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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/matthew/21.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/matthew/21.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/matthew/21.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/matthew/21.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/matthew/21.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />In the morning, as Jesus was returning to the city, He was hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/21.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And in the morning, having come back into the city, He became hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/matthew/21.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/matthew/21.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/matthew/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now in the early morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/matthew/21.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/matthew/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now in the morning, when He returned to the city, He became hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/matthew/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/matthew/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Now early in the morning, as Jesus was coming back to the city, He was hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/matthew/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Early in the morning, as he was returning to the city, he was hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/matthew/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Early in the morning, as He was returning to the city, He was hungry. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/21.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Now in the morning as he returned to the city, he hungered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/matthew/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />When Jesus got up the next morning, he was hungry. He started out for the city, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/21.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Now in the morning as he returned to the city, he hungered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/matthew/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />In the morning, as Jesus returned to the city, he became hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/matthew/21.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />On his way back to the city early next morning, Jesus was hungry. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/matthew/21.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />In the morning, as Jesus was returning to the city, he became hungry. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/matthew/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />In the morning, as Jesus was returning to the city, He was hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/matthew/21.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Now early in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/matthew/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Now in the morning as he was returning into the city, he was hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/21.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />Early in the morning as He was on His way to return to the city He was hungry,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/21.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/matthew/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and in the morning turning back to the city, He hungered,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/21.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And in the morning, having come back into the city, He became hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and in the morning turning back to the city, he hungered,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/matthew/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And in the morn, having returned into the city, he hungered.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And in the morning, returning into the city, he was hungry. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/matthew/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Then, as he was returning to the city in the morning, he was hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/matthew/21.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />When he was going back to the city in the morning, he was hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/matthew/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/matthew/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />In the morning, as he returned to the city, he became hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/21.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />But at dawn when he returned to the city he was hungry.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/matthew/21.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />Now in the morning, as he was returning to the city, he was hungry:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/matthew/21.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />And in the morning going into the city, He was hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/matthew/21.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />Now in the morning, when returning into the city, he was hungry:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/matthew/21.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />In the morning as he returned into the city, he was a hungry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/21.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />Early in the morning as He was on His way to return to the city He was hungry,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/matthew/21.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />And in the morning, returning into the city, He hungered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/matthew/21.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />Now in the morning as He was returning to the city, He was hungry;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/matthew/21-18.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=6073" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/matthew/21.htm">The Barren Fig Tree</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17</span>Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night. <span class="reftext">18</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc."></a> <a href="/greek/4404.htm" title="4404: Prōi (Adv) -- Early in the morning, at dawn. Adverb from pro; at dawn; by implication, the day-break watch.">In the morning,</a> <a href="/greek/1877.htm" title="1877: epanagōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- From epi and anago; to lead up on, i.e. to put out; to return.">as Jesus was returning</a> <a href="/greek/1519.htm" title="1519: eis (Prep) -- A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.">to</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/4172.htm" title="4172: polin (N-AFS) -- A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town.">city,</a> <a href="/greek/3983.htm" title="3983: epeinasen (V-AIA-3S) -- To be hungry, needy, desire earnestly. From the same as penes; to famish; figuratively, to crave.">He was hungry.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">19</span>Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately the tree withered.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/11-12.htm">Mark 11:12-14</a></span><br />The next day, when they had left Bethany, Jesus was hungry. / Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if there was any fruit on it. But when He reached it, He found nothing on it except leaves, since it was not the season for figs. / Then He said to the tree, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again.” And His disciples heard this statement.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/13-6.htm">Luke 13:6-9</a></span><br />Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. / So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ / ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/15-1.htm">John 15:1-6</a></span><br />“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. / He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. / You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/5-1.htm">Isaiah 5:1-7</a></span><br />I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. / He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour! / “And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I exhort you to judge between Me and My vineyard. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/8-13.htm">Jeremiah 8:13</a></span><br />I will take away their harvest, declares the LORD. There will be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the tree, and even the leaf will wither. Whatever I have given them will be lost to them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/9-10.htm">Hosea 9:10</a></span><br />I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the firstfruits of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to Shame; so they became as detestable as the thing they loved.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/7-1.htm">Micah 7:1</a></span><br />Woe is me! For I am like one gathering summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster to eat, no early fig that I crave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-16.htm">Matthew 7:16-20</a></span><br />By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? / Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. / A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/3-10.htm">Matthew 3:10</a></span><br />The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-48.htm">John 1:48-50</a></span><br />“How do You know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” / “Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” / Jesus said to him, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/3-12.htm">James 3:12</a></span><br />My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/1-3.htm">Psalm 1:3</a></span><br />He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/92-12.htm">Psalm 92:12-14</a></span><br />The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. / Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. / In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/17-24.htm">Ezekiel 17:24</a></span><br />Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/19-10.htm">Ezekiel 19:10-14</a></span><br />Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of the abundant waters. / It had strong branches, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick branches, conspicuous for its height and for its dense foliage. / But it was uprooted in fury, cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were stripped off and they withered; the fire consumed them. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungry.</p><p class="hdg">in.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/mark/11-12.htm">Mark 11:12,13</a></b></br> And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: … </p><p class="hdg">he hungered.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/4-2.htm">Matthew 4:2</a></b></br> And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/12-1.htm">Matthew 12:1</a></b></br> At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/4-2.htm">Luke 4:2</a></b></br> Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/21-17.htm">City</a> <a href="/matthew/20-27.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/matthew/20-1.htm">Early</a> <a href="/matthew/15-38.htm">Food</a> <a href="/matthew/4-2.htm">Hungered</a> <a href="/matthew/12-3.htm">Hungry</a> <a href="/matthew/20-1.htm">Morning</a> <a href="/micah/2-8.htm">Returning</a> <a href="/matthew/16-23.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/matthew/21-8.htm">Way</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/22-7.htm">City</a> <a href="/matthew/21-46.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/matthew/24-8.htm">Early</a> <a href="/matthew/24-7.htm">Food</a> <a href="/matthew/25-35.htm">Hungered</a> <a href="/matthew/25-35.htm">Hungry</a> <a href="/matthew/27-1.htm">Morning</a> <a href="/mark/7-31.htm">Returning</a> <a href="/mark/3-23.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/matthew/21-19.htm">Way</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 21</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/21-1.htm">Jesus rides into Jerusalem upon a donkey</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/21-12.htm">drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/21-17.htm">curses the fig tree;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/21-23.htm">puts to silence the priests and elders,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">28. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/21-28.htm">and rebukes them by the parable of the two sons,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/21-33.htm">and the husbandmen who slew such as were sent to them.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/21.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/21.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>In the morning</b><br>This phrase indicates the time of day, suggesting a new beginning or fresh start. Mornings in biblical times were often associated with new mercies and opportunities for reflection and action, as seen in <a href="/lamentations/3-22.htm">Lamentations 3:22-23</a>, which speaks of God's mercies being new every morning.<p><b>as Jesus was returning to the city</b><br>The city referred to here is Jerusalem, the center of Jewish religious life and the location of the Temple. Jesus' return to the city signifies His continued mission and purpose, as Jerusalem is the place where significant events of His ministry, including His crucifixion and resurrection, would unfold. This journey also fulfills the prophecy of the Messiah's presence in Jerusalem, as seen in <a href="/zechariah/9-9.htm">Zechariah 9:9</a>.<p><b>He was hungry</b><br>This phrase highlights the humanity of Jesus, showing that He experienced physical needs like hunger. It serves as a reminder of the Incarnation, where Jesus, though fully divine, took on human form and its limitations. This moment also sets the stage for the subsequent teaching moment with the fig tree, illustrating spiritual truths about fruitfulness and judgment.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a></b><br>The central figure in this passage, Jesus is returning to Jerusalem. His actions and teachings during this time are significant for understanding His mission and message.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_city.htm">The City</a></b><br>Refers to Jerusalem, a central place in Jesus' ministry and the location of significant events leading up to His crucifixion.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_morning.htm">The Morning</a></b><br>This time of day signifies a new beginning and is often associated with new revelations or actions in the biblical account.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/j/jesus'_humanity.htm">Jesus' Humanity</a></b><br>Jesus experienced physical needs like hunger, emphasizing His full humanity. This reminds us that He understands our human experiences and needs.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_hunger.htm">Spiritual Hunger</a></b><br>Just as Jesus was physically hungry, we are called to recognize our spiritual hunger and seek fulfillment in Christ. This passage challenges us to examine what we are spiritually hungry for and how we seek to satisfy that hunger.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_timing.htm">The Importance of Timing</a></b><br>The mention of "the morning" can symbolize new beginnings and opportunities for growth and change. We should be attentive to the new opportunities God presents to us each day.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/preparation_for_ministry.htm">Preparation for Ministry</a></b><br>Jesus' return to the city while hungry can symbolize the need for spiritual preparation and nourishment before engaging in ministry or daily tasks.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_21.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 21</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_olivet_discourse_about.htm">What is the Olivet Discourse about?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/day_26_insights_on_spiritual_growth.htm">What events define the Triumphal Entry in Volume 23?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_luke's_fig_tree_parable_differ.htm">Luke 13:6–9: How does this fig tree parable align with or contradict similar accounts in other Gospels, and why does it seem incomplete here? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_divine_voice_destroying_trees.htm">Psalm 29:5 states the Lord’s voice shatters the cedars of Lebanon; what evidence supports the claim that a divine voice can cause literal destruction of trees? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/21.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(18) <span class= "bld">In the morning.</span>--The word implies "daybreak," probably about 5 A.M. This was the usual Jewish time for the first food of the day. If we may infer from <a href="/luke/21-37.htm" title="And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and stayed in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.">Luke 21:37</a>, <a href="/john/18-1.htm" title="When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.">John 18:1</a>, that the greater part of the night had been spent either in solitary prayer or in converse with the disciples, we have an explanation of the exhaustion which sought food wherever there might seem even a chance of finding it.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/21.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 18-22.</span> - <span class="accented">The cursing of the barren fig tree</span>. (<a href="/mark/11-12.htm">Mark 11:12-14</a>:, 20-26.) <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 18.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">In the morning</span> (<span class="greek">πρωίας</span>, which implies a very early time of the day, and is a term used for the fourth or last watch of the night, <a href="/mark/1-35.htm">Mark 1:35</a>). St. Matthew has combined in one view a transaction which had two separate stages, as we gather from the narrative of St. Mark. The curse was uttered on the Monday morning, before the cleansing of the temple; the effect was beheld and the lesson given on the Tuesday, when Jesus was visiting Jerusalem for the third time (vers. 20-22). Strauss and his followers, resenting the miraculous in the incident, have imagined that the whole story is merely an embodiment and development of the parable of the fruitless fig tree recorded by St. Luke (<a href="/luke/13-6.htm">Luke 13:6</a>, etc.), which in course of time assumed this historical form. There is no ground whatever for this idea. It claims to be, and doubtless is, the account of a real fact, naturally connected with the circumstances of the time, and of great practical importance. <span class="cmt_word">He hungered.</span> True Man, he showed the weakness of his human nature, even when about to exert his power in the Divine. There is no need, rather it is unseemly to suppose (as many old commentators have done), that this hunger was miraculous or assumed, in order to give occasion for the coming miracle. Christ had either passed the night on the mountain-side in prayer and fasting, or had started from his lodging without breaking his fast. His followers do not seem to have suffered in the same way; and it was doubtless owing to his mental preoccupation and self-forgetfulness that the Lord had not attended to bodily wants. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/matthew/21-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">In the morning,</span><br /><span class="grk">Πρωῒ</span> <span class="translit">(Prōi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4404.htm">Strong's 4404: </a> </span><span class="str2">Early in the morning, at dawn. Adverb from pro; at dawn; by implication, the day-break watch.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as [Jesus] was returning</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐπανάγων</span> <span class="translit">(epanagōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1877.htm">Strong's 1877: </a> </span><span class="str2">From epi and anago; to lead up on, i.e. to put out; to return.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="grk">εἰς</span> <span class="translit">(eis)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1519.htm">Strong's 1519: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the</span><br /><span class="grk">τὴν</span> <span class="translit">(tēn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">city,</span><br /><span class="grk">πόλιν</span> <span class="translit">(polin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4172.htm">Strong's 4172: </a> </span><span class="str2">A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He was hungry.</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐπείνασεν</span> <span class="translit">(epeinasen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3983.htm">Strong's 3983: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be hungry, needy, desire earnestly. From the same as penes; to famish; figuratively, to crave.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/21-18.htm">Matthew 21:18 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/matthew/21-18.htm">Matthew 21:18 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/matthew/21-18.htm">Matthew 21:18 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/matthew/21-18.htm">Matthew 21:18 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/matthew/21-18.htm">Matthew 21:18 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/21-18.htm">Matthew 21:18 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/21-18.htm">Matthew 21:18 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/21-18.htm">Matthew 21:18 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/21-18.htm">Matthew 21:18 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/matthew/21-18.htm">Matthew 21:18 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/matthew/21-18.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 21:18 Now in the morning as he returned (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/21-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 21:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 21:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/21-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 21:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 21:19" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>