Section 11:20–26

Jesus used the withered fig tree as an example

The events in this section took place the morning after Jesus chased the merchants from the temple. On his way to Jerusalem the previous day, Jesus had spoken to a fig tree. He had said that no one would ever eat fruit from it again (11:12–14). In this section, 11:20–26, it was the next day. Jesus and his disciples were again walking from Bethany back to Jerusalem. They saw the same fig tree, which was now completely withered. It had died.

Jesus used the withered fig tree as an example to teach his disciples to trust God to do great things. He implied that he was able to make the fig tree wither because he trusted God. He told the disciples that their prayers would be answered if they trusted God. God would forgive their sins if they forgave others.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The Power of Faith (New Century Version)
-or-
A Lesson from the Fig Tree (Contemporary English Version)

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 21:19–22 and Matthew 6:14–15. See also Matthew 17:20, 18:35, and Luke 17:6.

Paragraph 11:20–21

11:20a

As they were walking back in the morning: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in the morning is literally “early.” The context shows that this refers to the morning after the events in 11:12–19 (see 11:19).

Here are some other ways to translate this:

Next morning (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Early next morning (Good News Bible)

As they were walking back: The pronoun they refers to Jesus and his disciples. You may need to make this clear since this is the beginning of a new section. For example, the God’s Word says:

While Jesus and his disciples were walking

11:20b

they saw the fig tree: The phrase the fig tree refers to the same fig tree that Jesus had cursed in 11:14. It may be helpful here to identify this as the same fig tree. For example:

they saw the fig tree again
-or-
they passed by the fig tree he had cursed (New Living Translation)

However, 11:21 makes this clear, so most English versions do not make this explicit in 11:20b.

withered from its roots: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as withered from its roots indicates that the whole tree had dried up and was completely dead. In some languages it may be more natural to say:

withered down to the roots

You may need to make it clear that it was more than just the roots that had withered. For example, the Contemporary English Version says:

completely dried up, roots and all

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