Note 1 at Mt. 21:19: Why would Jesus curse this fig tree? The scripture gives no explanation of this. However, it is a fact that a fig tree should have figs by the time the leaves are evident. The fig tree actually produces green figs before the leaves appear and if no figs are produced by that time, then that tree will not have any figs that year. Therefore, this fig tree was professing something that it didn't have even though it was still too early for figs. It was hypocritical. It is probable that this hypocrisy in nature occasioned Jesus' curse just as hypocritical people suffered Jesus' harshest rebukes (Mt. 23).

It is also possible that Jesus knew this action would gain the attention of His disciples and He would therefore use it to teach them a lesson on faith (see notes 4-5 at Mk. 11:23, p. 367).

Note 2 at Mt. 21:19: The Greek word used for presently is "parachrema" and it means "instantly; immediately; soon." However, the disciples didn't realize that the fig tree had died until the next day (Mk. 11:20). If the tree died instantly, why didn't they notice it until the next morning? The answer to this question is found in Mark 11:20. The tree was dead from the roots up. The tree did die instantly just as the Word declared, but what had happened to the roots wasn't visible until the next morning.

There is a spiritual lesson here that applies to us receiving things from God. When we ask (see note 49 at Mt. 7:7, p. 83), we do receive (Mt. 7:7) but it may take a period of time before we perceive it in the natural realm. When we see the manifestation of what we believed for is not when God answered. The Lord answered when we prayed (Mk. 11:24), but just as with this fig tree, we can't see beneath the surface, and therefore don't "see" what God is doing until the manifestation comes.