The fig tree.

Gee, another agricultural item...

In the reading this morning, Jesus goes over to a fig tree expecting breakfast, but only finds leaves, no figs. He curses the fig tree, saying it will never bear fruit again. The next day when He and the disciples pass the tree, it has withered up and died. I've always thought this was a little bit of a strong reaction to not getting breakfast, especially when it says that "it was not yet the season for figs".

In reading the passage in The Voice it gives an explanation for the reaction. This was the only time that Jesus used His power for destruction, rather than good. The passage says the fig tree "was in full leaf", which normally doesn't occur until after fruit has been set. Therefore, the tree was barren. It had produced only leaves, ahead of its time, but would produce no fruit.

The commentary states that this represented the people who, on the outside, showed themselves to be religious, but on the inside were bearing no fruit at all. The reason the fig tree was destroyed was as a warning to the religious leaders of the day.

Food for thought...