Mark 11

Jesus enters Jerusalem

1 When Jesus and his followers approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives. Jesus gave two disciples a task,

2 saying to them, " Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter it, you will find tied up there a colt that no one has ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?' say, ‘Its master needs it, and he will send it back right away.'"

4 They went and found a colt tied to a gate outside on the street, and they untied it.

5 Some people standing around said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?"

6 They told them just what Jesus said, and they left them alone.

7 They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes upon it, and he sat on it.

8 Many people spread out their clothes on the road while others spread branches cut from the fields.

9 Those in front of him and those following were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

10 Blessings on the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest!"

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. After he looked around at everything, because it was already late in the evening, he returned to Bethany with the Twelve.

Fig tree and the temple

12 The next day, after leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.

13 From far away, he noticed a fig tree in leaf, so he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing except leaves, since it wasn't the season for figs.

14 So he said to it, " No one will ever again eat your fruit!" His disciples heard this.

15 They came into Jerusalem. After entering the temple, he threw out those who were selling and buying there. He pushed over the tables used for currency exchange and the chairs of those who sold doves.

16 He didn't allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.

17 He taught them, " Hasn't it been written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you've turned it into a hideout for crooks."

18 The chief priests and legal experts heard this and tried to find a way to destroy him. They regarded him as dangerous because the whole crowd was enthralled at his teaching.

19 When it was evening, Jesus and his disciples went outside the city.

Power, prayer, and forgiveness

20 Early in the morning, as Jesus and his disciples were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered from the root up.

21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look how the fig tree you cursed has dried up."

22 Jesus responded to them, " Have faith in God!

23 I assure you that whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea'—and doesn't waver but believes that what is said will really happen—it will happen.

24 Therefore I say to you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you will receive it, and it will be so for you.

25 And whenever you stand up to pray, if you have something against anyone, forgive so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your wrongdoings."

Controversy over authority

27 Jesus and his disciples entered Jerusalem again. As Jesus was walking around the temple, the chief priests, legal experts, and elders came to him.

28 They asked, "What kind of authority do you have for doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?"

29 Jesus said to them, " I have a question for you. Give me an answer, then I'll tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things.

30 Was John's baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me."

31 They argued among themselves, "If we say, ‘It's of heavenly origin,' he'll say, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?'

32 But we can't say, ‘It's of earthly origin.'" They said this because they were afraid of the crowd, because they all thought John was a prophet.

33 They answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus replied, " Neither will I tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things."

Mark 11 Commentary

Chapter 11

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Ps 118:26
• [b]. Isa 56:7
• [c]. Jer 7:11
• [d]. 11:26 is omitted in most critical editions of the Gk New Testament 'And if you don’t forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive you your wrongdoings'.