Sermons on the Song of Songs

“The fig-tree hath put forth her green figs; the vines in flower yield their sweet smell.”

“The fig-tree hath put forth her green figs.” The sense of these words, my brethren, depends upon what has preceded. The Bridegroom has declared that “the time of pruning is come,” inferring this both from the flowers which have appeared in the land, and also from the sound of the turtle’s voice. He offers yet another reason now, namely, the putting forth of green figs by the fig-tree. For the signs of the seasons may be observed in the fig-tree as well as in the flowers and the voice of the turtle. It is when the weather is beginning to get warm that “the fig-tree puts forth her green figs.” This tree produces no leaves, and its early figs make their appearance at the same time as the foliage on other trees. But just as the leaves flourish and fade, of no other value except in so far as they serve to herald the advent of the fruit which follows them, so is it also with the first-fruits of the fig. They come forth but never ripen, and hence never become fit for food, falling green from the branches to make room for the second crop, which remains till it is matured. The Bridegroom, therefore, as I have said, takes the appearance of these green figs as a sign of the season, and uses it as an argument to persuade His Spouse to proceed with haste to the vineyards, so that, arriving there in good time, she may not lose her labour. Such appears to be the literal connection.

But what is the mystical signification of our text? For surely there is question here not of material fig-trees, but of peoples. It is of human souls God hath care, not of insentient fruit-trees. And truly there is a close analogy between fig-trees and peoples, who are frail in their flesh, little in their intelligence, depressed in their mind, and to complete the comparison—whose first-fruits are green and earthly. For it is not the custom of the peoples to “seek first the kingdom of God and His justice,” but rather, as the Apostle says, to be “solicitous for the things of the world, how they may please their wives.” “Such shall have tribulation of the flesh.” However, I do not deny that in the end they will bring forth the fruits of faith, if at the last they shall have made a good confession, particularly if they redeem by alms-giving the works of the flesh. Therefore the first-fruits of the peoples deserve the name of fruit as little as do the first-fruits of the fig-tree. But if they afterwards produce “fruits worthy of penance”—for “not first that which is spiritual, but that which is natural,” then it shall be said to them, “What fruit had you then in those things of which you are now ashamed?”

Nevertheless, I do not think that what is said here can be interpreted of every people. It seems to me that only one people is referred to. For it is not said, as of several, “The fig-trees have put forth”; but, as of one, “The fig-tree hath put forth her green figs.” And in my opinion the fig-tree mentioned here represents the Jewish people. How many lessons and reproaches did not the Saviour address to this people, parabolically, using the image of the fig-tree, as may be read in the Gospel! For example, “A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.” Also, “See the fig-tree and all the trees.” And to Nathanael He said, “When thou wert under the fig-tree I saw thee.” On another occasion He cursed a fig-tree because He found no fruit on it. And justly is the nation of the Jews compared to a fig-tree, because in spite of the excellence of the patriarchal root from which it sprung, it has never been desirous of attaining to greatness of stature, has never purposed to lift itself from the earth, has never cared to correspond with the nobility of its stock by the loftiness of its branches, the magnificence of its flowers, or the abundance of its fruit. Poorly indeed dost thou answer to thy root, O tree of Israel, little as thou art, and twisted, and gnarled! For thy root is holy. But what of holiness dost thou exhibit in thy branches? “The fig-tree,” says the Bridegroom, “hath put forth her green figs.” Degenerate fig-tree! It is not from thy noble root thou hast derived these green figs. Whatever is contained in it, is of the Holy Ghost, and so is entirely sweet and spiritual. Whence then hast thou drawn them? And in truth, my brethren, it may well be asked was there anything at all which was not green and gross in that people? Neither their actions, nor their affections, nor their understanding, nor even the rites they observed in the worship of God, were lacking in these characteristics. For their actions were all concerned with war, their affections were absorbed in the quest for the riches of this world, their understanding could not pierce through the grossness of the letter, their worship consisted in offering the blood of sheep and goats and oxen.

But somebody may now object and say to me, “Since the Jewish nation never ceased to put forth such green figs, it seems to follow that for it, at any rate, the time of pruning is always present, for these two seasons are represented as synchronising.” There is a mistake here, my brethren. A mother is not said to have brought forth her child whilst she is yet in travail, but only after the infant has been born into the world. Similarly we say that trees have put forth their leaves, not when they are in the period of florescence, but when that process has been completed. In the same sense it is said here, “The fig-tree hath put forth her green figs,” not to signify that some have been put forth, but that the whole have been put forth, that the time for putting forth has come to an end. Do you ask when this happened in the case of the Jews? It was when they put Christ to death. For it was then that they filled up the measure of their iniquity, as had been predicted of them by the Lord when He said, “Fill ye up the measure of your fathers.” Hence, when hanging on the cross, and about to breathe forth His Soul, He uttered the words, “It is consummated.” Oh, what a consummation was thus given to its green figs by that fig-tree, cursed by Christ, and condemned thereafter to everlasting sterility! Oh, how much worse were its last fruits than its first! Beginning with figs that were worthless, it came at length to produce pernicious and poisonous ones. O most gross and viperish disposition, to hate the Man Who came to heal our bodies and to save our souls! O truly gross and brutish understanding, not to recognise God even in the works of God!