The Withered Fig Tree

The next day, as they leave Bethany, Jesus is hungry. From a distance he sees a fig tree covered with leaves; but when he comes up to it, he finds nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. He says to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” and his disciples hear him. In Jerusalem, Jesus drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple, overturns the tables of the money changers, and declares: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations. But you have made it a den of thieves.” The chief priests look for a way to destroy him. The next morning, the disciples see the fig tree withered from the roots, and Peter remembers. Jesus answers: “Have faith in God,” promises that the prayer of faith will be answered, then adds: forgive, so that your Father may forgive you too.