{No man eat fruit from thee henceforward forever} (M(886b)eti
eis ton ai(936e)a ek sou m(8864)eis karpon phagoi). The verb phagoi is
in the second aorist active optative. It is a wish for the future
that in its negative form constitutes a curse upon the tree.  Mt
21:19  has the aorist subjunctive with double negative ou m(886b)eti
gen(8874)ai, a very strong negative prediction that amounts to a
prohibition. See on Matthew. Jesus probably spoke in the Aramaic
on this occasion. {And his disciples heard it} (kai (886b)ouon hoi
math(8874)ai autou). Imperfect tense, "were listening to it," and
evidently in amazement, for, after all, it was not the fault of
the poor fig tree that it had put out leaves. One often sees
peach blossoms nipped by the frost when they are too precocious
in the changeable weather. But Jesus offered no explanation at
this time.