Matthew and Mark record the story of Jesus cursing a fruitless fig tree. He is on His way to Jerusalem; he sees a fig tree at a distance and moves towards it and finds no fruit on it. He curses the tree and it instantly withers.
Jesus' response to this tree sounds so brutal but serves as a warning about the danger of fruitlessness. It was a symbol of God's judgement against hypocrisy of the people of that day. It is also a reminder that our faith is not just outward appearance with no genuine fruit. It is not just a show. We bear fruit because we have yielded our lives to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
Every child of God is called to an authentic relationship that bears fruit.