Mat 21:19 | TNotes | STEP | 21:19 there were only leaves: Mark observes that “it was too early in the season for fruit” (see Mark 11:13 ). It was spring (just before Passover); figs form in the spring but ripen in the fall. • immediately the fig tree withered: Matthew has apparently compressed the story (cp. Matt 21:18-22 ; Mark 11:13-14 , 20-23 ). The cursing of the fig tree is a symbolic gesture depicting God’s judgment on Israel for rejecting the Messiah (see Matt 3:9 ; 8:11-12 ). Like a fig tree that shows promise but no fruit, the Israelites (especially the hypocritical leaders) did not bear the fruit of receiving the Messiah (see 21:33-46 ).

a21:19►

bMark 11:13►

cMatt 21:18-22►

dMark 11:13-14►

e20-23►

fMatt 3:9►

g8:11-12►

h21:33-46►

‏ Matthew 21:19

21:19 ^a there were only leaves: Mark observes that “it was too early in the season for fruit” (see Mark 11:13 ^b). It was spring (just before Passover); figs form in the spring but ripen in the fall.

• immediately the fig tree withered: Matthew has apparently compressed the story (cp. Matt 21:18-22 ^c; Mark 11:13-14 ^d, 20-23 ^e). The cursing of the fig tree is a symbolic gesture depicting God’s judgment on Israel for rejecting the Messiah (see Matt 3:9 ^f; 8:11-12 ^g). Like a fig tree that shows promise but no fruit, the Israelites (especially the hypocritical leaders) did not bear the fruit of receiving the Messiah (see 21:33-46 ^h).