On Jesus clearing the temple and cursing the fig tree, William Telford says this:
The Lord whom they sought had suddenly come to his Temple (cf. Mal. 3.1 and Mk. 1.2) but 
had condemned rather than restored it! Elijah the prophet had been sent before the great and terrible day of the Lord (Mal. 4.5; cf. Mk. 9.12) but they had done to him whatever they pleased (Mk. 9.13)! Therefore the Lord would come and smite the land with a curse (Mal. 4.6) and the blow had been struck against the barren fig-tree… God’s plant, Israel, had been withered… “This mountain”, which was to be elevated in the Messianic Age, was in fact to be uprooted and cast into the sea! For the Markan reader the cursing of the fig-tree was an eschatological sign prefiguring the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple. For Mark, it was a commentary upon his own time. (The Barren Temple and the Withered Tree, 163)
This is one fantastic book.
Cruel and unusual: a great quote, a strong commendation, and out of print with a $158 amazon price tag.
I know. Curse the need for a library! But seriously, this should be put back in circulation.
It looks like there’s a used copy in the UK for 20 pounds. Not sure what shipping would be.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/detail/offer-listing/-/0905774205/used