Lesson is literally “parable” (see 13.3) and is represented as such in New Jerusalem Bible: “Take the fig tree as a parable.” However, the meaning is extended here to mean “something to be learned” or “lesson” (New English Bible, New International Version). Both An American Translation and Good News Translation translate From the fig tree learn its lesson as “Let the fig tree teach you a lesson.” But many languages will not allow for a tree to “teach”; thus the restructuring of New English Bible will be more natural: “Learn a lesson from the fig-tree.” One may even translate “Look at the fig tree, and see what you can learn from it.”
Fig tree was discussed at 21.19. Note that here the definite article the does not mean that Jesus is referring to one specific fig tree but rather to fig trees in general. In languages where the translation is “fig trees,” plurals will be used in the rest of the verse, so that its leaves will be “their leaves,” and so forth.
Becomes tender (Good News Translation “become green and tender”) translates an adjective which is used of the young shoots that come out on the branches. Similarly, puts forth its leaves means to put out foliage. The two expressions may be translated as a single expression; for example, New English Bible translates “When the tender shoots appear.” Both Barclay and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch have “When the sap rises in its branches.” One may also translate “When the tree begins to bud.” Of course, in many languages it will be perfectly natural to render both expressions; as for example, “begin to bud and put out new leaves.”
People have different ways of referring to seasons. The English summer is near may have to be “it will soon be summer” or “the summer season will soon start.” Summer is the hot season, but the most important feature in this context is that it is the season when plants and trees renew their growth. Translators should use whatever term in their language refers to this season.
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .