Matthew 21:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once.

NIV: Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.

NASB: And seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves alone; and He *said to it, 'No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.' And at once the fig tree withered.

CSB: Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, he went up to it and found nothing on it except leaves. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" At once the fig tree withered.

NLT: and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, 'May you never bear fruit again!' And immediately the fig tree withered up.

KJV: And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

NKJV: And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

This verse reads as if Jesus is experiencing some hunger-fueled anger toward a tree. Most likely He was not, and simply took advantage of the moment to perform another "acted parable" for the disciples to illustrate an important point.

Jesus is walking the two miles back into Jerusalem for the day, and He is hungry. Since this is the time of Passover, we know it is too early in the season for full, healthy figs to be available. Mark's version even adds that "it was not the season for figs" (Mark 11:13). However, in this season, there should be edible buds on a fig tree.

This fig tree should have those unripe green figs, at least. Instead, Jesus finds only leaves on the tree. The tree looks healthy from a distance, but has no fruit, and won't produce any later on. Jesus curses the tree, saying to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" The tree immediately withers, though the disciples only notice this on the following day (Mark 11:20–21), where Matthew likely picks up the action.

Commentators have differing views on what this event means. Some say Christ was demonstrating the power of faith, which He talks about in the following verses. Others say the fig tree represents God's coming judgment on Israel for failing to bear fruit in righteousness. Still other Bible teachers see a more limited judgment in the tree for those who are hypocrites, failing to bear fruit though appearing to do so, as was the case with the religious leaders in the previous verses. The implications for Israel are the most likely, especially since such symbolism was used in Old Testament prophecy (Jeremiah 8:13).

Matthew 21:18–22 describes a morning when Jesus, being hungry, discovers no figs on a leafy fig tree. He curses the tree never to bear fruit again, and the tree withers at once. The disciples notice the withered tree and ask Jesus how He did it. He tells them that if they have faith and do not doubt, they could do this, too. They could even tell a mountain to be thrown into the sea. In fact, anything they ask for in prayer they will receive if they have faith.

Jesus fulfills a prophecy from Zechariah about the coming of the king to Jerusalem by riding in on a donkey. The people celebrate and praise Him as the Messiah. Jesus drives the marketers and moneychangers out of the temple and heals some people. He curses a fig tree and tells the disciples nothing will be impossible for them with faith. Jesus forces cowardly and hypocritical religious leaders to back down with a question about John the Baptist. He then exposes their fraudulent spirituality with two parables about vineyards. Jesus applies to Himself a psalm about a rejected stone being made the cornerstone by the Lord.

Matthew 21 finds Jesus arriving near Jerusalem after leaving Jericho in the previous chapter. His triumphal entry is accomplished riding a donkey, and to raucous praise, fulfilling a prophecy about the Messiah. Jesus cleanses the marketplace from the temple, heals, and presents lessons about faith and Israel's failed leadership. This leads into further conversations which Matthew compiles from Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.