For truly I say to you, That whoever shall say to this mountain, Be you removed, and be you cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he said shall come to pass; he shall have whatever he said.
whosoever.
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Luke 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
and shall.
Matthew 14:13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
Romans 4:18-25 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be…
Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, …
whatsoever.
Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
that if anyone says to this mountain
The "mountain" here is often interpreted metaphorically, representing seemingly insurmountable obstacles or challenges. In the context of Jesus' ministry, mountains can symbolize significant spiritual or personal barriers. Geographically, Jesus was likely near the Mount of Olives, which would have been a familiar landmark to His listeners. The use of "this mountain" could also be a hyperbolic expression to illustrate the power of faith.
‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’
This imagery of a mountain being cast into the sea is hyperbolic, emphasizing the miraculous power of faith. The "sea" could refer to the Dead Sea, visible from the Mount of Olives, known for its depth and vastness. The act of moving a mountain into the sea symbolizes overcoming impossible situations through faith.
and has no doubt in his heart
Doubt is contrasted with faith throughout Scripture. The heart, in biblical terms, is the center of belief and trust. This phrase underscores the necessity of unwavering faith, free from skepticism or hesitation. James 1:6-8 similarly warns against doubting, likening it to being tossed by the wind.
but believes that it will happen
Belief is a central theme in the teachings of Jesus. This phrase emphasizes the necessity of confident trust in God's power and promises. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see, highlighting the assurance required in belief.
it will be done for him
This promise reflects the power of faith in action. It aligns with other biblical assurances that God responds to faith, such as in Matthew 17:20, where Jesus states that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. This phrase assures believers of God's willingness to act on their behalf when they exercise genuine faith.
- Jesus begins with a solemn affirmation, underscoring absolute reliability. When He says, “Truly,” He is guaranteeing the statement that follows (cf. John 14:6; Revelation 3:14).
- This echoes earlier teachings where He prefaces pivotal truths the same way (Matthew 5:18; Mark 10:15). The certainty builds faith in the listener before the command is even heard.
- “Anyone” widens the promise beyond the Twelve; it embraces every believer (John 14:12).
- “This mountain” was the Mount of Olives, in plain view. Jesus uses a literal landmark to make a literal point: God‐enabled faith can move what is immovable (Matthew 17:20).
- Mountains symbolize daunting obstacles throughout Scripture (Isaiah 40:4; Zechariah 4:7), yet they remain real, physical entities—reminding us that God’s power is not limited to metaphor.
- The command is daring, picturing a total removal of the obstacle—flung far away into the depths (Micah 7:19; Psalm 97:5).
- The Sea likely refers to the Dead Sea nearby, reinforcing the concreteness of the illustration.
- This reflects God’s pattern of decisive interventions, such as the Red Sea parting (Exodus 14:21-28) and the Jordan’s retreat (Joshua 3:13-17).
- Doubt divides loyalty, so faith must be whole (James 1:6-8).
- The heart is the center of conviction (Proverbs 3:5-6); internal certainty precedes external action.
- Jesus calls for single-minded trust, the same trust Abraham displayed when he “did not waver in unbelief” (Romans 4:20-21).
- Biblical belief rests on God’s character, not wishful thinking (Hebrews 11:6).
- Faith speaks in harmony with God’s will; it does not manipulate Him (1 John 5:14-15).
- The tense is immediate: faith expects fulfillment in God’s timing, as Elijah did concerning rain after years of drought (1 Kings 18:41-45).
- The promise is categorical: “it will be done.” Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37).
- The action is God’s, not human force; believers speak, but God performs (Acts 3:6-7,16).
- Jesus later ties the promise to prayer in the very next verse, anchoring “mountain-moving” faith in ongoing communion with the Father (Mark 11:24; John 15:7-8).
Mark 11:23 assures every believer that wholehearted, doubt-free faith in God’s power and will can overcome the heaviest obstacles. Jesus uses a literal mountain and sea to show that nothing physical or spiritual stands immovably before God. Our role is to trust, speak in agreement with His revealed purposes, and watch Him accomplish what human strength never could.
(23) Those things . . . he shall have whatsoever he saith.--The better MSS. give, "that the thing which he saith cometh to pass," and "he shall have it." The promise is specific rather than general in its form, and so prepares the way for the wider generalisation of the next verse.