Matthew 21:19 The Quarrel with the Fig Tree – a Living Poem by Jesus

Have you ever wondered why Jesus went to so much effort to find “grounds for quarreling” with the fig tree in Matthew 21:19? It just so happens that the Hebrew word for fig tree is spelled the same as the Hebrew word used in Judges 14:4 for “occasion [ground of quarrel].” According to Mark 11:13, it wasn’t the season for figs - so the pretense by Jesus is obvious. Jesus uses the double entendre for “fig tree/occasion [ground of quarrel]” as the theme of a poem that includes rhymes for “found” and “come forth” and also “leaves” and “forever.”

“Fig Tree” תאנה
“Occasion [Ground of Quarrel]” תאנה

“Found” מצא
“Come Forth” יצא

“Leaves” העלים
“Forever” לעולם

“18 In the morning, returning to the city, he was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road he went to it, and found {“Found” (מצא)} nothing on it but leaves {“Leaves” (העלים)} only. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come {“Come Forth” (יצא)} from you again {“Forever” (לעולם)}!” And immediately the fig tree withered.” [Matthew 21:18-19 The Gospel of Matthew - a Poetic Analysis]

Dr. J. Clontz, Aidan University – Editor of the Comprehensive New Testament