On Holy Tuesday – the Tuesday before Good Friday, Jesus had spent the night in Bethany and intended to spend the day in The Temple in Jerusalem, which was walking distance from Bethany.

On the way there we have the incident with the Fig Tree. In the Gospel of Mark (probably Peter's story) Jesus cursed this fig tree, on the Monday and today they find it withered, but Matthew has it all in one event. Either way it shows the power and effectiveness of prayer, curses and blessings. For if a prayed curse can wither a fig tree that fast, a prayed for blessing must be just as effective.

Jesus moves on to the Temple where he teaches and debates with the Pharisees. Then later he moves to spend the night on the Mount of Olives and gives what is called the Olivet Discourse.

Jesus prophetically warns them of the coming destruction of Jerusalem. Indeed this happened in 70 A.D. When the Romans destroyed it. Not one Christian was harmed during this, all had heeded the words of the Lord and seeing the signs had left Jerusalem before the destruction occurred. Taking the Gospel and spreading it as they went, out into the world.

Jesus also speaks of the end times and his 2nd coming. With the lesson he had taught them of the fig tree earlier that day, still in mind, he returned to the fig tree as an example.

Then he gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. In the same way, when you see the events taking place that I’ve described you can be just as sure that the Kingdom of God is near.. . . . .Luke 21:29-31

Then to emphasize it, he tells the parable of the 10 virgins – today's gospel reading.