And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just a general encouragement for faith; Jesus is using a specific Greek phrase that implies having faith like God has. It's about possessing a faith that mirrors God's own unwavering confidence and power in bringing things to pass.
And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just cursed a fig tree, which miraculously withered overnight, astonishing his disciples. Peter points this out, and Jesus uses the disciples' wonder as a springboard to teach them about the power of faith, especially in the context of prayer.
Jesus' command to 'have faith in God' comes right after a dramatic display of His power over nature. What does it truly mean to place our confidence in Him?
Jesus' interaction with the fig tree and His subsequent words to His disciples reveal a crucial aspect of faith: it's not just a feeling, but a deep-seated belief in God's inherent power and ability to act. When Jesus says 'have faith in God,' He's pointing to God's sovereign authority and capacity to do the impossible.
Think about it: the disciples were astonished by the instant withering of the fig tree. Jesus uses their amazement as a springboard to talk about faith. He's saying that the same power that brought that tree to ruin is accessible to those who trust Him. It’s a faith that recognizes God as the ultimate source of all power, able to overcome any obstacle, whether it’s a barren tree or a seemingly insurmountable challenge in our own lives.
Jesus doesn't just tell us to have faith; He shows us what this faith does, especially in prayer. What happens when faith meets petition?
The passage strongly links faith with prayer. Jesus doesn't just say 'have faith,' but goes on to explain how that faith is exercised: 'Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.' This isn't about wishful thinking; it’s about praying with the unwavering confidence that God hears and will answer according to His will.
The scholars note that the original phrasing, 'have faith of God,' can also imply having the strongest or greatest faith. This isn't a weak, hesitant belief, but a robust confidence rooted in God’s character and promises. When we approach God in prayer with this kind of faith, we’re not just asking; we’re partnering with the One who orchestrates all things, believing that His answers, though sometimes mysterious, are always purposeful and good.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
pistis · Greek Noun
In a biblical context, it is more than intellectual assent; it is a vital, living trust, reliance, and commitment to the character, power, and promises of God.
Jesus' command to 'Have faith in God' comes in the immediate wake of his dramatic actions in Jerusalem and the temple, and the symbolic cursing of the fig tree. This context highlights that true faith isn't passive but active, challenging corruption and trusting God's power even when facing opposition from religious authorities.
c. AD 30, Spring— this verse
Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Jesus makes a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, hailed by crowds as a king, but the religious authorities are troubled.
c. AD 30, Spring
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Jesus enters the temple and drives out the money changers and merchants, disrupting their commerce and declaring it a house of prayer.
c. AD 30, Spring
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
Jesus curses a fig tree that has no fruit, and it withers. This event serves as a lesson on faith and judgment.
c. AD 30, Spring
Disciples' Astonishment at the Fig Tree
The disciples witness the withered fig tree and express their amazement to Jesus.
c. AD 30, Spring
Jesus Teaches on Faith and Prayer
In response to the disciples' questions about the fig tree, Jesus teaches them about the power of faith in God and the efficacy of prayer.
c. AD 30, Spring
Religious Leaders Seek to Kill Jesus
The chief priests, scribes, and rulers are angered by Jesus' actions and teachings in the temple and begin plotting his death.
Jesus directly follows this command with a profound statement about the power of faith to move mountains, showing the tangible, even dramatic, results of having faith in God.
Matthew 17:20Here, Jesus explicitly links the power to move mountains to having faith, even if it's just as small as a mustard seed, underscoring that the size of the obstacle is irrelevant to God's power through faith.
Romans 4:20This passage highlights Abraham's unwavering faith, which was 'without wavering,' in God's promises, mirroring the kind of steadfast trust Jesus calls for in Mark 11:22.
Hebrews 11:6This verse states that without faith it is impossible to please God, directly supporting the core message of Mark 11:22 by emphasizing that faith is essential for a right relationship with Him.
Jeremiah 32:17The prophet Jeremiah exclaims 'Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you,' which is a powerful affirmation of God's omnipotence, the very foundation upon which Jesus builds the command to 'have faith in God.'
calvinMark 11:11-24: "And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve."
- And when he entered into Jerusalem, the whole city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11. And the multitudes said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth in Galilee. 12. And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all that sold and bought in the temple, and overturned the tables of the mon…
clarkeMark 11:22: "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God."
Have faith in God - Εχετε πιϚιν θεου is a mere Hebraism: have the faith of God, i.e. have strong faith, or the strongest faith, for thus the Hebrews expressed the superlative degree; so the mountains of God mean exceeding great mountains - the hail of God, exceeding great hail, etc.
This isn't just a general encouragement for faith; Jesus is using a specific Greek phrase that implies having faith like God has. It's about possessing a faith that mirrors God's own unwavering confidence and power in bringing things to pass.
Jesus has just cursed a fig tree, which miraculously withered overnight, astonishing his disciples. Peter points this out, and Jesus uses the disciples' wonder as a springboard to teach them about the power of faith, especially in the context of prayer.
Jesus has just cursed a fig tree, which miraculously withered overnight, astonishing his disciples. Peter points this out, and Jesus uses the disciples' wonder as a springboard to teach them about the power of faith, especially in the context of prayer.
"And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God." — This isn't just a general encouragement for faith; Jesus is using a specific Greek phrase that implies having faith like God has. It's about possessing a faith that mirrors God's own unwavering con…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026