And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever. That word did not make the tree barren, but sealed it up in its own barrenness. See the notes at Matthew 13:13-15.
And his disciples heard it - and marked the saying. This is introduced as a connecting link, to explain what was afterward to be said on the subject, as the narrative has to proceed to the other transactions of this day.