Matthew 21:20 kjv
And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
Matthew 21:20 nkjv
And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither away so soon?"
Matthew 21:20 niv
When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked.
Matthew 21:20 esv
When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither at once?"
Matthew 21:20 nlt
The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?"
Matthew 21 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 21:19 | And seeing a fig tree by the way side, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only... he said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee... | Immediate preceding event: Jesus curses the fig tree. |
| Mark 11:20-21 | And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots... Peter calls to remembrance, and saith unto him, Master... | Parallel account, disciples' observation. |
| Mark 11:22-24 | And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God... | Jesus' subsequent teaching on faith and prayer. |
| Luke 13:6-9 | He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. | Parable of the barren fig tree representing unfruitful Israel. |
| Isa 5:1-7 | My wellbeloved hath a vineyard... he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes... | God's disappointment with Israel's lack of righteousness. |
| Jer 8:13 | I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade... | Prophetic judgment on Israel for unfruitfulness. |
| Hos 9:10 | I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time... | Israel's early faithfulness contrasted with later apostasy. |
| Matt 7:19 | Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. | Judgment on those who do not bear spiritual fruit. |
| Luke 3:9 | And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down... | John the Baptist's warning of impending judgment. |
| John 15:2 | Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away... | The necessity of fruit-bearing in Christ. |
| Heb 11:6 | But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them... | The fundamental importance of faith, which is the focus of Jesus' answer. |
| James 1:6 | But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. | Emphasizes unwavering faith in prayer. |
| 1 John 5:14-15 | And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us... | Assurance for prayer made in faith according to God's will. |
| Psa 115:3 | But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. | God's absolute sovereignty and power. |
| Gen 1:11 | And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind... | Creation demonstrating God's power over vegetation. |
| Luke 17:6 | And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be... | Faith's power over nature, even removing a tree. |
| Zech 3:10 | In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree. | Messianic ideal often associated with abundant fruit and peace. |
| Rev 6:13 | And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. | Fig tree imagery used in context of divine judgment. |
| Matt 16:21 | From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things... | Broader context: Jesus is in Jerusalem nearing His passion. |
| John 1:48 | Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under... | Fig tree can represent a place of meditation/seclusion, and here of Nathanael's true seeking heart, contrasting the unfruitful tree. |
Matthew 21 verses
Matthew 21 20 Meaning
Matthew 21:20 describes the disciples' astonished reaction to the instantaneous withering of the fig tree cursed by Jesus. Their wonder specifically centers on the speed and complete nature of the tree's demise, leading them to question how such a powerful and immediate destruction occurred. This incident follows Jesus' pronouncement upon the unfruitful tree, serving as a powerful visual parable demonstrating God's judgment against unfruitfulness and His immediate power.
Matthew 21 20 Context
Matthew 21:20 takes place during Holy Week, specifically the Monday following Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt 21:1-11). The preceding event is Jesus cursing the fig tree because it bore no fruit despite having leaves (Matt 21:18-19). This incident occurs concurrently with Jesus' purification of the Temple (Matt 21:12-17), a strong act of judgment against the corruption and spiritual barrenness of the religious system of His day. The Temple, like the fig tree with leaves but no fruit, had outward religiosity but lacked the true spiritual fruit of worship, repentance, and righteousness. The disciples' reaction in verse 20 serves as a direct bridge to Jesus' subsequent teaching on faith and prayer in verses 21-22, indicating that divine power, manifest in judgment or miracle, is accessible through a believing relationship with God. The historical context includes the expectation of a Messiah, the socio-religious state of first-century Judaism centered around the Temple, and the mounting tension between Jesus and the religious authorities.
Matthew 21 20 Word analysis
- And (Καὶ - Kai): Connects this verse directly to the preceding event. It introduces the consequence of Jesus' action.
- when they saw it (ἰδόντες - idontes): From
horaō, meaning "to see, perceive, observe." It emphasizes the direct visual experience of the disciples, highlighting their immediate witness to the supernatural event. - the disciples (οἱ μαθηταὶ - hoi mathētai): Specifically names the observers, who are being taught and discipled by Jesus. Their astonishment provides a platform for Jesus' upcoming teaching.
- marveled (ἐθαύμασαν - ethaumasan): From
thaumazō, meaning "to be amazed, astonished, to wonder." It denotes a deep sense of awe and surprise, going beyond mere observation to profound astonishment at the rapid and complete destruction of the tree. - saying (λέγοντες - legontes): Introduces their spoken question.
- How (Πῶς - Pōs): An interrogative adverb expressing surprise and asking about the manner or means by which something happened. It reveals their focus on the mechanics and speed of the miracle rather than its spiritual significance initially.
- did the fig tree (ἐξηράνθη ἡ συκῆ - exēranthē hē sykē):
exēranthē(fromxerainō): "to dry up, wither, become barren." The passive voice implies an external agent (Jesus' power) caused the withering. The completeness and rapidity are central.hē sykē(the fig tree): A common tree in Israel, often used metaphorically for Israel itself in prophetic literature (Jer 8:13, Hos 9:10, Luke 13:6-9), representing the nation's spiritual state. Its barrenness here symbolizes Israel's lack of true spiritual fruit, despite outward religious practice.
- immediately (παραχρῆμα - parachrēma): An adverb meaning "straightway, forthwith, at once, instantaneously." This term emphasizes the swift and instantaneous nature of the miracle, a powerful display of divine authority over creation, affirming Jesus' identity and power.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled: This phrase establishes the direct observation and the resulting emotional reaction of Jesus' closest followers. Their "marveling" isn't simple surprise but a profound astonishment at an unexpected and inexplicable event, setting the stage for Jesus to explain the underlying spiritual principles.
- saying, How did the fig tree wither away immediately?: This phrase encapsulates the core of the disciples' confusion. Their question
Pōs("How") highlights their focus on the method or power behind the instantaneous withering, showing they recognized something supernatural had occurred. The termparachrēma("immediately") underscores the astounding speed, indicating that this was no natural process. The fig tree as a symbol reinforces that the question extends beyond a mere botanical anomaly to its profound implications for God's power and judgment.
Matthew 21 20 Bonus section
The incident of the cursed fig tree is a potent prophetic action, more than just a miracle display. It is a "performed prophecy," mirroring Old Testament prophets' symbolic acts (e.g., Jeremiah breaking a pottery jar - Jer 19; Ezekiel playing war - Ezek 4). Jesus, by performing this act, symbolically pronounces judgment on Israel's spiritual barrenness. The lack of fruit on the fig tree, despite its leaves, pointed to the religious institutions of the time having the outward appearance of godliness but lacking genuine spiritual fruit (righteousness, justice, true worship). The context within Holy Week is crucial; this incident, along with the cleansing of the Temple, powerfully illustrates Jesus' authority and foreshadows the passing of the old covenant system and the rise of a new covenant characterized by faith and fruitfulness. The disciples' bewilderment prompts a crucial lesson from Jesus about the power of faith and prayer, connecting divine action directly to the believer's active trust in God.
Matthew 21 20 Commentary
Matthew 21:20 marks the disciples' astonishment at the visible, instantaneous consequence of Jesus' cursing the fig tree. Their question, "How did the fig tree wither away immediately?" (Πῶς ἐξηράνθη ἡ συκῆ παραχρῆμα;), points to their fixation on the method of the miracle – its rapidity and thoroughness – rather than its deeper theological meaning. This rapid desiccation symbolizes God's impending judgment on the unfruitful religious system of Jerusalem, particularly highlighted by the concurrent cleansing of the Temple. The tree, outwardly green but inwardly barren, serves as an acted parable of Israel's spiritual condition. Jesus’ answer in subsequent verses shifts their focus from how He did it to who can do it – namely, those with faith and persistent prayer. The "immediately" signals God's decisive and powerful intervention.Example: Just as a farmer sees a healthy-looking plant that suddenly wilts and asks "How did this happen so fast?", the disciples observe a divine action that defies natural process and prompts their inquiry into the underlying power.