Early Figs!

View of early figs from a tree in Jerusalem.  Note the buds on the tree, indicating that this is prior to the leafing of the tree.  The figs that are on the tree are left over from the previous season!

In the spring (near Passover) of the year—the same time that this picture was taken—Jesus “cursed” a fig tree for having only leaves, not figs (Matt 21:18; Mark 11:12–14).  That time of the year you would not expect new figs, but you might find figs from the previous season (as in this image)—indicating that the tree was indeed a fruit–bearing tree.

Since the tree did not give evidence of figs from the previous season, Jesus concluded it was not bearing fruit and he cursed it.

As far as I know, this interpretation has been first published here (1 October 2004)—please cite Dr. Carl Rasmussen as the source along with this URL.