18 Now in the morning , when He was returning to the city , He became hungry . 19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road , He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only ; and He said to it, "No longer shall there ever e be any fruit from you." And at once the fig tree withered . 20 Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked , "How did the fig tree wither all at once ?" 21 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt , you will not only do what was done to the fig tree , but even if you say to this mountain , 'Be taken up and cast into the sea ,' it will happen . 22 "And all things you ask in prayer , believing , you will receive ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 21:18-22
Commentary on Matthew 21:18-22
(Read Matthew 21:18-22)
This cursing of the barren fig-tree represents the state of hypocrites in general, and so teaches us that Christ looks for the power of religion in those who profess it, and the savour of it from those that have the show of it. His just expectations from flourishing professors are often disappointed; he comes to many, seeking fruit, and finds leaves only. A false profession commonly withers in this world, and it is the effect of Christ's curse. The fig-tree that had no fruit, soon lost its leaves. This represents the state of the nation and people of the Jews in particular. Our Lord Jesus found among them nothing but leaves. And after they rejected Christ, blindness and hardness grew upon them, till they were undone, and their place and nation rooted up. The Lord was righteous in it. Let us greatly fear the doom denounced on the barren fig-tree.