If a man of God acts in a strange manner, it often carries an important message or a warning. His action becomes a parable, a symbol, or a portent. Ezekiel is ordered to pack a bag for exile and dig a hole and go through it as a portent that the people of Judah would be sent to exile in Babylon (Ez 12:1-16).

Jeremiah is commanded not to take a wife and have children as a warning of the terrible end that awaits the inhabitants of Judah (Jer 16:1-4). It is strange that Jesus would curse a fig tree for not finding fruits on it. After all, it was not the time for figs.

Bible scholars explain this act as a parable in action representing Jesus’ judgment on barren Israel and the fate of the city of Jerusalem in failing to recognize the day of her visitation. In fact, inserted in the narratives of the cursing of the fig tree and finding it withered the next day is the narrative of the cleansing of the Temple.

Merchants and Temple authorities have made the house of prayer a den of thieves by their search of monetary gains and abuse of authority, incurring the divine judgment, as shown in the parable of the Vineyard Tenants (Mk 12:1-12).

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area. He looked around at everything and, since it was already late, went out to Bethany with the Twelve. The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry. Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!” And his disciples heard it.

They came to Jerusalem, and on entering the temple area he began to drive out those selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area. Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples? But you have made it a den of thieves.”

The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put him to death, yet they feared him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching. When evening came, they went out of the city.

Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”