Spurned lover

Why does Jesus get angry when there is no fruit on the fig tree?  The Song of Songs, along with Isaiah 5, is in the background.  Israel is the vineyard-garden of Yahweh, which also means Israel is Yahweh’s bride.  When He comes seeking fruit, it is not only “produce,” but the choice fruits of His beloved – he wants to eat and drink deep of love in the garden of his bride.  This picture is in the background not only of Jesus-and-the-fig tree, but also of Jesus’ parable of the vineyard, transparently derived from Isaiah’s song, which, like Solomon’s, is a love song.

Jesus doesn’t just come looking for productivity.  He comes for the fruits of love, and finds none.  His anger is what Yahweh’s anger always is: The jealous anger of spurned love.