Matthew 21:20

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

And {G2532} when the disciples {G3101} saw {G1492} it, they marvelled {G2296}, saying {G3004}, How {G4459} soon {G3916} is the fig tree {G4808} withered away {G3583}!

The talmidim saw this and were amazed. "How did the fig tree dry up so quickly?" they asked.

When the disciples saw this, they marveled and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”

And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How did the fig tree immediately wither away?

Matthew 21:20 describes the disciples' astonished reaction to Jesus' curse on the fig tree. After Jesus had cursed it the previous day for bearing no fruit, they observed its immediate and complete withering, prompting their amazement at the suddenness of the event.

Context

This verse follows directly from Jesus' encounter with the fig tree on His way from Bethany to Jerusalem. Finding no fruit on it, only leaves, He pronounced a curse upon it: "Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever." The fig tree, in this narrative, serves as a powerful symbol. It represents outward appearance without inward reality, often interpreted as a prophetic act against Israel's religious leaders who had the outward show of piety (leaves) but lacked the spiritual fruit of righteousness and faith. The disciples' observation in verse 20, noting "How soon is the fig tree withered away!", sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent teaching on faith and prayer in Matthew 21:21-22.

Key Themes

  • The Authority of Jesus: The immediate and dramatic withering of the fig tree demonstrates Jesus' divine power and authority over creation. His word carries ultimate power, capable of profound and instant transformation or judgment, much like His calming of the storm (Mark 4:39).
  • Spiritual Barrenness and Judgment: The fig tree, having leaves but no fruit, symbolizes spiritual unfruitfulness. This serves as a stark warning against outward religious display that lacks genuine spiritual life and the production of good works, a theme also explored in the parable of the barren fig tree in Luke 13.
  • Amazement and Faith: The disciples' "marvelled" (Greek: ethaumasen - ἐθαύμασαν) highlights their profound astonishment at the instantaneous decay. Their reaction underscores the miraculous nature of the event and leads into Jesus' teaching on the power of faith that can move mountains.

Linguistic Insight

The Greek word for "marvelled," ethaumasen (ἐθαύμασαν), conveys a sense of great astonishment and wonder, indicating the disciples were genuinely awestruck by the speed and completeness of the fig tree's demise. The phrase "withered away" uses the verb exēranthē (ἐξηράνθη), which means to become completely dried up, emphasizing the total and irreversible nature of the curse.

Practical Application

This verse, viewed within its broader context, challenges believers to assess their own spiritual fruitfulness. Are we merely displaying outward signs of faith (leaves) without genuinely producing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and good works that glorify God (John 15:8)? The immediate consequence for the fig tree reminds us that divine judgment on spiritual barrenness, while often delayed, is certain. It also reinforces the incredible power available through faith and prayer when aligned with God's will, as Jesus explains in the verses that follow.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 40:6

    The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh [is] grass, and all the goodliness thereof [is] as the flower of the field:

  • Isaiah 40:8

    The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

  • Mark 11:20

    And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

  • Mark 11:21

    And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

  • James 1:10

    But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

  • James 1:11

    For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

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