Matthew 21:22 Meaning and Explanation
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Context of Matthew 21:22
Jesus speaks this after cursing the fig tree and teaching the disciples about faith, on the heels of His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
What Does Matthew 21:22 Mean?
Jesus gives a broad promise about prayer: whatever we ask in believing faith, we will receive. The setting is the withered fig tree, which had amazed the disciples; Jesus uses the moment to teach about the power of faith-filled prayer. The phrase "all things" is sweeping, but the key qualifier is "believing," prayer offered in genuine trust in God. This is a description of prayer that flows from real confidence in God's character and power, never a formula for getting whatever we crave by force of will. The faith Jesus commends rests in the God who hears. Scripture as a whole shows that such believing prayer is offered in dependence on God and in keeping with His will, trusting Him to answer in wisdom and love. The promise encourages the disciples to approach God with confident trust in place of timid doubt. God invites His people to ask, and He delights to answer the prayers of those who truly believe. Faith opens the hand to receive what God is ready to give.
Matthew 21:22 in the Original Language
The Greek pisteuo means to believe or trust, and proseuche means prayer; together they describe trusting, faith-filled prayer.
Bible Verses Related to Matthew 21:22
“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
- Mark 11:24
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”
- James 1:6
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”
- 1 John 5:14
How to Apply Matthew 21:22 Today
Bring your requests to God with genuine trust rather than timid doubt, confident that He hears and answers in His wisdom and love.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 21:22
What does Matthew 21:22 mean?
Jesus gives a broad promise about prayer: whatever we ask in believing faith, we will receive. The setting is the withered fig tree, which had amazed the disciples; Jesus uses the moment to teach about the power of faith-filled prayer. The phrase "all things" is sweeping, but the key qualifier is "believing," prayer offered in genuine trust in God. This is a description of prayer that flows from real confidence in God's character and power, never a formula for getting whatever we crave by force of will. The faith Jesus commends rests in the God who hears. Scripture as a whole shows that such believing prayer is offered in dependence on God and in keeping with His will, trusting Him to answer in wisdom and love. The promise encourages the disciples to approach God with confident trust in place of timid doubt. God invites His people to ask, and He delights to answer the prayers of those who truly believe. Faith opens the hand to receive what God is ready to give.
What is the context of Matthew 21:22?
Jesus speaks this after cursing the fig tree and teaching the disciples about faith, on the heels of His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
How can I apply Matthew 21:22 today?
Bring your requests to God with genuine trust rather than timid doubt, confident that He hears and answers in His wisdom and love.