After years of itinerant desert ministry, Jesus -- the great high priest -- finally makes it to the center of Jewish religious life: the temple. But he doesn't remain there long, upsets commercial applecarts, and accuses merchants of criminal activity. Cursing the fig tree is symbolic of his judgment on the Temple: bearing the promise of fruit with no harvest would not be tolerated, and a building would no longer be access to God. Henceforth, men would come to God through the new temple, Jesus Christ.