Before entering Jerusalem Jesus sent 2 disciples to Bethphage on a mission to find specific things which were to be brought to Him (Matthew 21:1, Mark 11:1, and Luke 19:29). Bethphage means "house of unripe figs" [G967-Bethphage]. Figs picked early will not ripen thus unripe figs were taken from the tree too soon.
Figs will must be left on the tree to ripen.
And seeing in the distance a fig tree [covered] with leaves, He went to see if He could find any [fruit] on it [for in the fig tree the fruit appears at the same time as the leaves]. But when He came up to it, He found nothing but leaves, for the fig season (καιρὸς - kairos) had not yet come. (Mark 11:13 AMPC)
As the Amplified translation makes clear the fruit on the fig tree appears at the same time as the leaves. Mark continues by adding it was not fig season. Season is καιρὸς – kairos. The meaning is a fixed and definite time; opportune or seasonable time; the right time (Strong's 2540). Mark's statement means it was not the opportune time for figs. For example:
When the harvest time (καιρὸς - kairos) was near, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his portion of the crop. (Matthew 21:34 NET)
After it appears, the fig must be left on the tree for 2 months before it is ripe and normally eaten/harvested. Someone who is hungry would normally look for figs which were ripe (either on the tree or dried). Mark makes it clear that is not the case: Jesus sought out figs He knew would be green and unripe.
The fig was widespread throughout the Mediterranean world. It would be common knowledge that the fruit and leaves appeared at the same time. Yet leaves by themselves are not a sign the figs were ripe; in Israel that time would come around June. Mark appears to have been written for a Roman audience. They would be familiar with figs; they might not know that the Passover always occurs during the spring when it would be impossible for the figs to be ripe. Mark makes it clear that while it might be unusual for someone to try a satisfy their hunger with unripe figs, that is exactly what Jesus did.
Matthew also describes an event with a fig tree but omits the reference to season:
After noticing a fig tree by the road he went to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. He said to it, “Never again will there be fruit from you!”… (Matthew 21:19 NET)
Matthew is written to a Jewish audience. They would know any figs Jesus found on the tree at the time of Passover would not be ripe.
By making the reference to “season” Mark does 2 things. First, he ensures the reader knows Jesus sought unripe figs. Second, he points the reader to consider that there is a second reason why the fruit Jesus expected to find was not there: it had been harvested. Someone may have a desire for green unripe figs and took the fruit (before its season). This is not to say the fruit was missing because it had been taken; it is to recognize there is more to what is taking place then the failure of the tree to have fruit.
Taking (and eating) the fruit is another point of difference between Mark and Matthew:
Mark: He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again."... (11:14 NET)
Matthew: …He said to it, “Never again will there be fruit from you!”... (21:19 NET)
Both are saying the same thing with a different perspective. Mark places an emphasis on a person never again eating the fruit; Matthew places an emphasis on the tree never again producing fruit.
While there are slight differences between Matthew and Mark, there is one thing on which there is agreement: the leaves were on the tree. In the natural world fig leaves on a tree lead one to seek for fruit which should be there (and left to ripen).
For all mankind, fig leaves should cause us to remember those who took the fruit which was supposed to be left on the tree and then tried to cover themselves by taking leaves from a tree:
Then the eyes of both of them opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:7-9 NET)
In all three cases (Genesis, Matthew, and Mark) the LORD God had a right to expect to find fruit on the tree and in all three cases, what was supposed to be on the tree was not there. In The Gospel, Jesus should have found unripe figs; in Genesis He should have found the fruit still on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
While there is no doubt this event has meaning applicable to Israel at the time Jesus lived, I believe there is also meaning in the larger context of good and evil going back to the earliest time.