Mark 11:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Or else, as He did not dry up the fig tree for its own sake, but for a sign that Jerusalem should come to destruction, in order to shew His power, in the same way we must also understand the promise concerning the mountain, though a removal of this sort is not impossible with God.

The greatness of the miracle appears in the drying up so juicy and green a tree. But though Matthew says that the fig tree was at once dried up, and that the disciples on seeing it wondered, there is no reason for perplexity, though Mark now says, that the disciples saw the fig tree dried up on the morrow; for what Matthew says must be understood to mean that they did not see it at once, but on the next day.

The meaning is not that it dried up at the time, when they saw it, but immediately after the word of the Lord; for they saw it, not beginning to dry up, but completely dried up; and they thus understood that it had withered immediately after our Lord spoke.

Christ then who is the mountain, which grew from the stone, cut out without hands, is taken up and cast into the sea, when the Apostles with justice say, Let us turn ourselves to other nations, since ye judged yourselves unworthy of hearing the word of God. (Acts 13:46)

The Gentiles, who have attacked the Church, are in the habit of objecting to us, that we have never had full faith in God, for we have never been able to change mountains. 1It could, however, be done, if necessity called for it, as once we read that it was done by the prayers of the blessed Father Gregory of Neocæsarea, Bishop of Pontus, by which a mountain left as much space of ground for the inhabitants of a city as they wanted.

On the morning He journeyed to Jerusalem accompanied by His disciples, He experienced hunger and sought to relieve it with the fruit of a fig tree that stood in the distance. The tree was lush with leaves, which should have suggested the presence of fruit at this season near the Passover. However, as the Lord approached, He found no fruit, only the same leaves he had observed from afar, prompting Him to pronounce a curse upon it, causing it to wither immediately. This act might seem perplexing were it not for a deeper significance, as the curse was directed at something truly deserving of the Lord's disfavor.

On the night between Monday and Tuesday, Christ likely remained on the Mount of Olives (Luke 21:37). As He entered Jerusalem on Tuesday morning, the disciples pointed out the fig tree that Christ had cursed the previous day, expressing surprise at its rapid withering. In response, Christ provided them with two key teachings: first, that they, too, could perform remarkable and extraordinary deeds if they prayed with faith to God (Mt. Mk.); second, that the efficacy of their prayers also depended on their willingness to forgive those who wronged them (Mk.). This latter teaching, coupled with the promise of boundless miraculous power linked to faith, was crucial for the disciples. It served as a reminder that, while they might be tempted to follow Christ's example in cursing the fig tree, they should not misuse such miracles to seek vengeance against their foes.

Christ instructs us to extend love even to our adversaries, to bless those who speak ill of us, to act kindly towards those who harbor animosity, and to pray for those who wrongfully treat or pursue us. Those who heed this command are certain to grant forgiveness to their foes, and in doing so, they themselves are worthy of receiving clemency for their own transgressions. However, if an individual has not yet attained this level of grace, who struggles to love their enemies and benefit them, yet is not consumed by anger and forgives all wrongdoing against them, they still possess the right to implore God for the absolution of their sins.

When the followers of Christ showed their astonishment at the impact of His teachings, He imparted to them a lesson about the might of faith. Faith holds such incredible power that even if one who possesses it commands a mountain, ‘Rise up and be cast into the sea,’ it will come to pass. ‘And whatever you ask in prayer in faith, you will receive.’ See interpretations on Mt. 6:14-15, Mk. 9:28-29.

Christ the Redeemer exemplified the true essence of prayer, a lesson He reiterated upon the request of one of His followers (Luke 11:1-4). The vital condition for the effectiveness of our prayers seeking forgiveness for our wrongdoings is our readiness to forgive others for their wrongs against us. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.