Matthew 21:21

“Haply “to this mountain,” He said of Himself; for He is called a Mountain: “It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord shall be manifest.”” — editor's note: Matt. xvii. 20, xxi. 21.

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxi. 14–22.

“…when the disciples marvelled at the withering of the tree, He set forth to them the value of faith, and said to them, “If ye have faith, and doubt not;” that is, if in all things ye have trust in God; and do not say, “God can do this, this He cannot do;” but rely on the omnipotence of the Almighty; “ye shall…” — editor's note: Matt. xxi. 21.

““For not this only shall ye do, but also shall remove mountains; and many more things shall ye do, being confident in faith and prayer.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxi. 21, 22. [Paraphrased.]

“He said to them:—If there were in you faith, even a mountain would remove from before you.” — editor's note: Luke xvii. 5, and Matt. xvii. 19; xxi. 21.

A bad man is better overcome by giving way to him than by replying to him; for wickedness is not instructed but stimulated by reproof. The Lord accordingly sought by withdrawing Himself to check those whom His words…

Hence it is to be understood that the Lord was in so great poverty, and so far from having courted any one, that He had found in all that city neither entertainer, nor abode, but He made His home in a little village,…

Seeking surely to lodge in the body where His spirit also reposed; for so it is with all holy men, they love to be not where sumptuous banquets are, but where holiness flourishes.

When the shades of night were dispersed, and He was returning to the city, the Lord was an hungred, thus shewing the reality of His human body.

For in permitting His flesh to suffer that which properly pertains to flesh, He foreshews His passion. Mark the earnest zeal of the active labourer, Who is said to have gone early into the city to preach, and to gain…

The Lord about to suffer among the nations, and to take upon Him the offence of the Cross, sought to strengthen the minds of His disciples by a previous miracle; whence it follows, “And seeing a fig-tree by the…

He came not because He was an hungred, but for His disciples’ sake; for because He ever did good and inflicted suffering on none, it behaved that He should set forth an example of His power of punishment; and this He…

Herein also we find proof of the Lord’s goodness; where He was minded to shew forth an instance of the salvation procured by His means, He exerted the power of His might on the persons of men; by healing their…

“For ever,” (in sempiternum,) or, “To the end of the world,” (in saeculum,) for the Greek word, αἰῶν, signifies both.

This was only a supposition of the disciples that it was cursed because it had not fruit; for another Evangelist says that it was not yet the season. Why then was it cursed? For the disciples’ sake, that they might…

The Creator does no wrong to the owner, but His creature, at His will, is converted to the profit of others.

And that you may learn that this was done for their sakes, to the end, namely, that they should be stirred up to confidence, hear what is said further. Jesus answered and said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, if ye…

The Gentile dogs bark against us, affirming that the Apostles had not faith, because they were not able to remove mountains. To whom we answer, that many wonders were done by the Lord which are not written; and…

This that the Lord speaks of He ascribes to prayer and faith; whence He continues, “And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive.”

For Christ’s disciples pray for nothing that they ought not, and as confiding in their Master they pray only for things great and heavenly.

But whenever we are not heard when we pray, it is either because we ask something adverse to the means of our salvation; or because the perverseness of those for whom we ask hinders its being granted to them; or…

It must be considered that Mark relates the wonder of the disciples at the withering of the tree, and the answer of the Lord concerning faith, to have been not on the day following the cursing of the tree, but on the…

Mystically; the Lord leaving the Chief Priests and Scribes withdrew without the earthly Jerusalem, which therefore fell. He came to Bethany to ‘The house of obedience,’ that is, to the Church, where when He had taken…

For had His hunger been as man for carnal food, He would not have hungred in the morning; he truly hungers in the morning who hungers after the salvation of others.

The tree which He saw by the wayside we understand as the synagogue, which was nigh to the way inasmuch as it had the Law, but yet believed not on the way, that is, on Christ.

And that is compared to a fig tree, because the Apostles being the first believers out of Israel, like green figs shall in the glory, and the time, of their resurrection, be before the rest.

Also the fig in respect of the multitude of seeds under one skin is as it were an assembly of the faithful. But He finds nothing on it but leaves only, that is, pharisaical traditions, an outward shew of the Law…

And because this plant was figuratively a living creature, having a soul, He speaks to it as though it heard. “Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever.” Therefore is the Jewish synagogue barren, and shall…

Or; “Into the sea,” that is, into the world where the waters are salt, i.e. the people are wicked.

And he avenges his exclusion from the elect by more cruel treatment of the reprobate.

Or, this is to be said by each servant of God in his own case respecting the mountain of pride, to cast it from him. Or, because by Jews the Gospel was preached, the Lord Himself, who is called the mount, is by the…

For every man who is obedient to the word of God is Bethany, and Christ abides in him; but the wicked and the sinners He leaves. And when He has been with the righteous, He goes to other righteous after them, and…

That is, nigh to the world; for if a man lives nigh to the world, he cannot preserve in himself the fruit of righteousness.

But if the Lord come seeking fruit with temptations, and one be found having nought of righteousness but only a profession of faith, which is leaves without fruit, he is soon withered, losing even his seeming faith;…

Matthew 21:21 and Mark 11:23 share the same wording (10 words).

Cited together in Origen on Matthew 21:17–22 (5) (Catena Aurea).