The Withered Fig Tree and Teaching on Faith
Matthew 21:18-22
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Matt.21.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Πρωι: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- επαναγων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πολιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- επεινασεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 11:12 (verbal): Direct parallel narrative: Mark likewise records Jesus returning, becoming hungry, and encountering the fig tree (uses same motif and similar wording).
- Matt.21.19 (structural): Immediate literary continuation in Matthew: the next verse records Jesus finding no fruit and cursing the fig tree—shows the consequential action tied to his hunger.
- Mark 11:20 (structural): Mark's account records the subsequent discovery that the fig tree had withered, linking the morning hunger/fig-tree episode to its miraculous outcome (the withering seen the next day).
- Matt 4:2 (thematic): Jesus is said to have been hungry after forty days of fasting; both passages use physical hunger to frame testing, dependence on God, or pivotal moments in Jesus' ministry.
- John 4:31-34 (thematic): Jesus' discussion about food—declaring he has 'food' to do the will of the Father—offers a thematic contrast/insight about physical hunger versus spiritual mission in episodes where Jesus experiences or speaks of hunger.
Alternative generated candidates
- And in the morning, as he returned to the city, he became hungry.
- And in the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry.
Matt.21.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ιδων: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- συκην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- μιαν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- οδου: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- επ᾽αυτην: PREP+PRON,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ουδεν: PRON,acc,sg,n
- ευρεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- ει: COND
- μη: PART
- φυλλα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- μονον: ADV
- και: CONJ
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτη·Μηκετι: PRON,dat,sg,f+ADV
- εκ: PREP
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- καρπος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- γενηται: VERB,aor,mid,subj,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αιωνα·και: NOUN,acc,sg,m+CONJ
- εξηρανθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- παραχρημα: ADV
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- συκη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 11:12-14,20-21 (verbal): Near-verbatim synoptic parallel: Jesus curses a fruitless fig tree; Mark preserves the same sequence and the withering (noting the disciples see it the next day).
- Luke 13:6-9 (thematic): Parable of the barren fig tree threatened with being cut down for unfruitfulness; both passages use the fig tree as a symbol of judgment on fruitlessness and the possibility (in Luke) of a reprieve after cultivation.
- Jeremiah 8:13 (allusion): Uses the image of no figs on the fig tree as a divine judgment formula—language and motif parallel Jesus’ pronouncement of fruitless judgment on the tree (and implicitly on unfruitful Israel).
- Jeremiah 24:1-10 (thematic): Vision of good and bad figs representing the fate of Judah/Israel; the fig image is employed to depict divine blessing versus judgment, thematically resonant with the cursed barren fig tree.
- Matt 24:32-35 (thematic): Jesus’ later use of the fig tree as a sign of impending judgment/seasonal recognition; connects the fig-tree motif to discernment of eschatological signs and the theme of forthcoming judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- And seeing a fig tree by the way, he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves; and he said to it, 'May no fruit ever grow on you again.' And the fig tree withered at once.
- And seeing a fig tree by the way, he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves. And he said to it, 'May no fruit ever come from you again.' And the fig tree withered at once.
Matt.21.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ιδοντες: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- εθαυμασαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- λεγοντες·Πως: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- παραχρημα: ADV
- εξηρανθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- συκη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 11:20-21 (verbal): Direct synoptic parallel—disciples marvel and ask how the fig tree withered so quickly; wording and reaction closely match Matthew 21:20.
- Mark 11:12-14 (structural): Narrative parallel to the cursing of the fig tree earlier in Mark's Gospel; provides the immediate episode that explains the disciples' amazement in 11:20 (parallels Matt. 21:18-19).
- Luke 13:6-9 (thematic): Parable of the barren fig tree: uses the fig tree as a symbol of fruitlessness and impending judgment—thematic background for Jesus' cursing of the unfruitful fig tree.
- Matt 24:32-33 (thematic): Jesus uses the fig tree as a sign (when its branch becomes tender you know summer is near); same fig-tree imagery employed to teach about recognizing imminent divine action or judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, 'How quickly the fig tree has withered!'
- When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, 'How did the fig tree wither at once?'
Matt.21.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αποκριθεις: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις·Αμην: PRON,dat,pl,3+PART
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- εαν: CONJ
- εχητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- πιστιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- μη: PART
- διακριθητε: VERB,aor,pass,subj,2,pl
- ου: PART
- μονον: ADV
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- συκης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ποιησετε: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,pl
- αλλα: CONJ
- καν: PART
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ορει: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- τουτω: DEM,dat,sg,m
- ειπητε·Αρθητι: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- βληθητι: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- θαλασσαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- γενησεται·: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 11:23 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel: Jesus says if one has faith and does not doubt, speaking to a mountain will cause it to be cast into the sea.
- Matthew 17:20 (verbal): Same Matthean theme: faith (even small as a mustard seed) can move mountains—teaches the efficacy of genuine faith.
- Luke 17:6 (verbal): Similar saying about faith’s power to command a tree to be uprooted and cast into the sea—uses a tree-moving image comparable to Matthew’s mountain.
- Mark 9:23 (thematic): Affirms the same principle that belief/faith makes the impossible possible: 'All things are possible to him who believes.'
- James 1:6 (thematic): Connects to Jesus’ warning against doubting: prayer/requests must be made in faith without wavering.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Jesus answered them, 'Truly 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 if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will be done.'
- And Jesus answered them, 'Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, "Be taken up and cast into the sea," it will be done.
Matt.21.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- παντα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- οσα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- αν: PART
- αιτησητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- προσευχη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- πιστευοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- λημψεσθε: VERB,fut,mid,ind,2,pl
Parallels
- Mark 11:24 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel in Mark: Jesus teaches that whatever is asked in prayer, believing, will be received (explicit emphasis on faith).
- Luke 11:9-13 (thematic): Similar teaching on persistent asking and God’s readiness to give good gifts; underscores the promise that asking leads to receiving.
- John 14:13-14 (thematic): Jesus promises that requests made in his name will be granted, connecting prayer, Jesus’ authority, and answered requests.
- James 1:6-8 (allusion): Warning that one must ask in faith without doubting; echoes Matthew’s condition that prayer be accompanied by belief.
- 1 John 5:14 (thematic): Affirms confident prayer to God—if we ask according to his will he hears us—paralleling Matthew’s assurance about effective prayer when aligned with faith.
Alternative generated candidates
- And whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
- And whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.'
In the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the roadside, he went to it and found nothing on it but leaves. And he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again." And the fig tree withered at once.
When the disciples saw it, they were astonished, saying, "How quickly the fig tree has withered!"
Jesus answered them, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and cast into the sea,' it will be done. And whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."