (Monday) and before Holy Wednesday.
On Monday, Jesus was angry and possibly violent, yet on Tuesday, He takes on the role of rabbi one last time to teach His disciples what they still needed to learn.
There are three parts to Tuesday that we remember Eastertime:
The Olivet Discourse (Jesus teaches His disciples the signs of the last days on the Mount of Olives)
Debates in the Temple (Desperate for a way to arrest Jesus, the Pharisees and others debated with Him)
The Cursed Fig Tree (This post will focus on the latter)
Why did Jesus curse a fig tree?
As Jesus walked along on Monday evening, He was hungry. Spotting a fig-tree in the distance and knowing it's fig season, Jesus went over. But to His surprise, their wasn't a single fig on the tree. Annoyed (hangry?) and disappointed, Jesus curses the fig tree.
A random detail, yet it's meaning would become clear the following day.
On Tuesday morning, Jesus and His disciples walked back to the Temple when they saw the fig tree again. Its leaves was shriveled up and it looked dead. The disciples were surprised at the power of Jesus' words, but Jesus turned it into a teachable moment... He said: Don't judge people based on their outward appearances. Don't expect a certain level of maturity from someone because of a title or position they have. Don't be deceived by flashy, big "leaves" disguising the absence of "fruit".
In John 15 - the Scripture this website is based on - Jesus taught His disciples about abiding in the Vine. A person cannot bear fruit by themselves; they must be connected to the Vine, that is: God.
You cannot summon goodness from within, you must spend time with God and you will be transformed.
When we consider everything that happened on Easter Tuesday and see the bigger picture, it's almost as if Jesus likened the religious leaders of the day to the fig tree. He might have said:
They might look like they know God, but look at their actions. They're stealing God's money, turning the Temple into a marketplace, and trying to arrest Me!
The debates, the Olivet teaching, and the fig tree all weave together in this Easter message.
Journaling Prompts about Easter Tuesday
Write down the events of this day in your own words.
Pray and consider what the fig tree might symbolize in your own life
Read the Olivet Discourse and memorize three verses from it
Study Jesus' wise answers to the questions the Pharisees threw His way in the Temple - Ask God to give you wisdom to know how to respond well in such difficult situations when they come your way
This day in the Gospels
Matthew 21:18-19 (NIV)
18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
(Read the full passage on Tuesday's events here: Matthew 21:1-26:2)
Mark 11:20-25 (NIV)
20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
(Read the full passage on Tuesday's events here: Mark11:20-14:11)
Luke 21:29-31 (NIV)
29Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
(Read the full passage on Tuesday's events here: Luke 20-21)
John (NIV)
-the fig tree event is not recorded in John's Gospel-
(Read the full passage on Tuesday's events here: John 12:20-50)
Understanding this Easter day in the Old Testament
The Bible tells one beautiful story: God's big story.
Trees bearing fruit is a strong line running through the whole Bible. Starting in the Garden of Eden, God creates fruit trees and, coincidentally, the one rule He gives Adam and Eve also involves a fruit tree! Reaching out her hand and picking that forbidden fruit, Eve chose to live for herself.
She believed the enemy's lie that she had to change to become like God when she was already made in God's likeness!
Later on in Scripture, there are many profound mentions of Fruit Trees. If you have the time and feel inspired to do so, traverse through the Bible, exploring all the Fruit Tree mentions.
"Blessed is the one ... whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers." - Psalm 1:1-3
If you've been wanting to dive deeper into the Bible yourself, I want to invite you to consider the following encounter tool:
A Prayer on Fig Tuesday
Dear God, as I'm walking through this week of Easter, I am reminded afresh of the road Your Son had to walk on my behalf. It is I who deserved to be on that cross, who did wrong and should have been in His place. Yet You have made a way to redeem me. You are such a loving Father... Amen.
Next up: The following day in Holy Week
The mysterious Wednesday is up next! Many have guessed as to what Jesus and His disciples got up to on the Wednesday of Easter week, since the Gospels don't give us an exact description. Nevertheless, let's consider what emotions Jesus must have experienced on that day of waiting....
Explore other events in the Easter story:
Below is a free printable worksheet PDF to go deeper with today's topic on the Easter timeline:
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