Matthew 21:18

¹⁷Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night.¹⁸In the morning, as Jesus was returning to the city, He was hungry.¹⁹Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately the tree withered.

Sermons

Christ Is All - in Scripture

Bill McLeod

1.6K

Compared View of the First Three Gospels, Etc.

John Nelson Darby

Summary

In this verse, Jesus curses a fig tree for not bearing fruit, symbolizing the judgment on Israel for their spiritual barrenness despite their outward appearance of religiosity. This incident serves as a warning against hypocrisy and emphasizes the importance of genuine faith and spiritual fruitfulness. Jesus' actions reveal the consequences of a lack of true discipleship and the need for authentic relationship with God rather than mere religious rituals. It challenges believers to bear fruit in keeping with repentance and to live out their faith in a way that glorifies God.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Now in the morning,.... Greek "in the first", or morning light, in the dawn, or break of day, the first spring of light; so the Latins (s) use "prima luce" for early in the morning, as soon as ever day breaks: so early did Christ rise, and return from Bethany to Jerusalem; and as he returned to the city. The Persic version renders it, "they returned"; which, though not a good version, gives a true sense; for, as Christ went with the twelve to Bethany, as Mark affirms, so these returned with him, as is clear from what follows. Thus Christ, day after day, went to and from Jerusalem: in the evening he went to Bethany, or to some part of the Mount of Olives, and there abode all night, and returned in the daytime to Jerusalem, and taught in the temple; for it does not appear that he was one night in Jerusalem, before the night of the passover. He hungered, rising so early before his friends were up, he had eaten nothing that morning, and so before he had got far from Bethany, found himself hungry; which proves the truth of his human nature, which was in all respects like to ours, excepting sin. (s) Caesar. Comment. 1. 1. p. 14. & passim. Curtius, 1. 5. c. 5. passim. Apulei Metamorph. 1. 9. p. 134.