Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 21:19

"And seeing a fig tree by the way side, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only; and he saith unto it, Let there be no fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And immediately the fig tree withered away." — Matthew 21:19 (ASV)

Looking for food, a fig tree in full leaf promised Him some refreshment. This fig tree was, apparently, no one’s property. It stood in the way; it was growing in the public highway, all by itself. Its position was conspicuous and its appearance striking, so that He saw it at once.

It was not the time for figs, but the fig tree has this peculiarity: the fruit comes before the leaves. If, therefore, we see leaves fully developed, we naturally look for figs fit to be eaten. This tree had put forth leaves out of season, when other fig trees were bare and had not begun to put forth their early figs. It, so to speak, outran its fellows, but its premature growth was all deception.

Our Lord, when He came to it, found nothing on it but leaves only. It had skipped the necessary first stage of putting forth green figs and had rushed into a fruitless verdure. It was great at wood and leaf, but worthless for fruit.

In this, it sadly resembled Jerusalem, which was verdant with religious pretense and forward with a vain enthusiasm, but was destitute of repentance, faith, and holiness, which are far more important than pious formalities.

The Lord Jesus used this green, but barren and disappointing tree as an object-lesson. He came to it as He came to the Jews: He found nothing but leaves. He condemned it to perpetual fruitlessness, saying, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever, and He left it under a sentence that was swiftly executed, even as Jerusalem would soon be destroyed.

Soon the fig tree withered away. This has been called the one miracle of judgment performed by our Lord, but surely what is done to a tree cannot be called vindictive.

To fell a whole forest has never been considered cruel, and to use a single barren tree as an object-lesson can only seem unkind to those who are sentimental and idiotic. It was kindness to the ages to use a worthless tree to teach a salutary lesson.