And seeing a fig-tree in the distance with leaves, he went to see if by chance it had anything on it: and when he came to it, he saw nothing but leaves, for it was not the time for the fruit.

Take an example from the fig-tree: when its branches become soft and put out their leaves, you see that the summer is near;

And when they were going by in the morning, they saw the fig-tree dead from the roots.

The earth gives fruit by herself; first the leaf, then the head, then the full grain.