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Matthew 21:20
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The Fig Tree Withered

18 aNow in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry.  
19 aAnd seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.  

The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree

20 aAnd when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”  
21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, aif you have faith and bdo not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, cbut also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.  
22 And awhatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”  

Jesus’ Authority Questioned

23 aNow when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and bsaid, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”  
24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things:
Commentaries:
Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?
<< Matthew 21:19   Matthew 21:21 >>

What Does Matthew 21:20 Mean?



Matthew 21:18-22

Jesus' miracle involving the fig tree (Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, 20-24) is the only one in which He brings judgment by a miracle. All the other miracles are acts of goodness and mercy. This miracle, which can also be classified as a parable, is recorded in more detail in Mark than in Matthew. Mark's chronology is also more detailed, showing its correlation with other events, clarifying, for instance, that this miracle and the cleansing of the Temple took place within two days.

Having gone through several days of conflict and tension, Jesus now needed to find a place of love, gratitude, and peace to rest and meditate on soon-coming events. He found it with His friends in Bethany. This setting contrasted markedly to Satan's world, designed to be hectic with its constant pressure to keep people from thinking deeply about anything of true value. Satan knows that if he can make us busy, it is easier to make us sin.

Martin G. Collins
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: The Withering of a Fig Tree

Related Topics: Cleansing of the Temple | Jesus Christ's Miracles Cursing of Fig Tree | Judgment by a Miracle | Miracles of Christ :Withering of Fig Tree | Miracles of Christ: Withering the Fig Tree | Place to Rest and Meditate | Satan Keeping People from Thinking Deeply | Satan's World | Satan's World of Constant Pressure




Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Matthew 21:20:

Matthew 21:18-22


 
<< Matthew 21:19   Matthew 21:21 >>

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