Mark 11
Verses 12-14
“Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.
And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.
In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.”
The day after Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. He returns to Jerusalem and as He and the disciples are walking along Jesus sees a fig tree. Fig trees are common in Israel. This fig tree had leaves but as the verse says it was not the season for figs.
Jesus is hungry so He comes to the fig tree to get something to eat. When He finds no fruit on the tree He cruses the fig tree. The curse is not the use of an abusive or derogatory wording. He proclaims to let no one eat from you ever again.
Seems strange that Jesus would not know it was not time for figs. Did he lose His temper and pitch a fit because He could not get what He wanted? This would be out of character to everything Jesus had done.
What Jesus does here is a lesson for the disciples. A lesson with more meaning and a further explanation to come. Enough for now to say Jesus is in control and He has the power to speak and things happen.
Jesus teaches here about things that appear to be fruit producing but have no fruit. Religious hypocrisy as we will see later on.