The amazing possibilities for those with Faith in God.
Mat 21:18 Early in the morning as He was on His way to return to the city He was hungry,
Mat 21:19 and seeing a fig-tree on the road-side He went up to it, but found nothing on it but leaves. "On you," He said, "no fruit shall ever again grow." And immediately the fig-tree withered away.
Mat 21:20 When the disciples saw it they exclaimed in astonishment, "How instantaneously the fig-tree has withered away!"
Mat 21:21 "I solemnly tell you," said Jesus, "that if you have an unwavering faith, you shall not only perform such a miracle as this of the fig-tree, but that even if you say to this mountain, 'Be thou lifted up and hurled into the sea,' it shall be done;
Mat 21:22 and everything, whatever it be, that you ask for in your prayers, if you have faith, you shall obtain."
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| Jesus Withers the Fig tree |
Introduction.
We have read how Jesus entered Jerusalem according to the prophetic word given by the Prophet Zechariah 9:9 riding on the colt the foal of a donkey. The Crowds were shouting , “Hosanna to the Son of David,, Hosanna in the Highest.”
Then Jesus entered the Temple Courts and overturned the tables of the money-changers who were thieves and robbers He went out to Bethany where he spent the night.
Mat 21:18 Early in the morning as He was on His way to return to the city He was hungry,
Notes
Remember this that the Cross and Crucifixion were approaching fast. It was passover time in Jerusalem. The sun would be rising over the Mount of Olives to the East of the Temple Mount,, the direction He would be coming from Bethany. It is a long descent into the Kidron Valley before climbing up to the temple.
Barnes “ And found nothing thereon but leaves only - Mark Mar_11:13 gives as a reason for this that “the time of figs was not yet.” That is, the time “of gathering” the figs was not yet, or had not passed. It was a time when figs were ripe or suitable to eat, or he would not have gone to it, expecting to find them; but the time of gathering them had not passed, and it was to be presumed that they were still on the tree.
This took place on the week of the Passover, or in the beginning of April. Figs, in Palestine, are commonly ripe at the Passover. The summer in Palestine begins in March, and it is no uncommon thing that figs should be eatable in April. It is said that they sometimes produce fruit the year round.
Mark Mar_11:12-13 says that this took place on the morning of the day on which he purified the temple. Matthew would lead us to suppose that it was on the day following. Matthew records briefly what Mark records more “fully.” Matthew states the fact that the fig-tree was barren and withered away, without regarding minutely the order or the circumstances in which the event took place. There is no contradiction, because Matthew does not affirm that this took place on the morning after the temple was cleansed, though he places it in that order; nor does he say that a day did not elapse after the fig-tree was cursed before the disciples discovered that it was withered, though he does not affirm that it was so. Such circumstantial variations, where there is no positive contradiction, go greatly to confirm the truth of a narrative. They show that the writers were honest men, and did not “conspire” to deceive the world.
Mat 21:19 and seeing a fig-tree on the road-side He went up to it, but found nothing on it but leaves. "On you," He said, "no fruit shall ever again grow." And immediately the fig-tree withered away.
Notes
And said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee ... - Mark calls this “cursing” the tree Mar_11:21. The word “curse,” as used by him, does not imply “anger,” or disappointment, or malice. It means only “devoting it to destruction,” or causing it to wither away. All the “curse” that was pronounced was in the words “that no fruit should grow on it.” The Jews used the word “curse” not as always implying “wrath or anger,” but to devote to “death,” or to any kind of destruction, Heb_6:8. It has been commonly thought that the Saviour performed this miracle to denote the sudden “withering away” or destruction of the Jewish people. They, like the fig-tree, promised fair. That was full of leaves, and they full of professions. Yet both were equally barren; and as that was destroyed, so they were soon to be. It was certain that this would be a good “illustration” of the destruction of the Jewish people, but there is no evidence that Jesus intended it as such, and without such evidence we have no right to say that was its meaning. “And presently the fig-tree withered away.” That is, before another day. See Mark. It is probable that they were passing directly onward, and did not stop then to consider it. Matthew does not affirm that it withered “away in their presence,” and Mark affirms that they made the discovery on the morning after it was “cursed.” Barnes
And when the disciples saw it - That is, on the morning following that on which it was cursed, Mar_11:20.
Mat 21:20 When the disciples saw it they exclaimed in astonishment, "How instantaneously the fig-tree has withered away!"
Notes
And when the disciples saw it - That is, on the morning following that on which it was cursed, Mar_11:20.
Mat 21:21 "I solemnly tell you," said Jesus, "that if you have an unwavering faith, you shall not only perform such a miracle as this of the fig-tree, but that even if you say to this mountain, 'Be thou lifted up and hurled into the sea,' it shall be done;
Notes
"I solemnly tell you," said Jesus,WNT “Truly I say to you…”MKJV
The Lord is demonstrating a very powerful Principle of Faith.
….that if you have an unwavering faith, you shall not only perform such a miracle as this of the fig-tree, but that even if you say to this mountain, 'Be thou lifted up and hurled into the sea,' it shall be done;
If ye have faith, and doubt not - See on Mat_17:20 (note). Removing mountains, and rooting up of mountains, are phrases very generally used to signify the removing or conquering great difficulties - getting through perplexities. A.C.
Doubt not (mē diakrithēte). First aorist passive subjunctive, second-class condition. To be divided in mind, to waver, to doubt, the opposite of “faith” (pistin), trust, confidence.
What is done to the fig tree (to tēs sukēs). The Greek means “the matter of the fig tree,” as if a slight matter in comparison with this mountain (tōi orei toutōi). Removing a mountain is a bigger task than blighting a fig tree. “The cursing of the fig-tree has always been regarded as of symbolic import, the tree being in Christ’s mind an emblem of the Jewish people, with a great show of religion and no fruit of real godliness. This hypothesis is very credible” (Bruce). RWP
Mat 21:22 and everything, whatever it be, that you ask for in your prayers, if you have faith, you shall obtain." WNT
And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.MKJV
Notes
And all things, etc. Mark: ‘therefore,’ showing that the primary application, so far as miraculous power is concerned, was to the Twelve. As applied to all Christians, it is of course confined to prayers of faith (Mat_21:21-22), implying agreement with the will of God, and excluding the abuse of this promise. Christ defines believing and effective prayer to be prayer in His name (Joh_14:13; Joh_15:16; Joh_16:24).
The Prayer of Faith is not just to increase with Blessings but it is for moving mountains of difficulties.
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