with the cleansing of the temple (11:15–19) in order to have each interpret the other: “Mark interprets the cleansing by means of the cursing” (“Cleansing,” 130). The fig tree, in full leaf but devoid of fruit, symbolizes the temple, while the temple, busy with religious activities but devoid of spiritual fruit, stands in danger of judgment. But Stein should not be followed when he concludes that Mark’s editorial work is intended to show that “Jesus has rejected Israel. She has been weighed in the