This difficult passage may be understood as an acted parable, rather similar in meaning to the parable of Luke 13:6-9 about a fig-tree which produced no fruit although it was left in the garden for some years. This fig-tree represents those whose lives produced no good fruit.

a healthy fig tree

The fig-tree of 11:12-14 looked healthy but produced no fruit and on the next day had withered up. What looked promising was merely deceptive and did not fulfill its promise. In 11: 22-25 Jesus taught about the need for faith which bears 'fruit' (compare James 2:14-26).

a withered fig tree

The meaning of the whole passage is that God is not deceived by outward religiosity which hides inner spiritual deadness, a warning not only to the Jewish leaders of Jerusalem but to all Christians.