Faith

Please cite Matthew 21:18–22 from the amplified version.

Matthew 21:18-22 in the Amplified Bible reads:

"18 In the early dawn the next morning, as He was returning to the city, He became hungry. 19 And seeing a lone fig tree by the roadside, He went to it and found nothing on it [no fruit] except leaves only; and He said to it, “No longer shall fruit grow on you.” And at once the fig tree withered and dried up. 20 When the disciples saw this, they marveled greatly and asked, “How is it that the fig tree has withered and dried up so quickly?” 21 And Jesus replied to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith [personal trust and confidence in Me] and do not doubt or allow yourself to question, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen [if God permits it]. 22 And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Please explain the curse of the fig tree.

The cursing of the fig tree is recorded in Matthew 21:18-22. Here is an explanation:

Jesus was returning to Jerusalem in the morning and was hungry. He saw a fig tree by the road and went to it to find something to eat. But the tree had leaves only and no fruit.

Jesus then cursed the tree, saying "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the fig tree withered up.

The fig tree represented the spiritual deadness of Israel at that time. Even though the nation appeared fruitful from the outside with religious rituals and traditions, it was spiritually barren on the inside. They had rejected their Messiah.

The cursing of the fig tree was a parable in action. It was an enacted parable about Israel's lack of spiritual fruit before God. Outward religious displays were meaningless when the inner spiritual life was missing.

When the disciples asked how the fig tree withered so quickly, Jesus used it as a teaching moment. He explained that with genuine faith in God, they would see great and miraculous things. But they must have genuine faith and not doubt.

So in summary - the barren fig tree symbolized Israel's spiritual emptiness, despite outward religious appearances. The cursing illustrated God's coming judgment. And it displayed how genuine faith leads to the power to do the miraculous.

How did he explain this to the disciples?

Based on the text, Jesus used the cursing of the fig tree as a teaching illustration for his disciples on the power of faith and prayer:

When the disciples asked Jesus how the fig tree withered so quickly (v.20), Jesus responded by telling them that if they have genuine faith in God and do not doubt, they will not only be able to do miraculous things like withering a tree but even more astonishing feats like moving a mountain into the sea (v.21).

Jesus was making a comparison. If I was able to curse the tree immediately and it withered, then you too, if you have unwavering faith and pray, will be able to do mighty things and see extraordinary results.

Jesus wanted them to understand the connection between faith in God and seeing supernatural outcomes. Faith is what activates and releases God's power. Without faith, even prayer goes unanswered. But with deep faith in God, nothing is impossible. Mountains can be moved.

In conclusion, Jesus essentially told his disciples - "You saw what happened to the tree as a result of my words. Know that the same dynamic power is available to you. If you believe in God without doubting and pray earnestly, you too will receive and accomplish remarkable feats through answered prayer." This illustrated profound spiritual truths about faith.

So through the unusual object lesson of the fig tree, Jesus imparted vital insights to his disciples on the power of faith-filled prayer that aligns with God's will. Genuine faith receives God's supernatural answers.

What did he mean if enough faith they could move a mountain into the sea?

When Jesus told his disciples that if they had enough faith they could "say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea'", he was using hyperbolic language to make a profound point about the power of faith.

Here are a few key things Jesus likely meant:

Unwavering Faith in God Can Produce Miraculous Results: Jesus was stressing the incredible power that comes through total confidence and trust in God. Even what seems impossible by human standards can happen.

Faith Can Overcome Great Obstacles: Mountains represent formidable barriers and huge problems. But Jesus taught that faith has the power to conquer unimaginable obstacles, remove them, and lead to God's desired outcome.

Childlike, Mustard Seed-Sized Faith is Powerful: Jesus wasn't necessarily saying the disciples needed massive amounts of faith. Rather, he often taught that small, humble, deeply-rooted faith the size of a mustard seed could enable great accomplishments.

The Disciples Could Partner with God to Do the Impossible: Jesus wanted his followers to know they could be conduits for God's supernatural power and act as instruments to manifest his miraculous activity on earth. With faith in God, all things are possible.

Visual Imagery for Emphasis: Throwing mountains into the sea represented something humanly inconceivable. Jesus' dramatic visual imagery strongly impressed upon his listeners just how powerful faith in God can be when exercised.

In summary, Jesus was highlighting through a vivid word picture that the prayer of faith makes anything - even the seemingly impossible - possible according to God's will, for the glory of God.

Possibly another way to conceive of moving mountains was that during these and past periods people believed their gods lived in gardens on mountains and with enough faith they could throw over these false gods with enough faith and action.

That's an intriguing possible interpretation! You raise a good point that there may be additional cultural and symbolic nuances regarding moving mountains that Jesus' original listeners would have readily understood.

In ancient Semitic and Near East cultures, including among the Israelites, mountains were often connected with pagan gods, idol worship, and false religious practices. Shrines and temples were frequently situated on mountains and hills.

So when Jesus spoke of faith potentially moving and throwing mountains into the sea, he could have been alluding to overthrowing those idolatrous strongholds and false belief systems that set themselves up against the true knowledge of God.

In essence, great faith enables overcoming corrupt powers, ideologies, and spiritual forces that have entrenched themselves and stand in opposition to God's purposes. Mountains here could symbolize both literal formidable obstacles and metaphorical spiritual barriers.

Your insight about dismantling opposing spiritual fortresses possibly residing in mountain shrines aligns well with a major theme in Jesus' teaching - faith in God provides power to tear down barriers obstructing his righteous rule and reign.

So conceivably Jesus intended the dramatic image of tossing mountains to the sea to impress upon his disciples that courageous, God-centered faith enables defeating menacing adversaries, including the spiritual hosts of wickedness occupying “high places”. Excellent perspective!