Matthew 24 32

Matthew 24:32 kjv

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

Matthew 24:32 nkjv

"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.

Matthew 24:32 niv

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.

Matthew 24:32 esv

"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.

Matthew 24:32 nlt

"Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near.

Matthew 24 verses

Matthew 24 32 Meaning

Matthew 24:32 conveys a crucial lesson in discernment, using a familiar natural phenomenon as an analogy. Jesus instructs His disciples to observe specific prophetic signs with the same certainty one would observe a fig tree putting forth leaves. Just as the emergence of tender branches and leaves undeniably signals the imminent arrival of summer, so too will the signs spoken of in the preceding verses definitively indicate the nearness of Christ's return and the culmination of the age. The verse emphasizes that these signs are not random occurrences but clear harbingers, prompting understanding and readiness among believers.

Matthew 24 32 Context

Matthew 24:32 is part of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus’ significant prophecy concerning the end times, delivered on the Mount of Olives. The discourse begins with the disciples asking three specific questions in Matthew 24:3: "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" Jesus initially addresses the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple and city (verses 4-28), then transitions to signs directly preceding His glorious second coming and the end of the age (verses 29-31). Verse 32, the fig tree parable, serves as an interpretative key or a foundational principle for understanding how to relate the preceding signs to the "nearness" of His arrival. It functions as a warning against spiritual blindness and an encouragement to discern the spiritual seasons just as one discerns natural seasons. This parable anchors the future certainty of His return to observable, understandable events, shifting the focus from specific timing (which is unknowable, v.36) to a recognition of unfolding events.

Matthew 24 32 Word analysis

• Now (Δὲ) (de): This is a versatile Greek conjunction. Here, it acts as a transition marker, indicating a new point, often an illustrative one, that logically follows or supports what was just said. It means "but," "and," or "now," introducing the parable as an explanatory supplement.
• learn (μάθετε) (mathete): This is an aorist imperative verb, commanding action. It's not a mere suggestion but a direct instruction to actively gain knowledge or understanding. The command implies a need for diligence and observation.
• the (τὴν) (tēn): The definite article, specifying "the parable," indicating a known or particular type of teaching method.
• parable (παραβολήν) (parabolēn): From paraballō meaning "to place beside, compare." A story, comparison, or illustration used to teach a spiritual truth. Jesus often used parables to reveal truth to those with ears to hear and conceal it from others. It is a familiar, everyday example making a profound spiritual point.
• from (ἀπὸ) (apo): Denotes the source or origin of the lesson, indicating the lesson is derived from the observation of the fig tree.
• the fig tree (τῆς συκῆς) (tēs sykēs): A common tree in Israel, known for its specific seasonal cycles. In prophetic literature (e.g., Jer 8:13, Hos 9:10), the fig tree can symbolize Israel. Here, it functions primarily as an everyday illustration of natural indicators. Its leaves typically appear before its fruit ripens, making the appearance of leaves a reliable indicator of its life cycle progression.
• When (ὅταν) (hotan): Introduces a conditional clause, implying "whenever" or "as soon as," pointing to a specific time or condition.
• its branch (ὁ κλάδος αὐτῆς) (ho klados autēs): Refers to a literal part of the tree. Klados means a tender shoot or twig, often implying new growth.
• becomes (γένηται) (genētai): The aorist subjunctive of ginomai, meaning "to come into being," "to become." It indicates a change in state or condition.
• tender (ἁπαλός) (hapalos): Meaning "soft," "tender," "delicate," referring to the new, supple shoots of spring. It signifies the first clear sign of reawakening from dormancy.
• and puts out (καὶ ἐκφύῃ) (kai ekphyē): Ekphyē means "to put forth," "to sprout," "to produce leaves." This action directly follows the branch becoming tender.
• its leaves (τὰ φύλλα) (ta phylla): The foliage; the clear, visible evidence of life and the transition into growth season.
• you know (γινώσκετε) (ginōskete): The present active indicative of ginōskō, meaning "you perceive," "you understand," "you know from experience." This emphasizes a universally acknowledged fact based on common observation. It's a certainty that does not require speculation.
• that (ὅτι) (hoti): A conjunction introducing a declarative statement, "that" something is true.
• summer (τὸ θέρος) (to theros): The warm season, also the time of harvest in Palestine. Symbolically, it signifies the culmination or the season of fullness and fruit.
• is near (ἐγγύς) (engys): Meaning "near," "at hand," "close by." It indicates imminence, not necessarily immediate arrival, but the certain approach of the event.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Now learn the parable from the fig tree": This phrase establishes the command to learn a specific lesson by drawing a comparison from a natural, easily understood phenomenon. It sets up the following natural observation as a didactic tool.
• "When its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves": This describes the specific, observable signs that indicate a coming season. It's about a recognizable process or a series of signs, not a single, isolated event. The combination of "tender branch" and "leaves" confirms life has returned and spring is underway.
• "you know that summer is near": This draws the inevitable conclusion based on the observed signs. It highlights the certainty and clarity of the inference. Just as nature provides undeniable signals of seasonal change, so God provides unmistakable signs of prophetic fulfillment, eliminating guesswork for those who pay attention.

Matthew 24 32 Bonus section

The fig tree parable connects Jesus' teachings directly to His challenge for spiritual understanding (cf. Luke 12:54-56). While Matthew 24 provides many specific 'signs,' the overall emphasis of the Olivet Discourse is not merely sign-watching, but rather discipleship, endurance, and evangelism (Matt 24:13-14) in light of the certain return of Christ. The phrase "these things" (in the larger context) refers to both the destruction of the Temple and the end of the age events, showing a layered fulfillment or thematic continuity. Some interpret the fig tree to specifically represent Israel, and its "sprouting leaves" as Israel's rebirth or return to its land in the last days, pointing to the significance of these national events in the broader prophetic scheme. However, within this specific verse, the analogy is primarily botanical and illustrative, highlighting the predictable nature of observable signs preceding a major event. The parable also implicitly refutes claims of secret knowledge or hidden timetables, stressing instead that the signs will be clear to all discerning observers, much like seasonal changes are obvious.

Matthew 24 32 Commentary

Matthew 24:32 is Jesus' direct appeal to the disciples—and by extension, to all believers—to develop spiritual discernment regarding the signs of His return and the end of the age. The fig tree, an emblem of Israel's national life in some prophecies, here serves primarily as a simple, undeniable natural object lesson. Just as no one needs a meteorologist to know summer is near when they see the tender leaves emerge on a fig tree, so too will the array of signs preceding Christ's coming be unequivocally clear to those watching. This passage underlines the certainty of the prophetic events described by Jesus (24:4-31). It does not provide a timetable but rather encourages observation and understanding. Believers are called to be astute observers of the world around them, discerning the spiritual 'seasons' by paying attention to the unfolding of predicted events, thus fostering a state of constant readiness rather than passive waiting or frantic speculation. The parable provides an illustrative blueprint for understanding prophecy: when a series of conditions or signs become manifest, the culminating event is surely at hand.