BELIEVE AND PRAY

Passage: Matthew 21:18-22

Key verse: 22

NIV

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree(A)

18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.(B)

20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt,(C) 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. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for(D) in prayer.”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

18 (A)In the morning, as he was returning to the city, (B)he became hungry. 19 (C)And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.

20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” 21 And Jesus answered them, (D)“Truly, I say to you, (E)if you have faith and (F)do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, (G)‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 And (H)whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, (I)if you have faith.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The fig tree withers (18-19)

Jesus saw the fruitless fig tree with its luxuriant foliage as a kind of parable of the temple. The temple and the priests' robes were beautiful; there were many ceremonies and much formal worship. But there was no real prayer or worship of God, and no faith. Such a religion was already dead. Jesus taught the disciples a lesson in faith by rebuking the fig tree.

2. Believe and ask in prayer (2

-22)

When the disciples were amazed by the withered tree, Jesus taught them how to have living faith, faith that moves mountains. First, have faith in Jesus, for he tells the truth; second, cast out the sickness of a doubting heart; third, pray. Let us cast out the doubt and unfruitfulness of the past and learn the prayer that moves mountains.

Prayer: Lord, cast doubt from my heart and teach me faith that moves mountains. Help me to pray, claiming your promises and thanking you for your faithful answers.

One Word: Do not doubt; believe and pray