Why didn’t Jesus know there were no figs on the tree?

Answer:

The account is found in Matthew 21:18-19 and Mark 11:12-14.

Early in the morning, Jesus left Bethany for Jerusalem. Seeing a leafy fig tree beside the road and being hungry, Jesus went to it to pluck a fig. Finding none on it, Jesus pronounced a curse, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Matthew remarks that the tree immediately showed signs of withering.

We are accustomed to miracles being beneficial, but here, Jesus destroys a tree for simply not bearing fruit when expected. Figs typically bear fruit before the plant's leaves appear. So, although it was normally too early for figs at this time of year, a few trees were known to produce extra early, and the leaves indicated that this plant was a promising prospect. Yet the tree had no fruit at all, not even unripe ones.

Although nothing is directly stated about this event or why Jesus did it, it is recorded for a purpose that is important enough for two authors to include it in their accounts. We can also conclude that since Jesus is God and has demonstrated the ability to know things humans cannot know, Jesus did know the tree had no figs. In other words, Jesus purposely did this to teach a lesson.

One lesson from this event is that people look at God’s loving favor and cannot imagine God being severe with anyone, let alone sending someone to hell for eternity. Everyone needs to remember that we are here by God’s good grace and that we are here for a purpose (Romans 11:17-22). God dealt severely with the Jews when they failed to be productive (Isaiah 5:1-7). Can we expect anything less? Jesus will return to this point when we read John 15.

Another lesson is that far too many people only appear to be godly (II Timothy 3:5). Some claim to follow God, but their actions belie their words (Titus 1:16). We must prove ourselves doers of the word (James 1:22-25); otherwise, we, too, will face God’s wrath.