I have recently been having a heated discussion re Mark 11.23 in regards to what exactly is the mountain that is mentioned in this passage? It is obviously not literal. Is this passage a teaching on positive confession doctrine or something else?
Mark 11:23 says, “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.”
As Jesus was speaking this He and the disciples were walking over the Mt. of Olives from Bethany to Jerusalem so that’s the mountain He had in mind. The phrase “I tell you the truth” reveals that Jesus was not speaking metaphorically, and the teaching was not about some man-made prayer formula. It was about the power of faith. But ours is so weak it’s almost impossible for us to believe He was being literal about it.