Matthew 21:21, Matthew 17:20, Matthew 21:12-17, Matthew 21:18-20

Steve Holloway

'If you say to this mountain "Be removed and be cast into the sea," it will be done.' Matthew 21:21

What a promise! In fact, it is so good Matthew records it twice in His Gospel. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus says that "faith the size of a mustard seed" will move the mountain. This seems almost too good to be true.

The Bible contains 7,874 promises - I wonder how many promises have actually become realities in your life? Like me, I suspect there are many promises that you accept as a good 'divine theory' or theology, but having the reality in your life is another matter. Jesus did not say things to explain a principle or even potential. He spoke truth into people's lives in order to radically change them. So how do we take a verse like this and see the result of the promise in our lives?

This promise is set in the context of Jesus cursing the fig tree and cleansing the temple, it is also a precursor to Him being questioned about His authority. The context is a clue to the interpretation. Remember - a text without a context is a con.

Jesus' anger at the misuse of His Father's house (21:12-17) was not primarily aimed at those making a living in the temple, but at those who had allowed it. The Chief Priests and Scribes were indignant about His healing the blind and lame after the temple had been emptied of the loan sharks and traders. Their 'money-making racket' had been ruined and the house was again being used for its right purpose - glorifying God. Their anger showed their true heart. Jesus had undermined their authority and position. I don't suppose that the children who cried out "Hosanna to the Son of David!" (v15), were experts in Messianic theology, but their hearts were sensitive to God's work and His Son. The Pharisees were experts in Messianic theology, but their hearts were cold and hard to the real purpose of the Messiah. In one sentence Jesus said 'You do not understand, but these children do'. That is some slap in the face of their so-called authority. Jesus shamed them by overturning their people's tables, confused them by healing the sick and He embarrassed them by declaring that the children had a greater understanding of Yahweh and His purposes.

The cursing of the fig tree is a response to this event. (Matt 21:18-20). This passage has a reputation for being tricky to understand, but in its context, the meaning of the action is actually quite simple.

Fig trees were a common symbol for Israel - the true Israel. The religious leaders were guardians of the 'fig tree' and called to cultivate the fruit.

"I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstfruits on the fig-tree in the first season" Hosea 9:10

"For a nation has come up against My land, strong and without number; His teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the fangs of a fierce lion. He has laid waste My vine, and ruined My fig-tree; he has stripped it bare and thrown it away, its branches are made white." Joel 1:6-7

"The fig tree forms her early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance" Song of Solomon 2:13 *

Fig trees have two seasons for fruit each year. The first produces full and lush figs; the second produces much smaller fruit. Both seasons are indicated by the leaves; a full tree of leaves means a fruit laden tree. When Jesus approached this fig tree, He saw leaves and rightfully expected to find fruit, but it had produced nothing (v19a). It showed the promise and outward signs of health and productivity, but it failed to fulfil its promise, so Jesus cursed it and declared that it would never bear fruit again.

Jesus was demonstrating a spiritual truth concerning the Chief Priests and Scribes on an inanimate object. The religious leaders showed the right signs with their prayers, fasting and observance of the law, but they produced no spiritual fruit.

Jesus was enraged by the lack of fruit that He saw in the religious leaders. The Pharisees' response upon hearing Jesus being called the 'Son of David' should have been to worship, but rather they questioned His authority and its origin. Their attitude and reactions demonstrated that their actions, words and piety had no substance. They demonstrated that they were hypocrites. Questioning the origin of Jesus' authority was a typical knee jerk reaction to having their position and authority questioned. It is like an impulsive response like - 'and just who do you think you are?

Where was Jesus' authority? In His Father. The Pharisees refused to accept that Jesus was the fulfilment of God's promised Messiah and therefore would not accept that He had any authority.

So we see that Jesus' statement that the disciples could command a mountain into the sea, was a comment on authority. If you recognise the authority you have, where it comes from and use it to glorify the Father, then you can not only cause a tree to wither, but you can also move mountains.

* There are a number of ways to interpret Song of Solomon; the relationship between God and Israel, Christ and the Church or Christ and the Soul. In the context of God and Israel - Christ and the church, fig-trees often symbolise religious leadership.