Matthew 21:18-22

¹⁸ Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. ¹⁹ And 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. ²⁰ And 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, 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. ²² And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Commentary
Vs. 18-19 ¹⁸ Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. ¹⁹ And 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.

In the morning the Lord Jesus leaves Bethany and returns to Jerusalem. Now as He journeyed Jesus was hungry, and seeing a fig tree along the road He came to it but found no figs on it, only leaves, and so Jesus seeing the fig tree was barren of fruit now says to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away. Now that fig tree seems symbolic of not just Jerusalem, but the entire nation of Israel, which was then devoid of the fruits of God (Matt. 21:43) because no lasting fruit to God can be born to God outside of the Lord Jesus Christ (consider John 15:1-8). Therefore, just as the nation was barren then, so it is barren today, of the fruits of God because it has not received, nor believed in its Lord, Savior, and King, the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the fig tree serves as an object lesson for us all. That though their maybe green leaves which give the appearance of being healthy and vibrant, the true measure of any nation, or ministry, or person is the fruit that it bears, or in this does not bear (consider Matt. 7:15-20).

Vs. 20-22 And 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, 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. ²² And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

With the disciples marvelling at how quickly the fig tree withered. The Lord Jesus in response to their question about how this happened so quickly, now tells 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. ²² And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” ^{Vs. 21-22} 
Though the Lord’s language may seem “hyperbolic” to some, the essence of His Word to us is that in having faith in God we are able to overcome any obstacle, or accomplish any task given us by Him. For nothing is impossible for us if we have faith and do not doubt, just as the Lord Jesus Christ says to us all: “whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Which is not a promise to satisfy someone’s selfishness, greed, or self-serving desires (consider James 4:3 also Job27:8-9; Psalm 66:18; Prov. 28:9 etc.) but that in praying in accord with the Will of God one can rest assure that their prayers will be heard and answered by Him.

Scripture Quotations: The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.