In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus, experiencing real human hunger after an early morning departure, approached the fig tree expecting sustenance, not just foliage. This highlights that His divine nature didn't negate His true humanity, and His need for food emphasizes His genuine human experience before the miraculous event.
In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus, after a triumphant entry into Jerusalem and a powerful cleansing of the Temple, spent the night in Bethany. The next morning, as he journeyed back towards the city, his human need for sustenance became apparent. This hunger sets the stage for a remarkable and symbolic encounter with a seemingly promising fig tree.
The Son of God, walking the earth, experienced human needs. His hunger wasn't a mere accident, but a deliberate part of his incarnational journey.
Jesus willingly embraced the full spectrum of human experience, including physical needs like hunger. This wasn't a sign of weakness, but a profound demonstration of his true humanity.
Jesus approached a fig tree looking for fruit, only to find leaves. This wasn't just about botany; it was a powerful object lesson about divine expectations.
The barren fig tree, though leafy and appearing promising, represented a profound disappointment for Jesus. This incident carries significant theological weight:
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Understand the original words
peinaō · Greek Verb
The state of lacking food, often used in Scripture to denote physical need, but also frequently serving as a metaphor for deep spiritual longing or the condition of humanity’s total dependence on God.
Jesus' hunger in this passage highlights his genuine humanity, while his cursing of the fig tree serves as a powerful, symbolic judgment on Israel's spiritual unfruitfulness, foreshadowing their coming destruction.
c. AD 30, early spring
Jesus enters Jerusalem on donkey
Jesus makes a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, hailed by crowds as a king, fulfilling prophecy and causing a stir in the city.
c. AD 30, Monday morning
Jesus cleanses the temple
Jesus drives out merchants and money changers from the temple courts, declaring it a house of prayer and denouncing their corruption.
c. AD 30, Monday evening
Jesus departs to Bethany
After his day's activities, Jesus leaves Jerusalem and spends the night in Bethany with his disciples.
c. AD 30, Tuesday morning— this verse
Jesus curses the fig tree
On his way back to Jerusalem from Bethany, Jesus curses a fig tree that has leaves but no fruit, as an object lesson.
c. AD 30, Wednesday morning
Disciples see withered fig tree
The disciples notice the fig tree has withered from its roots, prompting Jesus to teach them about the power of faith and prayer.
This parable directly parallels the fig tree's unfruitfulness and the consequence of not bearing fruit, highlighting the theme of divine judgment on barrenness.
Jeremiah 8:13This prophetic passage speaks of a lack of fruit and subsequent judgment, echoing the theme of God's disappointment with those who appear outwardly religious but lack inner substance.
John 15:1Jesus' teaching in John emphasizes that He is the true vine and believers are branches meant to bear fruit, providing a context for why fruitfulness is so crucial to His expectations.
Isaiah 5:1This Old Testament prophecy describes God's beloved having a vineyard that produced only wild grapes, directly illustrating the theme of God's painful disappointment when expected fruit is absent.
Romans 11:21Paul's analogy of the olive tree warns believers not to become arrogant, as branches were pruned for unfruitfulness, underscoring the seriousness of remaining fruitful in Christ.
bensonMatthew 21:18: "Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered."
Matthew 21:18-22 . In the morning, as he returned, he hungered — For, being a man, he was subject to all the innocent infirmities of our nature, and he had come out from Bethany early without eating any thing: And when he saw a fig-tree (Gr. συκην μιαν , a single fig-tree ) in the way — Having a fine spread of leaves upon it, and therefore appearing to be one of the earlier kind; he came to it — In expectation of fin…
bengelMatthew 21:18: "Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered."
Matthew 21:18 . Ἐπείνασε , He hungered ) though He was the King of Glory, see Matthew 21:5 . Wondrous humiliation!
Jesus, experiencing real human hunger after an early morning departure, approached the fig tree expecting sustenance, not just foliage. This highlights that His divine nature didn't negate His true humanity, and His need for food emphasizes His genuine human experience before the miraculous event.
Jesus, after a triumphant entry into Jerusalem and a powerful cleansing of the Temple, spent the night in Bethany. The next morning, as he journeyed back towards the city, his human need for sustenance became apparent. This hunger sets the stage for a remarkable and symbolic encounter with a seemingly promising fig tree.
Jesus, after a triumphant entry into Jerusalem and a powerful cleansing of the Temple, spent the night in Bethany. The next morning, as he journeyed back towards the city, his human need for sustenance became apparent. This hunger sets the stage for a remarkable and symbolic encounter with a seemingly promising fig tree.
"In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry." — Jesus, experiencing real human hunger after an early morning departure, approached the fig tree expecting sustenance, not just foliage. This highlights that His divine nature didn't negate His true h…
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Last reviewed October 2026