Have Faith to Move Mountains - Matthew 21:21

Matthew the apostle wrote how, “in the morning as” Jesus “returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on you henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!” and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty-one of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus' disciples said, “if you have faith, and doubt not, you shall not only do this ...” where we read:

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If you have faith, and doubt not, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if you shall say unto this mountain, Be you removed, and be cast into the sea; it shall be done.

The verse reads, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If you have faith, and doubt not, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, ...” Matthew began with the word, “Jesus” or “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “answered” which means “began to speak and respond” “and said” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto them” which refers to “His disciples”, “verily” or “truly and surely” “I say” which means “Jesus utters declares and proclaims” “unto you” or “to His disciples”, “if you have faith” or “whether the disciples will believe, have assurance and the conviction of the truth of anything”, “and doubt not” or “and do not be at variance, hesitate, stagger or waver”, “you shall not only do this” which means “the disciples would not merely perform, produce and make ready what Jesus did” “which is done” or “that was performed, produced and made ready” “to the fig tree” which refers to “the tree that should bear fig fruit”. Matthew shared how Jesus responded to His disciples by beginning to share with them what is possible to be done when they had “faith” and did not waver in unbelief.

The verse goes on to say, “... but also if you shall say unto this mountain, Be you removed, and be cast into the sea; it shall be done.” Matthew continues with the words, “but also” which means “moreover, even and indeed” “if you shall say” which means “whether the disciples will utter, declare and proclaim” “unto this mountain” or “to the risings above the plain”, “be you removed” which means “be raised up, lifted up and elevated”, “and be cast into” or “and be thrown and scattered into” “the sea” which refers to “a large body of water used of the sea in general or specifically the Mediterranean or Red Seas”; “it shall be done” or “what is said will come into existence, begin to be, come to pass and happen”. Matthew wrote how Jesus said His disciples could speak to a “mountain”, tell it to be elevated and moved and be thrown into the “sea” if they had “faith” and “did not doubt”.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see the far reaching possibilities of “faith” in Jesus' disciples. We may find it difficult to image having such great “faith” without doubting, and yet, Jesus declared this to be true. Those who read these words should keep in mind that Jesus is speaking to “His disciples” who have aligned with His requirements to be His followers: “deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me”. These three principles should preclude anyone asking for “selfish” things alone, but should always have in mind the “Kingdom of God” in their requests and ventures in faith. God desires to have a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they repent of their sins, believe and trust in Him to forgive them and call upon Him as “Savior and Lord”, they shall perform incredible deeds in His Kingdom and for His glory.

Next time Matthew writes how Jesus says, “whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.