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Mat 21:19. Συκῆν μίαν, a certain fig-tree) the only one in that place.-ἦλθεν, He came) sc. as the road led by it. The fig-tree appears to have stood in a place of public resort. Our Lord’s partaking of refreshment in public is illustrated also by Joh 4:6-7. [i.e. at Jacob’s Well. See Gnomon in loc.]-ἐπʼ αὐτὴν, near to it[922])-λέγει, κ.τ.λ., says, etc.) By that very act He meets the difficulty which some might have otherwise experienced from astonishment at the Lord’s being hungry, and coming to a tree without fruit.[923] He was wont to display at the same time the greatest proofs of both His manhood and His Godhead; see Joh 11:35; Joh 11:40.[924]-μηκέτι ἐκ σοῦ καρπὸς γένηται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever) The Old Testament contains many miracles of vengeance: the evangelical history, at its close, this almost alone; cf. Gnomon on ch. Mat 8:32.-καρπὸς, fruit) And therefore it was not to receive any more sap in vain. Such was the punishment of the Jews; see Luk 13:6. This is an example of what malediction is.-ἐξηράνθη, was dried up) Its outward appearance was changed; its leaves shrivelled, or even fell off.
[922] εἰ μὴ φύλλα μόνον) It is better to exhibit and produce nothing at all, than merely leaves. Reflect, O man, what kind of a tree thou art.-V. g.
[923] Viz. That as God He should be hungry at all, or if hungry, that He should not create fruit.-ED.
[924] Such instances, for example, were:-The humble condition of His nativity, on the one hand; the testimony of the angels, on the other:
His circumcision, and yet His receiving the name Jesus (expressive of God-head and salvation):
His purification, and yet at the same time the Hymns of Simeon and Anna:
His dwelling at despised Nazareth, and yet His thereby fulfilling the prophecy:
His obedience to His parents, and yet the specimen of noble gravity exhibited in a boy twelve years old:
His baptism; and, on the other hand, the protest of John, the very becoming reply of Jesus, the Voice from heaven, the Spirit of GOD descending on Him:
The Hunger and Temptation; and, on the other hand, the ministry of angels:
His informing them of His approaching Passion, followed however by His
Transfiguration on the Mount:
His paying the tribute-money at Capernaum, and yet His declaration as to the Son’s being free, His miracle in the case of the fish and the coin:
His washing the feet, yet declaring Himself Master and Lord:
His being taken prisoner, yet declaring I am He!
His Cross, yet the royal inscription over it:
His death and burial, yet the miracles, accompanied with the testimony of the centurion.-Harm. Gosp., p. 455.