Mark 11:22 kjv
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Mark 11:22 nkjv
So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.
Mark 11:22 niv
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.
Mark 11:22 esv
And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.
Mark 11:22 nlt
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God.
Mark 11 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 17:20 | He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move...'" | Faith moves obstacles. |
| Mt 21:22 | And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. | Prayer and faith together. |
| Lk 17:6 | And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted...'" | Faith empowers commands. |
| Lk 1:37 | For nothing will be impossible with God. | God's omnipotence is the basis for faith. |
| Gen 18:14 | Is anything too hard for the Lord? | rhetorical question on God's capability. |
| Jer 32:17 | 'Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.' | Acknowledging God's boundless power. |
| Mk 9:23 | Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." | All things are possible for believers. |
| Heb 11:1 | Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. | Definition of faith. |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek him. | Necessity of faith to please God. |
| Jas 1:6-7 | But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea... Let not that person imagine that he will receive anything from the Lord. | Faith requires no doubt in prayer. |
| Rom 4:20-21 | No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. | Abraham's unwavering faith in God. |
| Jn 14:12 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do..." | Believers will do great works through faith. |
| Jn 15:7 | If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. | Faith intertwined with abiding in Christ and His word. |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through him who strengthens me. | Empowerment through divine strength. |
| 1 Jn 5:4 | For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. | Faith overcomes the world. |
| Eph 2:8 | For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. | Faith as a gift and means of salvation. |
| Gal 5:6 | For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. | Faith active in love. |
| Rom 1:17 | For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." | Righteousness is by faith. |
| 2 Cor 5:7 | for we walk by faith, not by sight. | Believer's life principle is faith. |
| Acts 3:16 | And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong...and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health... | Faith in Jesus' name brings healing. |
| 2 Chr 20:20 | Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed. | Believing in God leads to stability/success. |
| 1 Tim 6:11-12 | ...pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. | Call to pursue and contend for faith. |
Mark 11 verses
Mark 11 22 Meaning
Mark 11:22 is a direct instruction from Jesus to His disciples, profoundly stating that their power to overcome obstacles stems from a specific kind of belief. After the fig tree withered, Jesus responded not with an explanation of its decay but with a command to "Have faith in God." This pivotal verse means that the power to achieve what seems impossible (like moving a mountain) is predicated on a trusting and unwavering reliance on God's omnipotence and faithfulness, rather than on human capability or doubt. It teaches that faith directed towards God is the essential catalyst for divine intervention and manifestation.
Mark 11 22 Context
Mark 11:22 is part of a narrative sequence in Mark's Gospel that spans from the triumphal entry to the anointing at Bethany. Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus curses a fig tree (Mk 11:12-14) due to its lack of fruit, then cleanses the Temple (Mk 11:15-19), driving out merchants and money-changers, declaring it a "house of prayer for all nations." The next morning (Mk 11:20-21), as Jesus and His disciples pass by the fig tree again, Peter observes that it has withered from the roots. Jesus' response in verse 22 directly addresses this observation.
This sequence symbolically links the barrenness of the fig tree—representing a religious system with outward display but no spiritual fruit—to the corrupt practices within the Temple. Both lack the intended spiritual productivity and sincere worship God desires. Jesus' command to "Have faith in God" thus functions as a deeper explanation for how such monumental obstacles (like the withered fig tree or a corrupt temple) can be overcome or "removed," emphasizing that genuine divine power is accessed through radical trust in God. It also sets the stage for Jesus' teaching on prayer and forgiveness (Mk 11:23-26), showing faith in God to be foundational for all these spiritual principles.
Mark 11 22 Word analysis
- And Jesus answered (Greek: καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς – kai apokritheis ho Iēsous): This phrase signals that Jesus' statement is a direct response to Peter's remark about the withered fig tree. It connects the power to curse the fig tree to the general principle of faith.
- saith (Greek: λέγει – legei): Present tense verb, indicating that this is a timeless, ongoing truth and a perpetual command from Jesus, not a one-time suggestion.
- unto them (Greek: αὐτοῖς – autois): Specifically, "them" refers to His disciples, who witnessed both the cursing of the fig tree and its immediate withering. This instruction is for those who follow Him and observe His powerful actions.
- Have (Greek: ἔχετε – echete): This is an imperative verb, a direct command to possess or hold, not merely to acquire or try to have. It implies an active and constant posture of the heart.
- faith (Greek: πίστιν – pistis): This is a central New Testament concept. Pistis goes beyond mere intellectual assent; it denotes trust, belief, reliance, and loyalty. It involves committing oneself entirely to God, confident in His character and promises. It is a firm persuasion of the reality of things not seen, and a steadfast assurance in divine truth.
- in God (Greek: Θεοῦ – Theou): This is crucial. Theou is in the genitive case, leading to two primary interpretations:
- Objective Genitive ("faith in God"): This is the most common and straightforward interpretation. The object of the disciples' faith must be God Himself. This emphasizes God's omnipotence, His trustworthiness, and His boundless capacity to act. The focus is on God as the capable One. This faith recognizes that it is not one's own faith per se that accomplishes things, but God working through that faith.
- Subjective/Source Genitive ("faith of God" or "God's faith/God-kind of faith"): This interpretation suggests that the quality or nature of the faith itself is derived from God, or is a divine attribute believers are to possess. It implies a divine origin or a faith empowered and enabled by God, possibly a faith that reflects God's own faithfulness. This perspective aligns with faith being a gift of God (Eph 2:8) and God's unwavering faithfulness. Many scholars hold that this nuance is important for understanding the depth of this command – it is a faith that partakes of God's own unwavering character. Regardless, both interpretations ultimately point to God as the source and power behind genuine, mountain-moving faith. The command is to embody this God-centered, God-derived, and God-directed faith.
Mark 11 22 Bonus section
The interpretation of "faith in God" (pistis Theou) as potentially meaning "the faithfulness of God" or "faith from God" (a subjective genitive) adds significant depth. While "faith in God" (objective genitive) emphasizes God as the recipient/object of our trust, "the faith of God" highlights that genuine, potent faith originates from God and mirrors His own divine faithfulness. This aligns with faith being a gift from God (Eph 2:8) and Jesus being the "author and perfecter of our faith" (Heb 12:2). This nuance means that the faith Jesus commands is not a mere human exertion but a divinely inspired and enabled trust, given to us by the very God we are commanded to believe in. It removes the burden from human willpower alone and places it on God's divine enablement, reminding believers that the capacity to exercise such faith is itself a grace from God.
Mark 11 22 Commentary
Mark 11:22 stands as a foundational statement on the nature and object of authentic faith, strategically placed after the withering of the fig tree and the Temple cleansing. The disciples, having observed the instantaneous decay of the tree, are taught by Jesus that this power is not unique to Him but is accessible to them, provided they "have faith in God." This isn't just about belief in God's existence, but a deep, active trust in His nature, power, and promises.
The "mountain" Jesus speaks of in the following verse (Mk 11:23) represents insurmountable obstacles, significant challenges, or any spiritual opposition. The key is not the size of the believer's faith, but the object of that faith: God. It highlights that our confidence must be fully vested in God's ability to act, not in our own capacity or in the strength of our belief. The command "Have faith in God" reorients the disciples from marveling at a supernatural phenomenon to understanding its divine source and the human prerequisite—unwavering trust in the Almighty.
This divine-directed faith implies several aspects:
- God's Sovereignty and Power: Faith acknowledges God's absolute control and unlimited power, as seen throughout the Scriptures (Jer 32:17, Lk 1:37).
- Radical Reliance: It calls for a complete dependence on God, letting go of human doubts and natural limitations (Jas 1:6-7).
- Active Engagement: This faith is not passive; it commands, speaks, and acts in alignment with God's revealed will (Mk 11:23-24).
- Moral Purity: As the surrounding context of the Temple cleansing suggests, effective faith is connected to genuine worship and righteous living, as well as the necessity of forgiveness (Mk 11:25-26). Obstacles can include spiritual unrighteousness that hinders effective prayer.
The practical application is profound: Whatever seemingly "mountain-sized" barrier a believer faces, whether personal, societal, or spiritual, the way to overcome it is through directed faith in God. This faith empowers prayers and actions to bring about divine solutions, demonstrating God's kingdom on earth.
Examples:
- A student facing overwhelming academic pressure chooses to pray for wisdom and understanding, trusting God's provision rather than succumbing to anxiety.
- A family experiencing severe financial hardship dedicates themselves to trusting God for provision, continuing to honor Him in tithes and offerings despite apparent lack.
- A community facing deep-seated conflict seeks God's intervention, believing He can transform hearts and reconcile differences, rather than relying solely on human diplomacy.