Mark 11:20-25 20And as they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots. 21And remembering Peter said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22And answering Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God. 23Truly, I say to you that whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be picked up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you pray and ask, believe that you have received it, and it will be to your. 25And whenever you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven might forgive you your trespasses.”
As the group returned to Jerusalem from Bethany, the fig tree that Jesus “cursed” back in verses 12-14 caught Peter’s attention because it has dried up. Peter probably remembered this situation and told it to Mark, who recorded it in his Gospel. The reference to withering at the roots gives a vivid image of what had happened to worship at the temple. The faith of the people had died at the very center of religious power and influence in the Jerusalem temple. What the Jewish leaders were allowing in the temple was similar to what the fig tree experienced. There should have been some evidence of growing fruit and an expectation of God’s presence, but instead, the tree and the people were dying at the root.
It may seem at first glance that what follows in verses 22-25 is unrelated to both the fig tree and the temple clearing, but the sequence in the context is intentional and implies a connection. Jesus gives the fundamental issue in verse 22: have faith in God. The critical issue for the Jews was putting their faith in God and not religious actions or meaningless piety. The type of faith Jesus was talking about is total, complete, and focused, illustrated with the hyperbole of moving a mountain. Our faith must be in Jesus, and not leaders, temples, or earthly endeavors. Total faith in Jesus has no room for doubt in one’s heart.
We can show our faith through prayer. Removing a mountain was a common Jewish metaphor that described removing difficulties. With faith, prayer can solve any problem or remove any obstacle because it trusts in the One who can do this. We must be willing to seek God and accept the direction he gives to us. Prayer expects action. Prayer must not be a formality without hope. Prayer is putting our trust and hope in God, who is capable of changing a situation for our good and according to his plan. Prayer involves love. Love is the motivation for forgiveness.
There is an important link between God forgiving us and our forgiving others. Unforgiveness is a bitter attitude that grows into sin, which separates us from other people and puts a wall between us and God. When we do not forgive others, we show our lack of sincerity and humility before God. Prayer and fellowship with God allows the Holy Spirit to convict us and show us who we need to forgive. Coming into the presence of God shows our sinfulness and creates a tender heart and awareness of others. Prayer offers a great opportunity to begin the journey of forgiving others. But prayer must be followed with action that demonstrates that forgiveness has happened. In the context of the fig tree and temple clearing, Jesus was showing the pathway for healing among the Jews and was offering his disciples the way forward when they would experience rejection from their own people. Verse 26 is not in the earliest and most reliable manuscripts and is likely a scribal addition based on the similar passage in Matthew 6:15.
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