It was not the season for ripe figs, except in certain localities; and on the highlands about Jerusalem it might truly be said, "The time of figs was not yet." But in the orchard to which Jesus came, one tree appeared to be in advance of all the others. It was already covered with leaves. It is the nature of the fig tree that before the leaves open, the growing fruit appears. Therefore this tree in full leaf gave promise of well-developed fruit. But its appearance was deceptive. Upon searching its branches, from the lowest bough to the topmost twig, Jesus found "nothing but leaves." It was a mass of pretentious foliage, nothing more.

Det var endnu ikke årstiden for modne figner, undtagen på særlige steder, og i højlandet omkring Jerusalem kunne man med sandhed sige, at "det var ikke figentid". Men i haven, som Jesus kom til, var der et enkelt træ, som syntes at være forud for alle andre. Det var allerede fuldt af blade. Det er figentræets natur, at den voksende frugt viser sig, før bladene springer ud. Derfor lovede dette løvrige træ en fuldt udviklet frugt. Men det holdt ikke, hvad det lovede. Da Jesus havde søgt på dets gerne, lige fra "ikke andet end blade". Der var en mængde pralende løv, men intet andet.