Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? ~ Cross reference of Mark 11:17 to Isaiah 56:6

This is an event that happens after Jesus makes his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Matthew has the fig tree wither immediately while Mark gives a whole day for it to wither. I have already covered the event of Jesus driving the money changers out of the temple court. You can read it by clicking here

In this post we will see if what Jesus did is correct. Some commentators use this passage to say that Jesus taught us the power of faith. Others say the fig tree represents Israel and Jesus was predicting how the nation will wither and go into exile.

I don't think the later is right as Jesus specifically calls out the point that with faith anything is possible.

But the real question is does Tanakh justify his action even if it was to teach his disciples and us about having faith.

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All Greek Text references are from NIV and Tanakh references are from Chabad.

This post is not intended to offend anyone's faith but for those people who are Seeking the truth of THE ONE TRUE G-D of the universe to who we owe all our love, gratitude & devotion.

My encouragement to you is that you read the whole chapter of Tanakh that the Greek text quotes so you get the context and understand what G-d actually said.

G-d Bless and Seek THE Truth.

Marks 11:12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

Mark 11:17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’[c]? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’[d]”

Isaiah 56:6 And the foreigners who join with the Lord to serve Him and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, everyone who observes the Sabbath from profaning it and who holds fast to My covenant. 7 I will bring them to My holy mount, and I will cause them to rejoice in My house of prayer, their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be acceptable upon My altar, for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. 8 So says the Lord God, Who gathers in the dispersed of Israel, I will yet gather others to him, together with his gathered ones.

Jeremiah 7:11 Has this house upon which My name is called, become a cave of profligate men in your eyes? I, too, behold I have seen it, says the Lord.

• Tanakh has clear message that we need to care for nature and help nurture it. Tanakh also talks about how we need to take care of animals and not hurt them.
• There are rabbinic teachings that say if one has a pet, he needs to first feed the pet before he has his meal.
• There are also passages that talk about how Israel when going to battle with their enemies they should not destroy any fruit bearing tress even to build barricades to lay siege of the enemy walled cities.
• In this case mark says Jesus was hungry and wanted to eat a few figs. The figs were not on the tree as it was not the season.
• What was the justification for Jesus to curse a fig tree for not having figs when it was not the season.
• Isaiah 42 is used as a prophecy about Jesus where it says that even a twig this servant will not break, and here Jesus withering a whole tree for no reason.

Deuteronomy 20:19 When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them? 20 However, you may cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees and use them to build siege works until the city at war with you falls.

Proverbs 12:10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;