Matthew Henry Commentary Matthew 21:18-22

"Now in the morning as he returned to the city, he hungered. 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. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How did the fig tree immediately wither away? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." — Matthew 21:18-22 (ASV)

This cursing of the barren fig-tree represents the state of hypocrites in general. It teaches us that Christ looks for the power of religion in those who profess it, and the substance of it from those who have the outward 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 this 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 nothing but leaves among them. And after they rejected Christ, blindness and hardness grew upon them, until they were ruined, and their place and nation uprooted. The Lord was righteous in this.

Let us greatly fear the judgment pronounced on the barren fig-tree.