Matthew 21:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?”

NIV: When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. 'How did the fig tree wither so quickly?' they asked.

NASB: Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, 'How did the fig tree wither all at once?'

CSB: When the disciples saw it, they were amazed and said, "How did the fig tree wither so quickly? "

NLT: The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, 'How did the fig tree wither so quickly?'

KJV: And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

NKJV: And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”

Jesus' disciples notice that the fig tree has withered (Matthew 21:18–19), likely something they noticed the following morning, according to Mark 11:20–25. Overnight, the tree went from healthy-looking to shriveled. Matthew condenses the details, though he does not actually say it all took place on the same day. Recording events in topical order, rather than a strict time order, was quite common in ancient literature. Matthew has chosen to do so in this part of his book in order to focus on specific themes.

The disciples do not ask Jesus what may seem to us to be the most logical question: Why did you curse the fig tree if figs are out of season? Instead, they ask Jesus how He caused the fig tree to wither. He answers that question in following verse (Matthew 21:21). The disciples would have known, more naturally than we would, that a productive tree would have had unripe, edible buds. The fact that it had nothing meant it was not producing fruit and would bring nothing that season.

This event was not merely an expression of Jesus' displeasure in that moment. It's possible the point of this destructive miracle was to provoke the question from the disciples. More likely is that Jesus meant the miracle as a warning of the coming judgment. Comparison of Israel to a withering, fruitless tree is also seen in Old Testament writings (Jeremiah 8:13).

Matthew 21:18–22 describes a morning when Jesus, being hungry, discovers no figs on a leafy fig tree. He curses the tree never to bear fruit again, and the tree withers at once. The disciples notice the withered tree and ask Jesus how He did it. He tells them that if they have faith and do not doubt, they could do this, too. They could even tell a mountain to be thrown into the sea. In fact, anything they ask for in prayer they will receive if they have faith.

Jesus fulfills a prophecy from Zechariah about the coming of the king to Jerusalem by riding in on a donkey. The people celebrate and praise Him as the Messiah. Jesus drives the marketers and moneychangers out of the temple and heals some people. He curses a fig tree and tells the disciples nothing will be impossible for them with faith. Jesus forces cowardly and hypocritical religious leaders to back down with a question about John the Baptist. He then exposes their fraudulent spirituality with two parables about vineyards. Jesus applies to Himself a psalm about a rejected stone being made the cornerstone by the Lord.

Matthew 21 finds Jesus arriving near Jerusalem after leaving Jericho in the previous chapter. His triumphal entry is accomplished riding a donkey, and to raucous praise, fulfilling a prophecy about the Messiah. Jesus cleanses the marketplace from the temple, heals, and presents lessons about faith and Israel's failed leadership. This leads into further conversations which Matthew compiles from Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.