Mark Chapter 11
1 When they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
2 and said to them, "Go your way into the village that is opposite you. Immediately as you enter into it, you will find a young donkey tied, on which no one has sat. Untie him, and bring him.
3 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord needs him;' and immediately he will send him back here."
4 They went away, and found a young donkey tied at the door outside in the open street, and they untied him.
5 Some of those who stood there asked them, "What are you doing, untying the young donkey?"
6 They said to them just as Jesus had said, and they let them go.
7 They brought the young donkey to Jesus, and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it.
8 Many spread their garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from the trees, and spreading them on the road.
9 Those who went in front, and those who followed, cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
11 Jesus entered into the temple in Jerusalem. When he had looked around at everything, it being now evening, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
12 The next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry.
13 Seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.
14 Jesus told it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" and his disciples heard it.
15 They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the temple, and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers' tables, and the seats of those who sold the doves.
16 He would not allow anyone to carry a container through the temple.
17 He taught, saying to them, "Isn't it written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations?' But you have made it a den of robbers!"
18 The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.
19 When evening came, he went out of the city.
20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots.
21 Peter, remembering, said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away."
22 Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.
23 For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and doesn't doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says.
24 Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.
25 Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions.
26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions."
27 They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him,
28 and they began saying to him, "By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?"
29 Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
30 The baptism of John-was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me."
31 They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we should say, 'From heaven;' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
32 If we should say, 'From men' "-they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet.
33 They answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things."
Footnotes
- Verse 1 (Bethsphage)
- Textus Receptus & Nestle-Aland/United Bible Societies critical text Greek New Testament read "Bethphage" instead of "Bethsphage"
- Verse 9 (Hosanna)
- "Hosanna" means "save us" or "help us, we pray".
- Verse 9
- Psalm 118:25-26
- Verse 17
- Isaiah 56:7
- Verse 17
- Jeremiah 7:11
- Verse 26
- Nestle-Aland/United Bible Societies critical text Greek New Testament omits verse 26.
Version: World English Bible
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Mark Chapter 11 Guide
This is the one occasion in the life of Jesus on which He of set purpose, and in such a way as to be understood of the crowds, took the position and accepted the homage of a King.
Afterward the disciples wondered as they saw the withered fig tree. (For the miracle see notes on Matthew 21:18-22.) This wonder was caused by Jesus' evident power; they did not question His right. Having in a brief and pregnant sentence revealed the secret of His power in such a case to be faith, He uttered some most remarkable words on prayer.
There is an underlying consideration in the cleansing of the Temple. The part of the Temple where this traffic was carried on was the court of the Gentiles. His words, "a house of prayer for all the nations," claimed the right of worship for Gentile as well as Jew, and denied the value of service rendered to some at the expense of any. The reputed masters of the Temple approached this newcomer, and demanded to know "in what authority" He was acting. The true Master of that Temple (for, observe, He had spoken of it as "My House") was dealing with men who were not sincere. He took them back to the last voice from heaven, and because they had not heard or obeyed that voice, declined to give them any further revelation.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Mark Chapter 11 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. -- (1-11)
- The barren fig-tree cursed, The temple cleansed. -- (12-18)
- Prayer in faith. -- (19-26)
- The priests and elders questioned concerning John the Baptist. -- (27-33)
Verses 1-11
Christ's coming into Jerusalem thus remarkably, shows that he was not afraid of the power and malice of his enemies. This would encourage his disciples who were full of fear. Also, that he was not disquieted at the thoughts of his approaching sufferings. But all marked his humiliation; and these matters teach us not to mind high things, but to condescend to those of low estate. How ill it becomes Christians to take state, when Christ was so far from claiming it! They welcomed his person; Blessed is he that cometh, the "He that should come," so often promised, so long expected; he comes in the name of the Lord. Let him have our best affections; he is a blessed Saviour, and brings blessings to us, and blessed be He that sent him. Praises be to our God, who is in the highest heavens, over all, God blessed for ever.
Verses 12-18
Christ looked to find some fruit, for the time of gathering figs, though it was near, was not yet come; but he found none. He made this fig-tree an example, not to the trees, but to the men of that generation. It was a figure of the doom upon the Jewish church, to which he came seeking fruit, but found none. Christ went to the temple, and began to reform the abuses in its courts, to show that when the Redeemer came to Zion, it was to turn away ungodliness from Jacob. The scribes and the chief priests sought, not how they might make their peace with him, but how they might destroy him. A desperate attempt, which they could not but fear was fighting against God.
Verses 19-26
The disciples could not think why that fig-tree should so soon wither away; but all wither who reject Christ; it represented the state of the Jewish church. We should rest in no religion that does not make us fruitful in good works. Christ taught them from hence to pray in faith. It may be applied to that mighty faith with which all true Christians are endued, and which does wonders in spiritual things. It justifies us, and so removes mountains of guilt, never to rise up in judgment against us. It purifies the heart, and so removes mountains of corruption, and makes them plain before the grace of God. One great errand to the throne of grace is to pray for the pardon of our sins; and care about this ought to be our daily concern.
Verses 27-33
Our Saviour shows how near akin his doctrine and baptism were to those of John; they had the same design and tendency, to bring in the gospel kingdom. These elders did not deserve to be taught; for it was plain that they contended not for truth, but victory: nor did he need to tell them; for the works he did, told them plainly he had authority from God; since no man could do the miracles which he did, unless God were with him.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.