Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

MARK 11:24KJV
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Mark 11:24 (KJV)

What does Mark 11:24 mean?

In Mark 11:24, Jesus tells his followers to pray with confidence that they receive what they ask for. His words join a request made in prayer with belief at the time of asking and with the expectation that the requested things will be theirs.

Jesus speaks to his disciples after they notice that a fig tree he had spoken to has dried up. Beginning with “Therefore,” Jesus connects his words about prayer to what he has just said about faith in God and moving a mountain.

The Greek behind Mark 11:24

  • “desire” — αἰτέω (aiteō): The word often means “ask for” or “request.” In this verse, “desire” refers to things people ask for, not merely things they wish for.
  • “receive” — λαμβάνω (lambanō): The word means “receive” or “take.” The Greek form can carry the sense of having received, while the KJV says “ye receive them.”

Why Mark 11:24 matters

  • Jesus speaks about requests made to God, not a way to obtain things apart from prayer. His words place the asking “when ye pray.”
  • The surrounding passage joins prayer with forgiveness. In the next verse, Jesus tells his disciples to forgive when they stand praying and hold something against someone.
  • Jesus’ words about “what things soever” are broad. Christians differ over how to understand that promise alongside other passages about prayer.

Where else these words appear

“desire” Greek G154 · used in 68 verses

  • Matthew 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
  • Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
  • Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

“pray” Greek G4336 · used in 82 verses

  • Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
  • Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
  • Acts 20:36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

“What” Greek G3745 · used in 104 verses

  • Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
  • Luke 12:3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
  • Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.