Matthew 21:18-22

With the finish in sight Jesus caused a fig tree to wither Matthew 21:18-22: The fig tree is unique in that the fruit and the leaves come at the same time. Mark wrote, "For the fig season had not yet come." (Mark 11:13) The fruit tree was hypocritical. It professed fruit but bore none. Each person should be useful to God. The fig tree was useless. Therefore, it was caused to wither away. God wanted action not talk or pretense! Jesus also used the withered fig tree to teach the apostles a great lesson on prayer. "Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:22)

God comes to many so-called disciples, seeking fruit, and finding only leaves. His grace and blessing will be removed from that life where a person continues to be unfruitful. Peter said that Jesus cursed the fig tree. (Mark 11:21) Obviously He did not use profanity against it. Instead He doomed the tree to death and it withered. The tree literally "dried up from the roots." (Mark 11:20) This was a vivid illustration of how the fruitless Jewish nation would wither away spiritually.