The Cursing of the Fig Tree and the Power of Faith (Mark 11:12 ff., Mark 11:20 *). What Mk. has severed, Mt. joins together. The miracle is enhanced by happening at once. The special mention of Peter is strangely omitted. In both Gospels the tree is condemned for falsity, not fruitlessness, and symbolises Jerusalem rather than the nation. Besides Luke 13:6 * cf. Hosea 9:10. The lesson Jesus points is the efficacy of believing prayer. This mountain would be Olivet; apart from the familiar metaphor Jesus may have had Zechariah 14:4 in mind. The saying is found in another form in Matthew 17:20. Lk. (Luke 17:5 f.) substitutes this sycamine tree. Mk.'s addendum (Matthew 11:25) reminds us of 1 Corinthians 13:2. The cursing of the fig tree gives no sanction for cursing our neighbour.

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