Matthew 21:21 kjv
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Matthew 21:21 nkjv
So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done.
Matthew 21:21 niv
Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.
Matthew 21:21 esv
And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen.
Matthew 21:21 nlt
Then Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen.
Matthew 21 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 11:23 | "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go…’ and does not doubt…" | Parallel teaching on faith moving mountains. |
| Lk 17:6 | "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree…" | Even small faith can achieve great things. |
| 1 Cor 13:2 | "If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing." | Moving mountains linked to powerful faith. |
| Jas 1:6-7 | "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts…" | Doubting hinders receiving from God. |
| Heb 11:6 | "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him…" | Faith is foundational to relating to God. |
| Mt 7:7 | "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." | God answers seeking and asking. |
| Jn 14:12 | "Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things…" | Believers will perform Christ-like works. |
| Jn 15:7 | "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." | Conditions for powerful prayer: abiding in Christ. |
| Jas 5:15-16 | "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well… The prayer of a righteous person…" | Efficacy of faithful prayer for healing and more. |
| 1 Jn 5:14-15 | "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will…" | Prayers answered when aligned with God's will. |
| Gen 18:14 | "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" | Rhetorical question affirming God's omnipotence. |
| Jer 32:27 | "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" | God's absolute power and ability. |
| Lk 1:37 | "For no word from God will ever fail." | God's promises are unfailing. |
| Mt 17:20 | "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain…" | Another teaching by Jesus on faith and mountains. |
| Mt 21:19 | "Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it… it withered at once." | Immediate context: the fig tree incident. |
| Lk 13:6-9 | "A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit…" | Parable of barren fig tree, judgment warning. |
| Isa 5:1-7 | "My loved one had a vineyard… He looked for good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit." | Israel as an unfruitful vineyard. |
| Jer 8:13 | "When I try to gather their harvest, declares the Lord, there will be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree…" | God's judgment on Israel for barrenness. |
| Heb 3:12 | "See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away…" | Warning against unbelief. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving…" | Overcoming anxiety through faithful prayer. |
| Eph 3:20 | "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power…" | God's limitless power at work within us. |
Matthew 21 verses
Matthew 21 21 Meaning
Matthew 21:21 declares that through unwavering faith and absence of doubt, believers can perform miraculous feats comparable to the immediate withering of the fig tree, and even command metaphorical mountains (representing immense obstacles) to be removed and cast into the sea, with the assurance that it will come to pass. It highlights the profound power available through complete trust in God.
Matthew 21 21 Context
This verse is embedded in the narrative of Jesus' final week leading up to His crucifixion. It immediately follows the account of Jesus cursing a fig tree (Mt 21:18-20) because it bore no fruit despite having leaves, symbolizing Israel's spiritual barrenness and the impending judgment upon the unfruitful Temple system. The disciples were amazed at how quickly the tree withered, prompting their question, "How did the fig tree wither at once?" (Mt 21:20). Jesus' response in Matthew 21:21 expands on this incident, shifting the focus from His singular power to the power available to His disciples through faith. It is also situated after Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mt 21:1-11) and His cleansing of the Temple (Mt 21:12-17), acts that highlight His authority and prophetic challenge to the existing religious order. The passage conveys Jesus' authority and sets the stage for His subsequent parables and confrontations with the Jewish religious leaders, particularly regarding authority, fruitfulness, and the coming of the Kingdom of God. The "mountain" metaphor resonates with Jewish prophetic imagery often representing powerful kingdoms or immense difficulties.
Matthew 21 21 Word analysis
Jesus replied: Indicates His authoritative answer to the disciples' question, signifying a teaching moment.
Truly (ἀμὴν - amēn): An emphatic affirmation, often used by Jesus to introduce a weighty, authoritative truth, signaling profound importance. It conveys certainty and solemnity.
I tell you: Jesus' personal instruction to His disciples, emphasizing the directness and certainty of the teaching.
if you have faith (ἐὰν ἔχητε πίστιν - ean echēte pistin): The primary condition. Pistis denotes firm conviction, complete reliance, and trust in God's power and promises, not merely intellectual assent. It implies an active, dynamic trust.
and do not doubt (καὶ μὴ διακριθῆτε - kai mē diakrithēte): The absence of wavering. Diakrinō implies an internal conflict, a divided mind, to be at variance with oneself, or to dispute within. It's more than simple intellectual questioning; it's a lack of unwavering resolve and trust. This internal hesitation or double-mindedness is presented as a hindrance to divine power.
not only can you do what was done to the fig tree: Connects the teaching directly to the immediate, visible miracle, affirming that the disciples, through faith, can exercise similar divine authority over physical manifestations.
but also you can say to this mountain (τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ - tō orei toutō): The "mountain" is widely understood metaphorically, representing overwhelming, seemingly insurmountable obstacles, difficulties, or spiritual barriers that stand in the way of God's purposes. In a historical context, mountains could symbolize formidable earthly kingdoms or systems of power (e.g., Zech 4:7 refers to "Who are you, O great mountain?").
"Go, throw yourself into the sea": A vivid command demonstrating complete and decisive removal, utter dissolution, or disappearance of the obstacle. The "sea" often symbolizes chaos or destruction in biblical imagery, implying a definitive end to the problem.
and it will be done (καὶ γενήσεται - kai genēsetai): A categorical promise of assured fulfillment. It emphasizes the certain efficacy of faith when applied according to divine will, ensuring that the desired outcome will materialize.
"if you have faith and do not doubt": This phrase combines the active presence of faith with the crucial absence of its counter, doubt. It's a statement about the purity and integrity of one's trust in God's power and willingness to act.
"can say to this mountain, "Go, throw yourself into the sea," and it will be done": This entire phrase is a powerful hyperbolic metaphor for the extraordinary and humanly impossible accomplishments that become possible through God's power working through an individual of unwavering faith. It underlines that no obstacle is too great for God when encountered with true, persistent faith.
Matthew 21 21 Bonus section
The "moving mountains" imagery was likely a common hyperbole in Jewish discourse, denoting the tackling of enormous, seemingly impossible tasks or arguments in legal/religious matters. Jesus elevates this figure of speech to a spiritual reality, implying that faith in God can truly overcome any obstacle, be it literal, physical, or profoundly spiritual. The power displayed in Matthew 21:21 flows from God; it is not inherent in the believer. It is God working through His people as they completely rely on Him. The lack of doubt (diakrino) speaks to an inner unity of purpose and complete alignment with God's will, where the believer is not battling their own conflicting thoughts or opinions, but entirely trusting in God's ability to act. This deep level of faith means not just believing about God, but believing God—His character, His promises, and His sovereign power.
Matthew 21 21 Commentary
Matthew 21:21 is a profound statement on the power of genuine, unwavering faith in the believer's life. Following the demonstration of His authority over creation through the withered fig tree, Jesus clarifies that this power is not exclusively His but is accessible to His disciples. The core principle is that faith, untainted by doubt, enables participation in God's miraculous works. The "mountain" symbolizes any seemingly insurmountable obstacle—whether spiritual, personal, or related to the advance of God's kingdom. "Throwing it into the sea" means its complete and permanent removal. This teaching is not an invitation to manipulate God for personal whims, but rather a profound insight into how God works through His believing children for His glory and purposes, particularly in overcoming hindrances to His will. The type of faith described is an active, absolute trust that does not waver internally, believing completely in God's ability and His faithfulness to His promises. The immediate context of the fig tree's judgment serves as a practical parable: spiritual fruitfulness is desired by God, and unresponsiveness can lead to judgment, yet for those who align with God through faith, power is granted to overcome obstacles and manifest God's will.
- Practical examples: Overcoming deeply ingrained sinful habits, seeing breakthrough in long-standing family issues after consistent prayer, enduring extreme persecution while maintaining witness, or witnessing substantial spiritual transformation in communities where the gospel previously met resistance.