Jesus' miracle of the withering of the fig tree, as recorded in Matthew 21:18-22 and Mark 11:12-14, 20-24, stands unique among His works as the only instance where He brings judgment through a miracle, unlike His other acts of goodness and mercy. This event, detailed more extensively in Mark, correlates with other occurrences such as the cleansing of the Temple, unfolding over two days. In this miracle, Jesus demonstrates self-restraint, choosing not to use His supernatural power for personal needs despite His hunger. He could have satisfied His hunger miraculously but refrained, teaching His disciples a lesson in faith and the importance of not using divine power for personal gain or to impress others. He emphasized that if a need could be met through human effort or if a lesson could be taught, He would not perform a miracle. Through this act, He showed that genuine faith in God could enable His followers to affect nature miraculously, as He did with the fig tree. The fig tree itself, deceptive with its abundant leaves yet bearing no fruit, represents a hypocrite who appears to be something they are not. Normally, a leafy fig tree suggests ripe fruit, but this tree was barren despite its foliage, misleading from a distance as the time for figs had not yet come. It gave the false impression of productivity. This barren fig tree symbolizes the hypocrisy of the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus' time, who professed a unique relationship with God but lacked true conviction, truth, righteousness, and goodwill. Despite their outward show and elaborate Temple rituals, they were shallow and phony, rejecting Christ when He came. Their actions were for public display, lacking genuine devotion, as their hearts remained malicious and far from God. Jesus' act of withering the fig tree carries symbolic weight, highlighting the danger of appearing fruitful while being barren within.

The account of the withering of the fig tree, as recorded by Mark, reveals a significant act by Jesus Christ. This particular fig tree, located in an area near the Mount of Olives known as Bethpage or House of Figs, stood out due to its abundance of leaves, typically a sign of plentiful fruit, yet it bore none. Despite the time for gathering figs not having arrived, the climate around Jerusalem often allowed figs to be found in March and April, making it reasonable to expect fruit on such a tree. Jesus' act of cursing the fig tree was not born of anger or disappointment for its lack of fruit. Instead, it served as a deliberate object lesson. He pronounced a curse upon it, declaring that no one should ever eat fruit from it again, using this moment to impart a stern warning. This act was a vivid illustration of the consequences of failing to bear the fruit of righteousness, emphasizing the importance of spiritual productivity in the lives of His followers. Through this event, Jesus underscored a vital message about the expectations of God for His people to produce good fruit, lest they face dire consequences.