Matthew 21 19

Matthew 21:19 kjv

And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

Matthew 21:19 nkjv

And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away.

Matthew 21:19 niv

Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.

Matthew 21:19 esv

And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once.

Matthew 21:19 nlt

and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" And immediately the fig tree withered up.

Matthew 21 verses

Matthew 21 19 Meaning

Matthew 21:19 narrates a symbolic act of judgment performed by Jesus on a fig tree, which outwardly appeared to be flourishing with leaves but yielded no fruit. This incident serves as a living parable, signifying divine judgment on spiritual barrenness and hypocrisy, particularly directed towards the religious leadership and nation of Israel who, despite having an outward display of piety and covenant relationship with God, failed to produce the fruit of righteousness, faith, and recognition of their Messiah. Jesus' words immediately caused the tree to wither, demonstrating His divine authority and the imminent, decisive nature of God's judgment against unproductiveness.

Matthew 21 19 Context

This incident occurs early on Monday of Jesus' final week before His crucifixion, immediately following His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mt 21:1-11) and the forceful cleansing of the Temple (Mt 21:12-17). The cursing of the fig tree serves as a pointed visual lesson linked directly to the Temple cleansing. The Temple, like the fig tree, had an outward show of religious activity but lacked true spiritual fruit (e.g., being a house of prayer for all nations, instead turning into a "den of robbers"). Both acts signify Jesus' authority as the Messiah and King, and both represent judgment on the religious establishment of Israel. This event sets the stage for a series of confrontations and parables that deal with rejection, authority, and judgment (Mt 21:23-22:14) leveled against the chief priests, elders, and Pharisees, who, like the fig tree, possessed outward displays of religious devotion but lacked inner spiritual fruit. Historically and culturally, fig trees typically bore early "breba" figs in spring before their main crop. If a fig tree had leaves, it signaled the expectation of some form of fruit. Thus, Jesus' disappointment was not simply that the main harvest wasn't due, but that despite its full foliage—an outward promise of fruit—it was entirely barren.

Matthew 21 19 Word analysis

• And seeing (καὶ ἰδών - kai idōn): Implies intentional observation. Jesus deliberately approaches the tree, signifying a purposeful examination and subsequent judgment. It's not a casual glance but a perceptive look revealing a deeper truth.
• a fig tree (συκή - sykē): In biblical prophecy, the fig tree frequently symbolizes the nation of Israel (e.g., Hos 9:10; Jer 8:13). Its presence here, after Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem and cleansing of the Temple, strongly suggests its symbolic representation of Israel.
• by the way: Indicating it was a common, publicly visible tree, representing the nation's public identity and role before God and the world.
• he came to it: Signifies Jesus' purposeful engagement with the symbol of Israel, inspecting its spiritual condition.
• and found nothing thereon, but leaves only: This is the crux of the verse. Leaves represent outward appearance, profession, or ritual without the substance of inner spiritual fruit. Israel had the Law, the Temple, the priesthood, and prophetic traditions—the "leaves"—but, in Jesus' assessment, lacked the genuine "fruit" of righteousness, justice, faith, and recognition of Him as Messiah. This exposes hypocrisy and barrenness.
• and said unto it: Denotes a direct, authoritative declaration, not a mere wish.
• Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever: A potent curse, not a command for the tree but a prophetic decree.
  • "Let no fruit grow on thee": A declarative sentence of judgment and barrenness.
  • "henceforward for ever" (εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα - eis ton aiōna): Implies permanence and finality. This suggests a lasting consequence, pointing to the temporary "cutting off" of Israel from its prior unique standing (Rom 11:7-11) and the impending judgment (70 AD destruction of Jerusalem).
• And presently (καὶ παραχρῆμα - kai parachrēma): Emphasizes immediacy, signifying Jesus' omnipotent power and the instantaneous execution of His divine decree. There is no delay or resistance.
• the fig tree withered away (ἐξηράνθη - exēranthē): The physical manifestation of the curse, the tree instantly died. This miraculous wilting serves as a visible, undeniable sign to the disciples and to all who would later hear of it, confirming Jesus' divine authority and the sure outcome of His judgment on spiritual unfruitfulness.

Word-groups Analysis:

• "seeing a fig tree by the way": This opening phrase sets the scene for a purposeful encounter rather than a random discovery. The "fig tree" symbolizes a spiritual entity, likely the nation of Israel, positioned in a public space, signifying its visible presence and apparent vibrancy.
• "found nothing thereon, but leaves only": This highlights the core problem: a discrepancy between appearance and reality. The "leaves" suggest life and an expectation of fruit, representing Israel's outward religious observance and privileged covenant status. However, the absence of "fruit" reveals spiritual barrenness and hypocrisy, a failure to produce righteousness and genuine worship of God through faith.
• "said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever": This is Jesus' authoritative and irreversible pronouncement of judgment. The "henceforward for ever" indicates a permanent cessation of productivity, symbolically pointing to the rejection and temporary 'cutting off' of a segment of Israel and its religious system due to unbelief.
• "And presently the fig tree withered away": The immediate outcome of Jesus' words, demonstrating His absolute divine power and authority over creation. It provides a visual and dramatic affirmation of the certainty and suddenness of God's judgment against those who display outward piety but lack spiritual fruit.

Matthew 21 19 Bonus section

• Literary Placement: Matthew, unlike Mark, compresses the narrative of the fig tree's wilting, showing it "presently" withered (Mt 21:19), before the disciples marvel at its withered state (Mt 21:20-22). This highlights Jesus' immediate power and the direct, undeniable consequence of His pronouncement, serving to confirm His authority before the disciples and setting up the subsequent discussion on faith. Mark, by separating the cursing from the wilting by a day, emphasizes the disciples' observation of the result later.
• Ethical Consideration: Some question why Jesus would curse an innocent tree for not bearing fruit "out of season." However, this objection misunderstands the symbolic nature of the event. As discussed, a fig tree with leaves should have had some early figs. The tree was a prop in a living parable, not the ultimate target of Jesus' ire. The act underscored a profound spiritual lesson about barrenness and hypocrisy, illustrating divine judgment not on a tree itself but on what it represented.
• Messianic Sign: This action, alongside the Temple cleansing, affirms Jesus' authority as the Son of God, not merely a prophet. He acts with the sovereign power of God to pronounce and execute judgment.
• The Unveiling of Hypocrisy: The fig tree's curse symbolizes the coming judgment on a system that prioritized outward adherence to the Law and traditions over inward transformation and true love for God and neighbor. It unmasked the spiritual barrenness lurking beneath a vibrant religious facade.

Matthew 21 19 Commentary

Matthew 21:19 is a vivid and concise "acted parable" that reveals profound theological truths. It functions as a powerful, non-verbal sermon on judgment. Occurring immediately after the Temple cleansing, it links the barren fig tree with the barren religious system of Israel at the time—one that showcased elaborate ritual ("leaves") but failed to yield genuine righteousness and faith ("fruit") desired by God. This was not a wasteful or petulant act by Jesus; it was a profound prophetic sign demonstrating His authority not just over nature, but over a spiritual covenant that had become unfruitful. The permanence implied by "henceforward for ever" indicates a decisive turning point, foreshadowing both the historical destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and a temporary setting aside of the nation of Israel as the primary means of God's redemptive work, a theme explored further in the Apostle Paul's writings (e.g., Romans 11). The incident serves as a stark warning to all believers and religious institutions: outward appearances and declarations of faith are insufficient; true faith must be accompanied by spiritual fruit, demonstrating a genuine transformation and devotion to God.