In this section we see once more an example of Mark’s “sandwich” technique, with one story used as a frame for another, and both stories meant to interpret each other. It is doubtful that we should see here some actual chronological sequence. Mark has created suspense by delaying not only the action in the temple but also the withering of the fig tree.29 The point of both the cursing of the fig tree and the action in the temple is that they figure forth the coming judgment of God on the heart of
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