21:18–22 The day after the cleansing of the temple Jesus returned to Jerusalem from Bethany. Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. To the tree he said, May you never bear fruit again! The disciples were astonished to see the tree wither so quickly and asked in amazement how it had happened (v. 20). Jesus responded, saying that if they had faith and did not doubt they could not only do what he had done but could order a mountain to cast itself into the sea and it would obey. If they believed, they would receive anything they ask for in prayer.

The fig tree was a common and favorite tree throughout Palestine. Its thick summer foliage provided excellent shade (Jesus saw Nathanael while he was “still under the fig tree,” John 1:48). In the…