John Calvin 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)

Let no fruit grow on you from now on. From this, let us learn the meaning of the word curse—namely, that the tree should be condemned to barrenness; just as, on the other hand, God blesses when by His voice He bestows fertility.

It appears more clearly from Mark that the fig tree did not wither instantly, or at least, that His disciples did not observe it until they saw it the next day stripped of leaves. Mark, too, attributes to Peter what Matthew attributes equally to all the disciples. However, since Christ replies in the plural number, it may naturally be inferred that one put the question in the name of all.