Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 21:22

22 And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Luke hath nothing of this passage, but Mark relateth it, with some Variation, and Additions: The Variation is only as to time, (as to which the Evangelists were not Curious) Matthew relates this Miracle, as done in the Morning of the second day, as Christ and his Disciples returned from Bethany; so doth Mark, Ch. 11, 12. but Matthew speaks, as if the Disciples discerned it presently Withered. Mark mentions it, as not discerned to be Withered, till the next Morning, v. 20. Mark saith, v. 13. For the time of Figs was not yet, which breeds a Difficulty, why our Saviour should Curse the Fig-tree, for having no Fruit, when the time for its Fruit was not come (of which more by and by.) Mark saith, v. 21, 22. That Peter calling to remembrance his Masters Cursing the Fig-tree, saith unto him Master, Behold the Fig-tree which thou Cursedst is Withered away: And Iesus answering said unto them. Have faith in God: Then repeats the substance of what Matthew hath in v. 21, 22. to which Mark addeth, v. 25, 26. And when you stand Praying, forgive, if you have ought against any; that your Father also which is in Heaven, may forgive you your Trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in Heaven, forgive you your Trespasses. When our Lord had been in the Temple, and driven out the Buyers, and Sellers there, he went out of the City to lye at Bethany, either to avoid the noises of the City (now very full of People, the Passover being so nigh) or to get a more private place for Prayer. He returns the next Morning, and being an Hungry, and seeing a Fig-tree in his way, he goes to it, finds it full of Leaves, but no Fruit on it. He saith unto it, Never Fruit grow on thee more. Mark saith, For the time of Figs was no[illegible: 1 letter] yet: Why then doth our Saviour Curse this Tree? Some think, that by time is here meant Season (as indeed the [illegible: 1 word] word often signifieth) these would have the meaning to be▪ For it was not [illegible: 1 word] Seasonab[illegible: 1 letter]e year for Figs. But this rather Augmenteth, than abates the Difficulty; for why should our Saviour Curse it, for having no Figs▪ when the Year was such, as was not Seasonable? Others therefore think, that [non-Latin text not transcribed] should be [non-Latin text not transcribed], then the English would be, Where he was, was a time of Figs. For this it is said, 1. That the Greek Spirits and Accents were ordinarily left out in ancient Copies, which if they be taken away, the Words are the same. 2. That this was according to Truth, for it was a time of Green Figs, at least it being near Ierusalem, and but three or four days before the Passover, about which time they reaped their Corn, as appears from Lev. 23.16. Deut. 16.9. and it is plain from, Cant. 2.13. that in the beginning of their Spring, their Fig-trees put forth Green Figs. But when I consider, that none of the ancient Translations are according to this Criticism, but as our Translations, I conclude, that the Antients understood it, [non-Latin text not transcribed] not [non-Latin text not transcribed], and it seemeth too bold to interpret the Words contrary to their Unanimous Sense: Others therefore tell us, that Fig-trees, or at least some kind of them (like Orange-trees) had Leaves and Fruit upon them always, some Green, some half Ripe, some full Ripe, and that these kept on their Leaves all the Winter: So that our Saviour seeing Leaves, might be led to it with an Expectation of some Fruit put forth the former Year, for the time for the Ripening of Fruit, of that kind that Year, was not come, and finding none, he Cursed it. Thereby in a Type, shewing what should be done to Barren Souls, who have only Leaves, no true Fruit of Righteousness. Or, what if we should say, that he did not Curse it, with any respect to its want of Fruit, but only to shew his Divine Power, working a Miracle? And presently the Fig-tree Withered away: A[illegible: 1 letter]soon as our Saviour had Cursed it, it began to Wither. Mark tells us this was the next Morning, Ch. 11.20. which made Peter say, Master behold the Fig-tree which thou Cursedst is Withered away. Matthew saith, When the Disciples saw it, they marvelled saying, How soon is the Fig-tree Withered away? Upon this our Saviour telleth Peter and the rest, that if they had Faith, and doubted not, they should not only do that which he had done to the Fig-tree, but if they said to that Mountain, be removed and cast into the Sea, it should be done. This is interpreted by v. 22. All things whatsoever ye shall ask in Prayer, ye shall receive: We met with the like Expression before, Mat. 17.20. Mark hath the same, Ch. 11.23. Luke hath it, Ch. 17.6. It is an Expression which ought not to be strained further than to signifie, That there is nothing conducive to the Glory of God, and our own good, but Believers may receive at the Hand of God, if they can believe without doubting, that what they would have shall come to pass. I see no reason to Discourse of a Faith of Miracles, as different from other Faith; which only thus differed, that the Disciples (the Apostles I mean) had a Power given them, and a Promise made to them, that they should be able to work miraculous Operations, which is not given to other Christians serving only the particular occasions of that time, to give Credit to the Gospel. The General proposition is true, and shall be made Good, to every Believer: That whatsoever Good is made the matter of a Promise (such are all Good things) shall be given to believing Souls, Praying for them. But there were of old special Promises, not made to the People of God in general, but to particular Persons, for particular Ends; we cannot expect to do, or obtain such things now. Nothing is too big for true Faith to obtain, but that Faith must have a Promise to lean upon, and it must be shewed by Prayer, as v. 22. Mark adds, that it must be also attended with Charity, a Charitable Heart ready to forgive, and Actually forgiving our Brethren their Trespasses: But it is no more th[illegible: 1 letter]n we met with in Matthew, Ch. 6. v. 14, 15. where we opened the Sense of those Words.

Marginal references: Chap. [illegible: 1 letter].[illegible: 1 letter]. Mark 11.2[illegible: 1 letter] Luke 11.9 1 Joh. 3.22. & 5.14.