ACC ~ Matthew 24 v32 - 35

OVERVIEW:

The lesson of the fig tree has to do with the signs of the last time. As the fig tree leaves correlate with the leaves Adam used to cover himself, and thus with sin, so the tree’s branch represents antichrist. Greening of the tree signifies the intensification of sin before the end (HILARY OF POITIERS). By pointing to the fig tree Jesus assured his disciples that his second coming will not be delayed and will surely take place. When it occurs, saints will enjoy their “summer season” of rest, while the sinner suffers the winter season of damnation (CHRYSOSTOM). The fig tree is a metaphor for the church; as the tree contains myriad seeds under one bark, so in the body of the church many Christians are incorporated. Moreover, the fig tree is the only one that produces fruit even in winter, and so the church always produces saints (INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW). The fig tree represents the “people of circumcision,” who did not produce fruit and withered away. Yet later another fig tree, the Gentiles, produced an abundance of fruit (ORIGEN). “This generation will not pass away” refers to the generation of the faithful who will persist until the second coming (CHRYSOSTOM). “This generation” refers to both those who suffer temptation and those who cause them, demons. Both groups will persist in their struggle until the end, since temptations are necessary to test faith (INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW).

24:32 | Learn the Lesson of the Fig Tree

FROM THE FIG TREE LEARN ITS LESSON

HILARY OF POITIERS: The parable of the fig tree is offered as a lesson in recognizing the signs of the times. When its branches become tender and green we know that summer is near. Both this fig tree and this summer are very different from those found in nature, however. In nature there is a considerable interval between the onset of summer and the greening of a tree’s branches, which begin to grow tender early in the spring. Consequently this parable cannot be about the tree. Indeed, we have already dealt above with the particular meaning of the tree. We saw that Adam had covered himself with its leaves to hide his shameful conscience, which is to say that he was bound under the law as though clothed in sin. The fig tree’s branch therefore represents the antichrist, who is a son of the devil, a partaker of sin and protector of the law. When it begins to grow tender and green, then the summer, which here represents the day of judgment, is near. The greening of the tree then refers to the rise of sinners, a time that will be marked by the flowering of slanderers and the popularity of criminals and favor for blasphemers. This signals that summer, the heat of eternal fire, is near. ON MATTHEW 26.2. [1]

[1] SC 258:194.

HOW LONG A TIME?

CHRYSOSTOM: The time is “immediately after the tribulation of those days.” After how long a time would it be? They desired to know in particular the very day. So he puts forth the analogy of the fig tree. He indicates that the interval was not great but that in quick succession these things would occur at his advent. He declared this not by the parable of the fig tree alone but by the words that follow. “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.” He foretells a spiritual summer, a calm for the righteous that would come on that day, after the storm. But to sinners, on the contrary, there would be winter after summer, which he declares in what follows, saying that the day shall come upon them when they are living in luxury. For these two purposes he spoke about the fig tree: in order to declare the short interval and to underscore that these things assuredly will come to pass. It was possible for him to have demonstrated this in other ways, but he chose the fig tree as an example of a necessary series of things occurring in sequence. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 77.1. [1]

[1] HE DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST | MATTHEW 14:1-12

YOU KNOW THAT SUMMER IS NEAR

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: Jesus uses the fig tree, rather than another kind of tree, as an illustration for the onset of summer because it commonly happens that after other trees have begun to bloom, a cold snap forces them back into hibernation. Since the fig tree blooms later than almost any other tree, however, its fruitfulness is virtually never interrupted by the cold. In a similar way, the church is a sure sign of the advent of a new age. But let us consider this analogy more carefully. The fig tree begins to produce its leaves at the optimal moment of the spring season, but the church is afflicted with horrible persecutions and driven toward death. The Lord is here correlating the springtime jubilance of the fig tree to the spiritual progress of souls, not to bodily afflictions. For the soul flourishes when the flesh suffers, as the apostle said, “And you received the Word of God in great tribulation, with joy from the Holy Spirit.” [1] Just as warm spring winds trigger the trees to begin producing their foliage and fruit, so persecution provokes the human soul to virtue. The fig tree therefore is perennially comparable to the church in the sense that it contains many seeds within a heart of sweetness under one bark, while the church unites many Christians within its heart of love under one body. There is yet another similarity, however. Other trees produce their fruit at approximately the same time of year, for everything ripens and falls to the ground in the space of a few days. Only the fig tree continues to produce fruit unceasingly until winter. While some figs are ready to be harvested, other figs are just beginning to grow. Likewise, the church will never cease to produce saints until the end of time. In every age, while some are dying, others are just being born. HOMILY 49. [2]

[1] 1 Thess 1:6.

[2] PG 56:920.

24:33 | At the Very Gates

HE IS NEAR

ORIGEN: The fig tree may be understood to represent the people of the circumcision. The Lord came to them when he was hungry and, “finding no fruit there” [1] but the appearance of life only, said, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” At his coming therefore this fig tree, the people of the circumcision, “withered immediately.” But the other fig tree, the one which until that time had been barren and was about to be cut down because no one had ever applied himself diligently to its cultivation, began to bear fruit when fertilizer was spread around it. What was formerly a blight upon the earth will now produce fruit in such abundance sufficient even for the entire time in which it was barren. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 53. [2]

[1] Mt 21:19.

[2] GCS 38.2:120.

24:34 | Until All These Things Take Place

THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS

CHRYSOSTOM: “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all these things take place.” All these things. What things? 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, and all the other things which we said were to occur until his coming. What does he refer to when he says “this generation”? He is speaking not of the generation then living but of the age of believers. For he is prone to distinguish a generation not by times only but also by the mode of their religious service and practice, as when he says, “Such is the generation of those that seek him.” [1] He said “all these things will take place,” and yet “the gospel will be preached.” These two are not inconsistent. The generation of the faithful shall remain through all things that will surely come to pass. The faithful will not be cut off by any of the things that have been mentioned. For both Jerusalem shall be destroyed and a large part of the Jews shall be decimated, but over this generation—the faithful—shall nothing prevail, not famine, not pestilence, not earthquake, not the tumults of wars, not false Christs, not false prophets, not deceivers, not traitors, not those that cause to offend, not the false brothers, nor any other such temptation whatever. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 77.1. [2]

[1] Ps 24:6 (23:6 LXX).

[2] PG 58:701-2; NPNF 1 10:462-63.

MY WORDS WILL NOT PASS AWAY

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: Uncertainty always makes a person careless. We prepare ourselves earnestly only for what we truly believe will happen to us. Therefore, lest his disciples initially prefer certain danger to uncertainty and then, having doubts about its advent, allow themselves to become complacent, the Messiah strengthened his teaching with an oath, saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.” Great danger requires great preparation. Great preparation requires diligent admonition and caution. It must be recognized then that Christ did not intend to show his disciples that the coming trial was already beginning but rather that it was altogether in the future. He wasn’t addressing only those who had already been born by that time, therefore, but the entire family. [1]

“This generation” refers both to those who suffer temptation and to those who cause it. It refers to sinners among men and to the demons who are at work in them. For neither group will cease being in the world until its consummation. For Christ said, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” [2] Moreover, it is necessary that the source of temptation be preserved as long as there is faith which needs testing. It is also possible, however, that “this generation” refers to those mortal Christians who would not pass over into eternal life and be made immortal and impassible “until” all the events about which Christ was speaking had taken place.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” because heaven and earth were created to serve you, but my words were uttered to govern you. Both heaven and earth are subject to vanity, as the apostle said, “Creation is subject to vanity.” [3] Truth, however, is by nature unable to deceive and can never die. HOMILY 49. [4]

[1] The author means that Jesus spoke of generatio ista, including in it not only all the men (and the demons) of his time but their descendants as well.

[2] Mt 25:41.

[3] Rom 8:20.

[4] PG 56:920-21.