Matthew 21:18-22 · Bible study
Matthew 21:18-22 Commentary: The Barren Fig Tree
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
An in-depth study of Jesus' hunger, the fig tree curse, and the teaching on faith, prayer, and spiritual fruitfulness in Matthew 21:18-22.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus uses a barren fig tree to teach about the judgment of fruitlessness and the power of faith in prayer.
- Key words: hungry, fig tree, leaves, fruit, faith, doubt, mountain, prayer, believing.
- Main debate: Is the fig tree primarily a symbol of Israel or a literal faith lesson? And was the curse prompted by Jesus' hunger alone?
- Theological theme: Fruitfulness as evidence of faith; the power of confident prayer grounded in trust in God.
- Best use: Teaching on prayer, faith in difficulty, and the danger of outward religion without inner reality.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
18In the morning, as Jesus was returning to the city, He was hungry.
19Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately the tree withered.
20When the disciples saw this, they marveled and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”
21“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.
22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
18Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry.
19Seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to it, “Let there be no fruit from you forever!” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
20When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree immediately wither away?”
21Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you told this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it would be done.
22All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
KJV King James Version 1769
18Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
19And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
20And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
21Jesus 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.
22And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
18Now in the morning as he returned to the city, he hungered.
19And seeing a fig tree by the way side, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only; and he saith unto it, Let there be no fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And immediately the fig tree withered away.
20And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How did the fig tree immediately wither away?
21And Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done.
22And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
18and in the morning turning back to the city, he hungered,
19and having seen a certain fig-tree on the way, he came to it, and found nothing in it except leaves only, and he saith to it, `No more from thee may fruit be--to the age;' and forthwith the fig-tree withered.
20And the disciples having seen, did wonder, saying, `How did the fig-tree forthwith wither?'
21And Jesus answering said to them, `Verily I say to you, If ye may have faith, and may not doubt, not only this of the fig-tree shall ye do, but even if to this mount ye may say, Be lifted up and be cast into the sea, it shall come to pass;
22and all--as much as ye may ask in the prayer, believing, ye shall receive.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
18But early in the morning, as he came back into the city, he hungered.
19And seeing one fig-tree in the way, he came to it and found on it nothing but leaves only. And he says to it, Let there be never more fruit of thee for ever. And the fig-tree was immediately dried up.
20And when the disciples saw [it], they wondered, saying, How immediately is the fig-tree dried up!
21And Jesus answering said to them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and do not doubt, not only shall ye do what [is done] to the fig-tree, but even if ye should say to this mountain, Be thou taken away and be thou cast into the sea, it shall come to pass.
22And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
18And in the morning, returning into the city, he was hungry.
19And seeing a certain fig tree by the way side, he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves only. And he saith to it: May no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And immediately the fig tree withered away.
20And the disciples seeing it wondered, saying: How is it presently withered away?
21And Jesus answering, said to them: Amen, I say to you, if you shall have faith and stagger not, not only this of the fig tree shall you do, but also if you shall say to this mountain, Take up and cast thyself into the sea, it shall be done.
22And all things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer believing, you shall receive.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Matthew 21:18
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this passage fuses a symbolic action with a lesson on faith. Jesus' hunger, as Calvin and Matthew Henry note, reveals his genuine human need, he was truly hungry, not pretending. The fig tree with leaves but no fruit functions as an acted parable. The Cambridge Bible notes that a species of fig tree in Palestine bears fruit before its leaves appear, so leaves promised fruit; finding none showed the tree failed what it advertised. That failure, for many readers, points to Israel's outward religious show without spiritual fruit. The disciples' astonishment at the tree's withering leads directly to Jesus' teaching on faith: faith in God that does not doubt can remove mountains. Wesley and Clarke both highlight that the miracle aimed to strengthen the disciples' trust. On verse 22, Calvin insists that faith and prayer belong together, believers who rely on God's goodness will receive what they need. The passage thus holds together genuine human need, prophetic judgment, and the call to radical trust.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Symbol of Israel's judgment: The fig tree with leaves (which would normally signal fruit) but no fruit represents Israel's empty profession, especially the temple leadership, consistent with the surrounding cleansing of the temple (Matthew 21:12-13).
- Literal faith lesson: The miracle is primarily a teaching tool: the disciples' wonder leads to a lesson on faith without doubt, and the tree itself is incidental to the truth about prayer (Wesley, Clarke).
- Both symbolic and didactic: The tree serves as a prophetic sign against barren religion and as a concrete object lesson to build the disciples' faith. Calvin and many Reformed commentators hold both together.
What is clear: Jesus used the event to teach his disciples about the power of faith in God, genuine prayer, and the danger of appearances without reality.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Jesus' hunger | All agree Jesus was truly hungry, showing his full humanity and voluntary identification with our weaknesses. | Some ask if his hunger made him unfairly look for fruit out of season; others note that the early fig tree's leaves genuinely promised fruit, so his expectation was reasonable. |
| Meaning of the fig tree | The fig tree's leaves-but-no-fruit represents something that fails to deliver on its promise. The passage is a teaching moment. | Many interpreters (Cambridge, many Reformers) see the tree as a symbol of Israel's empty religious profession. Others (Wesley, Clarke) treat it primarily as an object lesson about faith and unfruitfulness, not a specific national allegory. |
| Nature of faith taught here | Faith is trust in God, not self-generated power. It 'does not doubt' and issues in action. | Some read this as a promise that extraordinary miracles can be performed by any believer with enough faith; others stress that faith's object is God himself, and true faith submits to his will (Calvin: 'whatever we need'). |
| Prayer and asking | Prayer offered in faith is powerful and God responds to such prayer. | Verse 22 ('all things, whatever you ask... believing, you will receive') is understood by some as an unconditional promise; others insist it must be qualified by praying according to God's will and trusting his wisdom, not our desires. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The scene opens early in the morning, probably after Jesus spent the night in Bethany (Matthew 21:17). Bethany lay about two miles east of Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. Jesus and his disciples walked back to the city for another day of teaching in the temple. He was hungry, a reminder that the Son of God voluntarily shared the weakness of human flesh. As Clarke points out, the fig tree was beside the road, not private property, so any traveler could gather fruit from it.
Passover took place in March or April. At that season, the common fig tree would not yet have ripe fruit. But a particular variety, the early fig, puts forth small edible knobs before the leaves. The Cambridge Bible notes that this early fig tree, when covered with leaves, would normally have fruit as well. Any observant traveler would expect figs from such a tree. Jesus found only leaves, a false advertisement. The tree symbolized Israel, which through the temple system made a grand show of devotion but produced no fruit of righteousness.
Surrounding context reinforces this. In Matthew 21:12-13, Jesus cleansed the temple, driving out merchants who turned God's house into a market. The chief priests and scribes immediately confronted him (v. 23). The fig tree judgment fits this tense atmosphere: the leaders looked religious, but their hearts were barren. The withered tree stands as a visible warning. From that object lesson, Jesus turned to his disciples and moved their focus from a destroyed tree to the power of faith in God.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this passage in Matthew. The Greek text is consistent across major manuscripts. The parallel account in Mark 11:12-14, 20-24 contains variations in sequence and detail (such as the disciples discovering the withered tree the next day), but Matthew's version is stable in the manuscript tradition.
Reception History
From the early church onward, this passage has been read as a acted parable of judgment on fruitless Israel. Origen and later fathers saw the fig tree, with its leaves but no fruit, as representing the synagogue that rejected Christ. In the Reformation, Calvin and others used it to warn against confidence in outward religious observance. Wesley and the Methodist tradition emphasized the lesson on faith and prayer, treating the tree as a classroom for disciples. In modern evangelicalism, verses 21-22 are often cited in teaching on mountain-moving faith and the conditions of answered prayer. The passage also appears in hymns that call believers to bear fruit, such as "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" and others, though specific hymn titles are not supplied here. Across all traditions, the passage holds together Jesus' humanity, divine authority, and the call to genuine faith.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Lord's real hunger. Jesus experienced genuine physical need (v. 18). Matthew Henry says he "submitted to the infirmities of nature" and was so intent on his work that he came out fasting. His hunger grounds the miracle in real human experience.
- The fig tree's false promise. Leaves without fruit (v. 19). The Cambridge Bible notes that this early fig tree, covered in leaves, ought to have had fruit. It promised what it could not deliver, a picture of empty religion.
- Faith that moves mountains. Jesus turns the disciples' wonder into a call to trust (vv. 21-22). Calvin emphasizes that faith breaks out in prayer and reaches into the treasures of God's grace.
Five-point outline
- Hunger: Jesus shares our weakness (v. 18; Hebrews 4:15).
- The search: he looks for fruit and finds only leaves (v. 19).
- Judgment: the tree withers, a sign of barrenness cursed (v. 19).
- The question: "How did the fig tree immediately wither?" (v. 20).
- The answer: faith without doubt, prayer believing (vv. 21-22).
Illustration hooks
- A fruit tree in your yard that looks healthy with lush leaves but produces nothing. You wonder what went wrong.
- The feeling of being hungry, eager for a meal, and finding the refrigerator nearly empty, disappointment that makes you aware of your dependence.
- A giant obstacle in your path, financial, relational, health, that seems as immovable as a mountain. A friend tells you to trust God, and part of you wonders if that actually works.
Questions your congregation is asking
- "Did Jesus really curse a tree just because he was hungry? That seems harsh."
- "Does verse 22 mean we can ask for anything and get it if we just believe hard enough?"
- "What does it mean to doubt? Is it a feeling or a choice?"
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows Jesus acting with authority, not only teaching but also enacting a sign. The fig tree withers not because of a personal grudge but because it symbolizes something deeper. As you work through these questions, notice how the human detail of hunger sets up the spiritual lesson.
Discussion questions
- Read verses 18-19 aloud. What do we learn about Jesus from the fact that he was hungry? How does that affect your view of his humanity?
- Why do you think Jesus looked for fruit on the fig tree? What does the detail "nothing but leaves" tell you?
- The disciples marveled at the quick withering. What does their question reveal about their understanding of Jesus at this point?
- Jesus' answer moves from a cursed tree to faith in God. How does he connect the miracle to the life of prayer? What does he mean by "don't doubt"?
- In verse 22, what is the relationship between asking, believing, and receiving? Is this a promise you can apply to any request? Why or why not? (Consider Calvin's note that faith expects from God "whatever we need.")
- The fig tree had leaves but no fruit. In what areas of your life might you be producing leaves (appearances) instead of fruit (genuine change)?
- Think of a "mountain" in your life or community right now. How does this passage invite you to pray about it? What would it look like to pray with faith that does not divide?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Matthew 4:2 | When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward. |
| Matthew 12:1 | At that time, Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. |
| Mark 11:12 | The next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry. |
| Mark 11:14 | Jesus told it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” and his disciples heard it. |
| Mark 11:20 | As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. |
| Mark 11:24 | Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. |
| Luke 4:2 | for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry. |
| Hebrews 4:15 | For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke treats the fig tree as an emblem of a barren professor: one who offers Christ only empty words can expect nothing but His curse. He insists the saying about removing mountains is neither literal nor hyperbolical but a common Jewish proverb for solving great difficulties through faith. He then lays out five logical steps from conviction through prayer to receiving salvation.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that Jesus cursed a specific early-fruiting fig tree whose leaves normally appear with the fruit. Finding leaves but no fruit, He symbolically judged Israel, which alone among nations held forth promise but produced nothing, while Gentile nations were about to blossom and bear fruit.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Christ hungered and expected fruit as a true man, which does not contradict his deity. He argues the fig tree had unusually full leaves, indicating it was a variety that should have borne fruit even before the common fig season, so its curse was warranted. The tree symbolizes Israel's fruitless outward profession.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry focuses on Christ's genuine humanity and self-denial: he was so absorbed in his Father's work that he went hungry, willingly accepting even raw figs for breakfast. His return to a hostile city also shows he would not let fear or friends' unkindness keep him from his duty.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent clarifies that the English word "presently" in older translations meant "instantly," not "soon." He notes that this original sense, confirmed by the Greek word for "immediately," is the correct reading for when the fig tree withered.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley sees two clear purposes in the miracle: it was meant to strengthen the disciples' faith, but also to serve as a warning against being unfruitful. The miracle was not only a display of power but a lesson about spiritual barrenness.