Matthew 21:18-27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:22

And all things whatsoever ,.... Not only miracles, but any other thing which may be for the honour of God, the interest of religion, the spreading of the Gospel, the enlargement of the kingdom, of Christ, their own spiritual good, and the welfare of immortal souls, ye shall ask in prayer, believing . Munster's Hebrew Gospel reads it, "in prayer, and in faith"; and the Arabic version renders it, "in prayer with faith"; both to the same purpose, and aptly express the sense of the words,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:23

And when he was come into the temple ,.... The day following the cursing the fig tree: for the withering of it, and the notice the disciples took of it, and our Lord's discourse with them about it, were not in one and the same day, as is clear from the account the Evangelist Mark gives; but on the morning that Christ had conversed with his apostles by the way from Bethany to Jerusalem, concerning the strength of faith in prayer, and the success of it; when they were come into the city, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:24

And Jesus answered and said unto them ,.... Not by replying directly to their question, but by putting another question to them, whereby he escaped the snare he saw they laid for him: I also will ask you one thing , word, or question, which if ye tell me ; honestly, and plainly answer to it, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things : which was putting the thing upon such a foot, and in such a form, as they could not well object to; for Christ promises, that if... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:25

The baptism of John, whence was it? .... By the baptism of John, is meant the ordinance of water baptism, which was first administered by him; from whence he took the name of John the Baptist: and the doctrine which he preached concerning it, and previous to it, and even the whole of his ministry; which is denominated from a principal part of it, and which greatly distinguished his ministry from all others: and the question put by Christ concerning it is, whence it was? by what authority did... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:26

But if we shall say of men ,.... They reasoned with themselves, that should they give their answer in this form, and say, that the ministry and baptism of John, were merely human, and what he took up of himself, or which he performed by an authority derived from men, we fear the people ; that were then upon the spot, in the temple; who, as many of them were now the followers of Christ, more of them had been the admirers of John, and probably had been baptized by him: wherefore the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:27

And they answered Jesus and said, we cannot tell ,.... They saw the dilemma they were brought into; they chose rather therefore to speak against their own consciences, and tell a wilful lie, and incur the reproach of ignorance: who, at other times, took upon them to judge of a prophet, whether he was a true or a false one, and by what authority he acted, whether of God, or man: but now being reduced to this wretched condition, contrary to their office and character, declare they did not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 21:18

Now in the morning, as he returned into the city - Which was his custom from the time he wholly left Jerusalem, spending only the day time teaching in the temple; see Matthew 21:17 . This was probably on Thursday, the 12th day of the month Nisan. He hungered - Probably neither he, nor his disciples, had any thing but what they got from public charity; and the hand of that seems to have been cold at this time. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 21:19

He saw a fig tree in the way - Επι της οδου , By the road side. As this fig tree was by the way side, it was no private property; and on this account our Lord, or any other traveler, had a right to take of its fruit. For a full explanation of this difficult passage, relative to this emblematic fig tree, see on Mark 11:13 ; (note), etc. Let no fruit grow on thee - Can a professor, who affords Christ nothing but barren words and wishes, expect any thing but his malediction? When the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 21:20

How soon is the fig tree withered away! - We often say to our neighbors, "How suddenly this man died! Who could have expected it so soon?" But who takes warning by these examples? What we say to-day of Others, may be said to-morrow of Ourselves. Be ye also ready! Lord, increase our faith! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 21:21

If ye have faith, and doubt not - See on Matthew 17:20 ; (note). Removing mountains, and rooting up of mountains, are phrases very generally used to signify the removing or conquering great difficulties - getting through perplexities. So, many of the rabbins are termed rooters up of mountains, because they were dexterous in removing difficulties, solving cases of conscience, etc. In this sense our Lord's words are to be understood. He that has faith will get through every difficulty and... read more

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