Matthew 21:21
Jesus 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.
Matthew 21:21 · King James Version
Meaning
In this verse from the Bible, Jesus is teaching his disciples about the power of faith and the importance of believing without doubt. He uses the example of the fig tree to illustrate how faith can lead to miraculous outcomes. By telling his disciples that if they have faith and do not doubt, they can not only wither a fig tree but also move mountains into the sea, Jesus is emphasizing the incredible power that faith can have in our lives. He is showing them that with unwavering belief in God's power, anything is possible. This verse serves as a reminder to all believers that faith can move mountains, both in the literal and metaphorical sense. It challenges us to trust in God wholeheartedly and believe in his ability to perform miracles in our lives, no matter how big or small they may seem.
Theological Overview
In this verse, Jesus is teaching his disciples about the power of faith. Through his statement about moving mountains with faith, Jesus is emphasizing the importance of trusting in God completely. The theological interpretation of this verse highlights the miraculous power that can be unleashed when one has unwavering faith in God. By using the example of a fig tree and a mountain, Jesus is illustrating the limitless potential that believers have when they fully put their trust in Him. This verse can be seen as a call to action for believers to have faith in God's ability to work wonders in their lives, even in seemingly impossible situations. It serves as a reminder that with faith, nothing is impossible, and God is able to accomplish the extraordinary through those who believe in Him wholeheartedly.
Matthew 21:21 in other translations
American Standard Version
And 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.
World English Bible
Jesus 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.
Douay-Rheims
And 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.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And Iesus answered and said vnto them, Verely I say vnto you, if ye haue faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only doe that, which I haue done to the figge tree, but also if ye say vnto this mountaine, Take thy selfe away, and cast thy selfe into the sea, it shalbe done.