Haggai 2:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Similarly, the trees in the orchards will flourish: the vines will yield plentiful grapes, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and all trees will bear fruit in abundance, even the olive tree will produce its yield in surprising excess, all due to the blessings of the Lord. Conversely, those lacking enthusiasm for building up the Church, that is, who do not present themselves before Christ in the holy temple, will experience decline; they will encounter temptation and endure spiritual desolation. In contrast, those who aspire to nurture and cherish the acts of devotion will undoubtedly receive a foundation of every form of well-being, rich spiritual fruitfulness, and a flourishing of virtues, as if they are flowering with the fruits of righteousness from their inner garden. They will boldly proclaim what is expressed in the Song of Songs: ‘let my brother go down into his heptagon, and let him eat the fruit of his vegetables’ (Song of Songs 5:1). For the fruits of virtue and the joy of spiritual abundance are sustenance for God.

This means that December is the time when seeds lie dormant in the ground, making it impossible to predict the future harvest. Does not a seed still exist in its early development? In Hebrew, a more precise term would be 'in the husk,' indicating the state of the grain. Have the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate tree, and the olive tree yet shown signs of ripeness? In terms of color, or the fruit itself, they are yet to bear any! Indeed, December reveals no indication of future produce. Yet, I bring you a reasonable prediction of an abundant harvest, based on my blessing, despite the lack of visible evidence in the flora.

Let us pay attention to the future beginning from this day—the day the temple's foundations were laid. You will witness such a plentiful harvest that from your fields, you will gather fruit beyond measure, overwhelming your stores to the point where your barns may not hold their produce, merging into one another due to the abundant yield. The vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree, once barren due to your transgressions, will now be laden with a multitude of fruits. The overflowing bounty will manifest the divine blessings upon them. The significance of the ninth month is communicated not favorably, as seen in the narrative of the fourth book of Kings and the accounts in Jeremiah. The laying of the temple's foundation at the close of this month signifies that the Lord's temple begins to rise only when the wicked are brought to completion. Thus, the foundation of the temple is established on the twenty-fourth day, a number symbolizing two dozens, three octaves, and four sixes—a matter we have explored in greater depth previously. Therefore, whoever commits himself to God’s service, abandoning the indifferent and careless authority, such as the one discussed in the book of Ezra, shall not know the limits of his harvest and rewards.

Moreover, under the phrase, 'Is there still a storehouse on earth?' we should understand the one who sows in the Spirit and reaps eternal life from the Spirit—he does not gather earthly treasures, but his works align with heavenly rewards. This refers to the vine, symbolizing the Word of God, cultivated by the Father within each person; the fig tree, representing the sweetest gifts of the Holy Spirit; the pomegranate tree, denoting the Church's teachings and the knowledge of Scripture, vividly described in the Song of Songs; and the olive tree, offering peace and illumination to those who initiate the construction of God’s temple. In this context, the vine, fig tree, and olive tree reflect the divine presence of the Savior, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. The barren trees, as noted in the book of Judges, attempt to appoint a king but are rejected by the fruitful trees, which refuse to submit to the rule of unfruitful entities. They subsequently turn to the bramble, a thorny plant that injures all who come near, symbolizes the devil, and embodies destructive nature.

Ultimately, the pomegranate tree signifies the Church, characterized by its multitude of seeds, enmeshed within a single covering, symbolizing unity despite diversity."

Job sat on heaps of dung during his trials, yet he remained unshaken (Job 2:8), while Paul regarded everything as refuse to win Christ (Phil. 3:8). Initially, Job endured considerable losses, but after taking his seat on the dung, the adversary had nothing left to claim from him (Ps. 112:7).

This diligent gardener believed that through the toil of spiritual discernment and humility, the Jewish people could yield a harvest for the gospel of Christ. He recalled the words of the Lord spoken through Haggai: “On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, beginning on the day on which the temple of the Lord Almighty was founded, no vine, fig tree, pomegranate tree, or olive tree has borne fruit; but from this day I will bless them” (Haggai 2:19). These declarations reveal that even at the end of the diminishing year, in the dusk of an aging world, the holy Temple of God—the Church—will be established. Through the Church, people from both Jews and Gentiles will be able to bear the fruits of righteousness through the sacred rite of baptism.

The fig tree signifies the synagogue, which bears fruit anew—after all, we are descendants of the patriarchs. It is not without cause that the Jews are likened to unripe fruits falling prematurely; due to their stubbornness, they struggle to mature towards eternal life (See: Ex. 32:9; Matt. 13:15; Acts 7:51). However, if they relinquish their worldly attachments and are reborn in the inner man (Cf: Eph. 3:16) through the grace of baptism, they can undoubtedly become fruitful. Yet, the unbelief of these hardened souls rendered the synagogue fruitless, compelling its command to be uprooted as barren.

What is stated about the Jews serves as a caution for all of us—we must guard against occupying the fertile grounds of the Church without producing merits. We, who are blessed and embraced by the loving arms of the Mother Church, must yield interior fruits akin to pomegranate trees—fruits of repentance, unity, mutual love, and respect—so that we may not be harmed by the winds, battered by hail, parched by the heat of passions, or washed away by the rain.

Nonetheless, some interpret this fig tree allegorically, not as a representation of the synagogue but as a symbol of wickedness and shame. Those who hold this view differ in their categorization yet share a common concern regarding the Lord's words to the fig tree, “Let there be no fruit from thee henceforth for ever” (Matthew 21:19), which causes them anxiety, as we know that many Jews would come to faith. However, those who believe are no longer fruits of the synagogue but rather of the Church; they are reborn not from the synagogue but from the Church. Thus, some who have departed from us weren’t truly part of us; if they had belonged, they would have remained (1 Jn. 2:19). Therefore, regarding those Jews who came to faith, we assert that if they were truly part of the synagogue, they would have stayed; since they left, they are no longer considered its members. In this interpretation, it seems that the gardener in the parable petitions for the wickedness, seeking to cultivate it to yield fruit, while the Lord arrives to eradicate the seeds of unrighteousness (cf. 1 Jn. 3:5).