ACC ~ Matthew 21 v20 - 21

A FIGURATIVE, PROPHETIC ACT

AUGUSTINE: Now in order to convey this truth [1] the Lord acted prophetically. By this I mean that in reference to the fig tree, it was not his will merely to exhibit a miracle but rather through this sign to convey an intimation of that which was to come. He often taught and persuaded us by such means. So even when our wills resist, he persuades us and brings us to faith.

We first ask how was it the tree’s fault that it had no fruit? Even if it had no fruit in its proper season, its season of mature fruit, still the tree would bear no fault. For the tree is without sense and reason, so it could not be blamed. But to this perplexity is added another, which we read in the narrative of the other Evangelist who expressly mentions this: “It was not the time for that fruit.” [2] For this was the time when the fig tree was just shooting forth its tender leaves, which come, as we know, long before the fruit. This sequence has a spiritual meaning. The time for fruit was soon coming with the day of the Lord’s Passion, which was at hand. And so to make this clear, the Evangelist, to his credit, notes that “the time of figs was not yet.” So then, if it was only a miracle that was being demonstrated and not something to be prophetically prefigured, it would have been much more worthy of the clemency and mercy of the Lord if he had found a withered tree and restored it to life. This would seem more in accord with his healing of the sick, cleansing lepers and raising the dead.

But to the contrary, as though against the ordinary rule of his charity, he found a green tree, not yet bearing fruit, even before its fruit-bearing season but still awaiting the hope of fruit, and what does he do? He withers it straight away! This is a prophetic anticipation of things soon to come, by which he in effect says to us: “I have no delight in the withering away of this tree. By doing so I want to convey to you that I am not acting absurdly but for a lesson you might take more seriously. It is not this literal tree that I have cursed. It is not on an insensible tree that I have inflicted punishment. Rather, I have made you fear, whoever you are who considers this matter, that you should not fail Christ when he is hungry and that you might hope to be in the coming season of fruit than to be in the preparatory season of leaves.” …

Therefore, beloved, I must tell you and teach you according to my poor abilities that which the Lord has given me for your benefit. I must convey to you what you may hold as a rule in the interpretation of all Scripture. Everything that is said or done is to be understood either in its literal signification, or else it signifies something figuratively; or it may contain both of these at once, both its own literal interpretation and a figurative signification also… .

Thus Christ, wishing to convey this lesson to us, wanted us to produce fruit and in this way set forth for us a figurative fiction which is not a deceiving fiction but a fiction worthy of praise. SERMON 89.3-6. [3]

[1] The truth referred to has generally to do with the destiny of the covenant people, about which Augustine had been previously speaking. More specifically it is the truth that now is the time for fruit bearing for Israel.

[2] Mk 11:13.

[3] PL 38:555-58; NPNF 1 6:389-91* (Sermon 39).

LET THE DEVIL BE CAST INTO THE SEA

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: Jesus is referring here to an invisible mountain, one which produces fruitless trees, a rocky and rough place where there are steep cliffs, caves and overhanging crags, not fit for human habitation but only for beasts. There are no level fields in it for resting peacefully, but the ground is rising or falling away because, among those who stand against the devil, some rise and some fall. The devil is called a mountain, not because of the height of his worthiness, like the holy angels, but because of the size of his prideful ego; not on account of the constancy of his virtue but on account of his immovable and incorrigible malice. Remove this mountain from the midst of the saints, where there is faith, hope and charity, where there are fields of peace and beautiful fountains of doctrine, where meadows abound with the dew of grace, where holy birds adorn a perpetual springtime with their songs. “And be cast into the sea.” That is, into this world, where the water is brackish and worthless, which is to say that the people are evil and add nothing to the glory of God; even the sweet rivers of every spiritual grace which flows into them are unable to purify them. Instead, their brackishness spoils the sweetness of the rivers of grace flowing into the sea of this world, where there are perilous battles between conflicting spirits and where the powerful always rule. HOMILY 39. [1]

[1] PG 56:846.