The Parable of the Fig Tree

24:32-35 Parable of the Fig Tree

Jesus has answered the disciples’ questions and now he begins a series of parables and stories. This first one, the parable of the fig tree, speaks of certainty. The irony is that this parable designed to assure us of certainty contains some uncertain elements.

32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 

This is pretty clear. The first question we must ask is, What does it is near refer to? The destruction of Jerusalem or the second coming? Hopefully, when we answer the next question we will have answered this first one.

34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Now for the big question, What does he mean by this generation? Seems to me there are three main interpretations of this:

(1) “but it respects that present age, or generation of men then living in it; and the sense is, that all the men of that age should not die, but some should live” ~John Gill; he saw this entire chapter as referring only to the destruction of Jerusalem. When I say ‘entire chapter’, I mean, he did not think Jesus spoke of the second coming at all in the chapter.

(2) “The Parable of the Fig Tree seems to indicate that the generation which sees the beginning of these things will see them all.” ~Chuck Missler. He means a future generation, the last generation. This is often the view of those who believe in a secret, pre-tribulation rapture.

(3) “this race; i.e. the Jews shall not cease from being a distinct people, till all the counsels of God relative to them and the Gentiles be fulfilled. Some translate η γενεα αυτη, this generation, meaning the persons who were then living, that they should not die before these signs, etc., took place: but though this was true, as to the calamities that fell upon the Jews, and the destruction of their government, temple, etc., yet as our Lord mentions Jerusalem's continuing to be under the power of the Gentiles till the fullness of the Gentiles should come in, i.e. till all the nations of the world should receive the Gospel of Christ, after which the Jews themselves should be converted unto God, Rom 11:25, etc., I think it more proper not to restrain its meaning to the few years which preceded the destruction of Jerusalem; but to understand it of the care taken by Divine providence to preserve them as a distinct people... But still it is literally true in reference to the destruction of Jerusalem.” ~Adam Clarke. This is interesting because he also believed that all of chapter 24 refers to the destruction of Jerusalem, none of it to the second coming.

Isn’t this fun? The very parable which Jesus gave to assure us of the certainty of the events prophesied, is itself the subject of much uncertainty!

I went to John Chrysostom for some insight. He lived AD 349-407, so he’s pretty early in the history of the Church. He saw chapter 24 as referring to the destruction of Jerusalem until v 27, “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Now we’re talking the second coming and the final, great tribulation. This is what he said about this generation:

“After this, that they might not straightway return to it again, and say, When? he brings to their remembrance the things that had been said, saying, Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled! All these things. What things? I pray you. Those about Jerusalem, those about the wars, about the famines, about the pestilences, about the earthquakes, about the false Christs, about the false prophets, about the sowing of the gospel everywhere, the seditions, the tumults, all the other things, which we said were to occur until His coming. How then, one may ask, did He say, This generation? Speaking not of the generation then living, but of that of the believers. For He is known to distinguish a generation not by times only, but also by the mode of religious service, and practice; as when He says, This is the generation of them that seek the Lord.”

So, there are those who say this generation refers to the people alive when Jesus said this, which would mean it is near, even at the doors refers to the destruction of Jerusalem. There are others who say it means the final generation; they would tend to view Matthew 24 as mostly, if not entirely, speaking of the days immediately preceding the second coming; so it is near means He is near - the return of Christ. Then there are those who view this generation as not confined to time, ie 30-40 years, but to mean a group, either the Jews or believers; in their view it is near would be the second coming.

Since I am persuaded that from 24:28-25:46 Jesus is referring to the second coming, I am inclined to agree with Adam Clarke (#3 above) and John Chrysostom. I believe Luke 21:28-31 helps us here:

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.  
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;  
30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.  
31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

Back to Matthew 24:

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.  
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

What Jesus said would happen is going to happen. Watch and be ready.


Next: 24:36-25:13 Watch and Be Ready