Fig tree and asking for the great things
On the withered fig tree. Mark adds that seeing leaves from afar he came seeking fruit — it was not fig season — and said may no one ever eat fruit from you again. The fruit of the Spirit is sometimes given in its own season; better still if, when circumstances push the other way, one still bears fruit because the Word has so helped. Jesus told the disciples: ask for the great things and the small will be added; ask for the heavenly and the earthly will be added.
Greek
Περὶ τῆς ξηρανθείσης συκῆς. Ὁ Μάρκος προστίθησιν ὅτι μακρόθεν ἰδὼν συκῆν ἔχουσαν φύλλα ἦλθεν εἰ ἄρα τι εὑρήσει ἐν αὐτῇ· καὶ μηδὲν εὑρὼν εἰ μὴ φύλλα μόνον (οὐ γὰρ ἦν καιρὸς σύκων) εἶπεν· «Μηκέτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἐκ σοῦ μηδεὶς καρπὸν φάγῃ.» Οἱ τοῦ πνεύματος καρποὶ — ἀγάπη, χαρά, εἰρήνη, μακροθυμία, χρηστότης, ἀγαθωσύνη, πίστις, πραΰτης, ἐγκράτεια — ποτὲ μὲν ἐν οἰκείοις ἀποδίδονται καιροῖς· βέλτιον δὲ εἰ καίπερ τῶν περιστάσεων ἐπὶ τοὐναντίον τῇ καρποφορίᾳ προκαλουμένων δυνηθείη τις διὰ τὸ πάνυ ὠφελεῖσθαι ἀπὸ τοῦ λόγου οὐδὲν ἧττον καὶ τότε φέρειν τοὺς καρπούς. Εἶπε δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοῖς μαθηταῖς· «Αἰτεῖτε τὰ μεγάλα, καὶ τὰ μικρὰ προστεθήσεται ὑμῖν· καὶ αἰτεῖτε τὰ ἐπουράνια, καὶ τὰ ἐπίγεια προστεθήσεται ὑμῖν.»
About this text
Origen’s Commentary on Matthew, Tomus XVI (Greek). Complete on this page: §§1–4.
English follows PG 13 (Migne) Greek. Heine was not used as wording. This page is Tomus XVI §§1–4 (closeout).
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 13 (Migne) — Greek (Greek · Tomus XVI §§1–4)
English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.