Robertson Word Pictures - Matthew 21:19 - 21:19

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Robertson Word Pictures - Matthew 21:19 - 21:19


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

A fig tree (sukēn mian). “A single fig tree” (Margin of Revelation Version). But heis was often used = tis or like our indefinite article. See Mat 8:10; Mat 26:69. The Greek has strictly no indefinite article as the Latin has no definite article.

Let there be no fruit from thee henceforward for ever (ou mēketi sou karpos genētai eis ton aiōna). Strictly speaking this is a prediction, not a prohibition or wish as in Mar 11:14 (optative phagoi). “On you no fruit shall ever grow again” (Weymouth). The double negative ou mē with the aorist subjunctive (or future indicative) is the strongest kind of negative prediction. It sometimes amounts to a prohibition like ou and the future indicative (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 926f.). The early figs start in spring before the leaves and develop after the leaves. The main fig crop was early autumn (Mar 11:14). There should have been figs on the tree with the crop of leaves. It was a vivid object lesson. Matthew does not distinguish between the two mornings as Mark does (Mar 11:13, Mar 11:20), but says “immediately” (parachrēma) twice (Mat 21:19, Mat 21:20). This word is really para to chrēma like our “on the spot” (Thayer). It occurs in the papyri in monetary transactions for immediate cash payment.