PRAYER PROMISES (2)

Matthew 21:22 NKJV

And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Verse 22 assumes what Jesus taught elsewhere about prayer, namely that God will grant the petitions of His people when they are in harmony with His will (6:9–13; 7:7–11; cf. John 14:13–14; 15:16; 16:23–24; 1 John 5:14–15). His point was that when we pray we should believe that God can do anything we request and that He will do what is consistent with His will and what He has promised to do.1

1 Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Mt 21:20). Galaxie Software.

We should not try in any way whatever to minimize the force of this saying and to subtract from its meaning. Both in the physical and in the spiritual sphere the apostles had already been doing things that would have been considered just as “impossible” as causing a mountain to be lifted up and thrown into the sea. Had not Peter “by faith” walked on the water? See Matt. 14:29. Did not The Twelve exclaim, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in thy name”? (Luke 10:17). A few days later was not Jesus going to make the promise, “I most solemnly assure you, he who believes in me, the works that I do will he do also, and greater (works) than these will he do, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12)? See also Acts 2:41; 3:6–9, 16; 5:12–16; 9:36–43; 19:11, 12. In fact, does not the entire book of Acts prove that what Jesus said here in verses 21 and 22 was true? For the rest, since verse 21 closely resembles 17:20, see on that passage; and for verse 22 see on 7:7, 8; 18:19.1

1 Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew (Vol. 9, p. 775). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

The reference to prayer in verse 22 corresponds to Jesus’ complaint about the temple in verse 13: prayer has been replaced by other matters of concern, and Jesus is drawing both his detractors and his disciples back to the basic principles of the faith.1

1 Campbell, I. D. (2008). Opening up Matthew (p. 132). Leominster: Day One Publications.

21:22 “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” Notice the unconditional promise linked to mankind’s conditional response. This was a quite common way to express biblical truth but it is difficult for western-oriented people, who like clear cut black and white statements, to deal with biblical, dialectical paradoxes. Answered prayer must be linked to God’s will and man’s faith (compare Matt. 18:19; Jn. 14:13–14; 15:7, 16; 16:23; 1 Jn. 3:22; 5:14–15 with Matt. 7:7–8; Luke 11:5–13; 18:1–8; 18:9–14; Mark 11:23–24; and James 1:6–7; 4:3).

The worst thing that God could do for faithless children is answer their selfish, materialistic requests. Those believers who seek the mind of Christ ask for things that please God and extend His kingdom.1

1 Utley, R. J. (2000). The First Christian Primer: Matthew (Vol. Volume 9, p. 176). Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International.

21:22 whatever you ask in prayer The qualifiers about asking in prayer and with faith restrict the requests that God will grant. He will not give the disciples their every whim and desire; He will grant those things that align with His will and plan for the kingdom.1

1 Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Mt 21:22). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

21:21 if you have faith and do not doubt. This presupposes that the thing requested is actually God’s will (see note on 17:20)—for only God-given faith is so doubt-free (cf. Mark 9:24). it will be done. A miracle on such a cosmic scale was precisely what the scribes and Pharisees wanted Christ to do, but He always declined (see note on 12:38). Here, He was speaking figuratively about the immeasurable power of God, unleashed in the lives of those with true faith.1

1 MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 1432). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.

17:20 faith as a mustard seed. True faith, by Christ’s definition, always involves surrender to the will of God. What He was teaching here is nothing like positive-thinking psychology. He was saying that both the source and the object of all genuine faith—even the weak, mustard-seed variety—is God. And “with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37). 1

1 MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 1425). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.