Olney Hymns · Chapter
The Blasted Fig-Tree explained
This poem reflects on Jesus' cursing of the barren fig tree as a warning to those who profess faith but produce no spiritual fruit.
What happens
This poem reflects on Jesus' cursing of the barren fig tree as a warning to those who profess faith but produce no spiritual fruit. It emphasizes that knowledge, zeal, and outward profession are insufficient without genuine faith and love, and urges believers to bear the fruits of grace through prayer and the Spirit.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak occurs in stanza V, where the speaker’s hope is violently extinguished as Satan obscures ev…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Human Sinfulness and Depravity
The fig tree represents those who are deceived by sin and yield no fruit, only leaves.
- Grace and Unmerited Favor
The poem calls for the Spirit to be sent so that believers may bear the fruits of grace and find acceptance.
Characters to notice
- Jesus Christ
Spoke the awful word that blasted the fig tree, using it as a warning to believers.
- Satan
Blinds those who hear the gospel, leading them to yield only leaves instead of fruit.
- The Lord
Rejects barren trees and sends his Spirit to enable believers to bear fruit.
Key passages
“One awful word which Jesus spoke Against the tree which bore no fruit, More piercing than the lightning’s stroke, Blasted and dried it to the root.”
Jesus' single word of judgment against the fruitless tree was more devastating than a lightning strike, withering it completely.
The power of Christ's word to execute judgment.
“Too many, who the gospel hear, Whom Satan blinds and sin deceives We to this fig-tree may compare, They yield no fruit, but only leaves”
Many who hear the gospel are blinded by Satan and deceived by sin, resembling the fig tree that had leaves but no fruit.
The danger of a profession without practice.
“Knowledge and zeal and gifts and talk. Unless combined with faith and love, And witnessed by a gospel-walk, Will not a true profession prove.”
Even knowledge, enthusiasm, abilities, and speech are worthless without faith and love, and a life that matches the gospel.
True faith is evidenced by a transformed life.
