Why does Jesus get angry when there is no fruit on the fig tree?  The Song of Songs, along with Isaiah 5, is in the background.  Israel is the vineyard-garden of Yahweh, which also means Israel is Yahweh’s bride.  When He comes seeking fruit, it is not only “produce,” but the choice fruits of His beloved - he wants to eat and drink deep of love in the garden of his bride.  This picture is in the background not only of Jesus-and-the-fig tree, but also of Jesus’ parable of the vineyard, transparently derived from Isaiah’s song, which, like Solomon’s, is a love song.

Jesus doesn’t just come looking for productivity.  He comes for the fruits of love, and finds none.  His anger is what Yahweh’s anger always is: The jealous anger of spurned love.