But suppose, when you lift the leaves, there is no fruit?
Then you come to the conclusion that the tree must be a barren tree, and you turn away sorry and disappointed.
THE BARREN FIG TREE.
And this is a little word-picture of the barren fig tree, about which our Lord gives us a Parable.
He was coming from Bethany, and it says He hungered. Perhaps the Lord Jesus had been up all night praying to His Father.
So, as He came near to the fig tree, He saw it was full of leaves; but when He got close to it, He found there were no figs under the leaves—it was barren.
And as He turned away He said, in the disciples' hearing, "Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever."
Oh, how sad He was to have to say that!
And presently the fig tree withered away.