Matthew 21:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Consider this: when discussing faith, it is essential to understand that we should not refer to a misguided belief, but rather to authentic faith; our prayers should be directed towards beneficial things, as the Lord instructs us: ‘Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ Furthermore, take note of the phrase ‘doubt not.’ For someone who is closely united with God—truly one with Him—how could they request anything that would be detrimental? Therefore, if we remain closely connected with God, our requests will align with what is truly good, and we shall receive that which is beneficial.

This must be so taken as that when Matthew, having related that the fig tree was dried up, adds immediately, omitting all the events of the second day, And when the disciples saw if, they marvelled, he yet meant that it was on another day that they marvelled. For the tree must be supposed to have withered at the time it was cursed, not at the time they saw it. For they did not see it withering, but when it was withered, and by that they understood that it had withered immediately upon the Lord’s words.

It seemed praiseworthy to them, for instance, to invoke fire from heaven to annihilate entire towns merely for the inhabitants’ lack of reverence towards the Lord (Luke 9:54). In this mindset, the actions of their Master concerning the fig tree could have been misinterpreted and might have wrongly reinforced the belief that a servant of God could wield miraculous gifts in retaliation against adversaries. Thus, it was crucial to remind them that faith devoid of love holds no significance. The disciples surely grasped the deeper meaning behind the teaching on forgiving offenses. Blessed Theophylact comments: “Some may argue, if I request something harmful, mistakenly believing that the Lord will grant it because I ask in faith, will I truly receive this harmful gift simply on the basis of my faith? I respond, how can God show mercy if He fulfills a request that endangers me? When discussing faith, contemplate true faith—not misguided faith—but the faith that the Lord refers to and the prayer through which we seek what is beneficial, as the Lord instructed, saying: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Matthew 6:13). Furthermore, take note of the phrase: doubt not. For one who is united with God and remains perpetually in communion with Him cannot seek anything harmful. Therefore, if we remain intimately connected with God, with unwavering faith, we shall receive what is beneficial according to our petitions, for the Lord bestows good and not evil.”

To prevent His followers from interpreting this deed merely as a manifestation of His personal frustration, the Lord reiterated His earlier teaching that when they pray to God, they should petition not only with faith but also with a spirit of reconciliation toward all who have wronged them. He then assured them that they would not only be capable of similar miracles, such as making the fig tree wither, but even greater ones.

So what, then, is the significance of this curse upon the unfruitful fig tree? Its true meaning is illuminated by the Lord's parable concerning the fig tree (Luke 13:6). This fig tree, which bore only leaves, symbolized the Jewish nation, whose devotion was merely an outward display of ceremonial practices, devoid of true substance. Just as the tree, failing to fulfill its purpose and bearing no fruit, ultimately perishes, so too must the chosen nation face judgment for no longer adhering to its intended purpose. This judgment had been foreseen and was now culminating in a decisive moment. In essence, the outcome of the fig tree’s curse was a parable illustrating God’s judgment against the people of Judah—an assertion the Lord enacted not just through words but through tangible deeds. While this meaning remained obscured at that moment, as it might have been too burdensome for the disciples to comprehend, it was destined to be revealed. The subsequent events will determine whether the leaders of the people merited such a judgment.

Regarding the authority of miracles, skeptics often question, "Why didn’t the Apostles or Jesus move even a single mountain?" The One who could resurrect a decaying body, who commanded the storms and waves, who healed every ailment with a word, and who rose from the dead certainly possessed the ability to relocate mountains, and He would have done so if needed. The gift of miracle-working was bestowed upon the Apostles, who demonstrated such power, as noted in the Acts of the Apostles. However, this ability was not granted for the amusement of onlookers, but to fulfill God's purposes; it was not the divine intention for them to shift mountains, as there was no necessity for such actions, nor did they aspire to perform that kind of miracle.

It is essential to recognize that the miracles performed by the Apostles and other holy individuals were not executed by their own strength, but through the power of God: the Lord enacted these wonders through their prayers, for only God holds supreme power. The Apostles were endowed with the ability to perform miracles when they were sent to preach. Yet they faltered in healing a boy possessed by a demon, lacking at that moment a firm faith in the omnipotence of the One who granted them this authority (Matthew 17:19; Mark 9:28). Had James and John called for fire to consume the inhospitable Samaritans (Luke 9:54), such fire would probably not have descended, as Jesus clarified to them that miraculous power was entrusted to them for benevolent deeds, rather than punishment of transgressors. This leads to the understanding that God alone performs miracles, both directly and through the prayers of those distinguished by their profound righteousness and holiness.

It is pertinent to mention the concept of miracle-working icons. Some of the less enlightened believe the icon itself holds the ability to perform miracles. This belief is not only misguided but also perilous. It is incorrect because icons—depictions of the Savior, the Mother of God, or holy figures—cannot wield omnipotence or command the forces of nature. It is dangerous as it can devolve into the worship of the icon as if it were God Himself. We honor holy icons without sin (despite misconceptions held by some sects). However, if we assume that it is not God who works miracles through the prayers of those venerating a miracle-working icon, but rather the icon itself, this constitutes a breach of the second commandment given at Sinai.

The Lord performs many miracles through the prayers of individuals, including those who are sinful, on a daily basis; yet, we often overlook them or fail to recognize the grace of God, dismissing them as ordinary occurrences. Only miracles witnessed publicly, unmistakably, and without dispute, draw our attention. Therefore, the Lord manifests these wonders at certain revered icons, known as miraculous, to remind sinful humanity of His mercy and to draw them toward Himself.

To illustrate their spiritual barrenness, and that of the entire Jewish nation following them, the Lord employed the vivid metaphor of a fig tree that bore no fruit. This tree, lush with wide leaves yet void of any yield, perfectly represented the empty observance of the law devoid of true vitality. The fig tree in His parable remained unproductive for three years; it had been condemned by its owner to be uprooted to prevent wasting space, yet, at the gardener’s suggestion, it was granted one additional year to see if it might finally produce fruit under careful tending (Luke 13:6-9). This situation mirrored the condition of the Jewish synagogue during the ministry of the Lord Jesus. It became evident that the time of divine patience extended to her had ultimately gone unheeded, only serving to harden her resolve. By rejecting her Messiah and failing to embrace the dawn of new life brought forth by the covenant of grace (Hebrews 10:1), she was forfeiting her last flickers of vitality and moving towards her inevitable conclusion.

The significant act that the Lord was about to perform in front of His disciples served as a continuation and culmination of the previous parable of the fig tree. The inhabitants of the biblical East have historically engaged with symbolic actions that embodied various abstract truths. Even in ancient times, prophets practiced such actions to engrain their words within the hearts and minds of their contemporaries (1 Samuel 11:30; Jeremiah 19:10; 27:2). The Savior utilized this effective means to convey His message. In a moment of human need, as Blessed Theophylact elaborates, He felt hunger "in a special way." In the distance, on the road, a lone fig tree stood out; while the time for harvesting figs had not yet arrived, the tree’s foliage, which typically appears only after fruit, suggested a possibility of finding either winter figs—autumn produce that often remained on the tree—or early figs that ripened in spring and were of exceptional quality (Jeremiah 24:2). These figs were a cherished delicacy amongst the people of Palestine (1 Samuel 30:12). The Lord directed His steps towards this roadside tree, not to satisfy His own hunger, as noted by St. John Chrysostom, but rather to impart a vital lesson to His disciples.

The Omniscient One was well aware of what He would encounter. Although it was not yet harvest time, the fig tree was entirely barren; there was neither winter fruit nor any sign of new figs for the summer—only an abundance of leaves covering its branches. The Lord approached this tree, majestic in appearance yet devoid of substance and misleading in its fruitlessness, which symbolized the Jewish synagogue along with its leaders, including the chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees, represented by the blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:14). This barrenness, as expressed in church hymnody, epitomized an unfruitful and withered assembly, cloaked in the foliage of mere intellectual understanding yet lacking the fruit of righteous actions. The hypocrisy that the Lord had condemned so passionately was now vividly depicted before Him and His disciples.

As a condemnation for the hypocrites and a lesson for His followers, He pronounced His sovereign judgment upon the fig tree: "Let there be no fruit from thee forever, and let no man bear fruit from thee forever." The disciples grasped the significance of the Master’s words and quickly saw their immediate efficacy as the fig tree withered away. This miracle served a moral purpose for the Lord's closest companions, demonstrating His role as an impartial judge who addresses all pretense and deceit while also preparing them for the forthcoming events. As St. John Chrysostom stated, "He benefited no one and punished all, showcasing His justice and retribution so that both the disciples and the Jews might recognize His authority in withering those who crucified Him, even as He willingly submitted to crucifixion." When the disciples witnessed the fig tree's desiccation, they were astonished and asked, "How could the fig tree dry up?" The Lord then redirected this miracle towards their moral instruction, saying, "Amen, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you shall not only accomplish this with the fig tree, but you may also say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall be done, and all things if you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive."