In Matthew 21:18-22, Jesus curses a fig tree—not out of frustration, but as a powerful parable of judgment on Israel’s outward show of religion without true repentance. This often-misused passage is not about getting what we want through faith, but about the kind of faith that bears real fruit. It causes us to examine our own lives: when Jesus inspects us, will He find only leaves—or the fruit of a faith-filled, abiding relationship with Him?
