The Budding Fig Tree (Matthew 24:32–35; Mark 13:28–31; Luke 21:29–33)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

---

St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 77 (on Matthew 24:32–35) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110/npnf110.iii.LXXIV.html

On why He answers their question about the time with the similitude of the fig tree:

Forasmuch as He had said, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days;" but they sought of this, after how long a time it should be, and desired to know in particular the very day, therefore He puts also the similitude of the fig tree, indicating that the interval was not great, but that in quick succession would occur His advent also.

On the summer the parable foretells:

Whereby He foretells another thing also, a spiritual summer, and a calm that should be on that day ... for the righteous; but to the sinners the contrary, winter after summer

On "this generation" as the generation of the faithful, not of the men then living:

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 wont to distinguish a generation not by times only, but also by the mode of religious service, and practice

All these things shall surely come to pass, and the generation of the faithful shall remain, cut off by none of the things that have been mentioned. For both Jerusalem shall perish, and the more part of the Jews shall be destroyed, but over this generation shall nothing prevail

On the permanence of His words above heaven and earth:

Then to lead them on more in faith, He saith, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away;" ... that is, it were more easy for these firm, fixed, and immoveable bodies to be blotted out, than for ought of my words to fall to the ground.

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 21:33) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the Church set above the whole creation:

For because He had foretold that there should be commotions, and wars and changes, both of the elements and in other things, lest any one might suspect that Christianity itself also would perish, He adds, Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away: as if He said, Though all things should be shaken, yet shall my faith fail not. Whereby He implies that He sets the Church before the whole creation. The creation shall suffer change, but the Church of the faithful and the words of the Gospel shall abide for ever.

Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Questions on the Gospels and Letter 199 (on Matthew 24:32–33) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxiv.html

On the fig tree understood as the human race:

Or, by the fig tree understand the human race, by reason of the temptations of the flesh. "When its branch is tender," i.e. when the sons of men through faith in Christ have progressed towards spiritual fruits, and the honour of their adoption to be the sons of God has shone forth in them.

On why the Lord's coming presses ever nearer, though the day is unknown:

That now from the Evangelic and Prophetic signs that we see come to pass, we ought to look that the Lord's coming should be nigh, who is there that denies? For daily it draws ever more and more near ... See how long ago the Apostle said, "Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." What he spoke was not false, and yet how many years have elapsed, how much more may we not say that the Lord's coming is at hand now, that so great an accession of time has been made?

St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 24:32) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxiv.html

On the leafing fig tree as the monitory sign of an approaching end:

As much as to say, When the tender shoots first shew themselves in the stem of the fig tree, and the bud bursts into flower, and the bark puts forth leaves, ye perceive the approach of summer and the season of spring and growth; so when ye shall see all these things that are written, do not suppose that the end of the world is immediate, but that certain monitory signs and precursors are shewing its approach.

St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 339–397)

Exposition of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 21:29–31) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the two things the fig tree shadows forth — ripening fruit or the luxuriance of sin:

Matthew speaks of the fig-tree only, Luke of all the trees. But the fig-tree shadows forth two things, either the ripening of what is hard, or the luxuriance of sin; that is, either that, when the fruit bursts forth in all trees and the fruitful fig-tree abounds, (that is, when every tongue confesses God, even the Jewish people confessing Him,) we ought to hope for our Lord's coming, in which shall be gathered in as at summer the fruits of the resurrection. Or, when the man of sin shall clothe himself in his light and fickle boasting as it were the leaves of the synagogue, we must then suppose the judgment to be drawing near.

St. Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310–367)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 24:32–34) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxiv.html

On the mystical reading of the fig tree as the Synagogue:

Mystically; The Synagogue is likened to the fig tree; ... its branch is Antichrist, the son of the Devil, the portion of sin, the maintainer of the law; when this shall begin to swell and to put forth leaves, then summer is nigh, i.e. the approach of the day of judgment shall be perceived.

On the asseveration "Verily":

To give sure credit to the things which should come to pass He adds, "Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass away until all these things be fulfilled." By saying "Verily," He gives asseveration to the truth.

St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

Exposition of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 21:33) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On what "heaven and earth shall pass away" does and does not mean:

But by the heaven which shall pass away we must understand not the ethereal or the starry heaven, but the air from which the birds are named "of heaven." But if the earth shall pass away, how does Ecclesiastes say, The earth stands for ever? Plainly then the heaven and earth in the fashion which they now have shall pass away, but in essence subsist eternally.