Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 11:12

"And on the morrow, when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered." — Mark 11:12 (ASV)

This is one of the most difficult stories in Mark’s gospel to interpret. An important consideration is the position it occupies. It is one of Mark’s interrupted accounts, in the middle of which stands the record of the cleansing of the temple, an incident that provides the clue for interpreting this miracle. Like the cleansing of the temple, the story of the unfruitful fig tree has to do with judgment.

The incident occurred on the way to Jerusalem from Bethany, where Jesus had spent the night. He was hungry; and, noticing a fig tree, he went to see whether it had any figs on it. Fig trees around Jerusalem usually leaf out in March or April, but they do not produce figs till June. This tree was no exception. It was in full leaf, but there were no figs on it “because it was not the season for figs.” It is this phrase that makes the story such a problem. It seems best to consider it Mark’s own insertion to explain to people not familiar with the characteristics of a fig tree why one fully leafed out would not have fruit on it.