What can we learn about Jesus' authority from Matthew 21:20? Setting the Scene • Jesus has just pronounced judgment on a leafy but fruitless fig tree. • Matthew 21:20 records the disciples’ stunned reaction: “Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, ‘How did the fig tree wither so quickly?’” The Immediate Impact of Jesus’ Word • No delay, no process—the tree withers “so quickly.” • Psalm 33:9 captures the dynamic: “For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.” • The episode shows that when Jesus speaks, creation itself must obey at once. Authority Over Creation • John 1:3 declares that “Through Him all things were made,” so the Creator has inherent power to alter creation. • Colossians 1:17 adds, “in Him all things hold together,” underscoring that the universe exists moment by moment at His command. • By a single sentence, Jesus reverses life processes; His authority is absolute, not limited by natural law. Authority Confirmed by Immediate Obedience of Nature • Compare Matthew 8:27, where the disciples marvel, “What kind of Man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!”. • Both events reveal that nature recognizes its rightful Lord even when people hesitate. Authority as a Sign of Judgment • The rapid withering prefigures swift judgment on empty religiosity (cf. Matthew 21:43). • Jesus’ authority is not only creative but judicial; He decides what lives and what dies (John 5:27). Authority Shared with Disciples • In the next verses Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt… it will be done” (Matthew 21:21-22). • His followers exercise derived authority when they pray in faith, yet always under His sovereign will. Living Under His Authority Today • Trust: Because He rules over every atom, no circumstance is too stubborn for Him. • Obedience: If trees respond instantly, how much more should we. • Fruitfulness: He looks for real, spiritual fruit; empty leaves invite His discipline (John 15:2). Key Takeaways • Jesus’ spoken word carries immediate power over creation. • His authority encompasses both blessing and judgment. • The same authority sustains believers and invites us into faith-filled obedience and fruitful living. |
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