Markos 11

1 1 And when they draw near to Yerushalayim at Beit-Pagey and Beit-Anyah near the Mount of Olives, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach sends two of his talmidim,

2 And says to them, Go into the shtetl ahead of you, and ofen ort (immediately) as you enter it, you will find an AYIR (colt, ZECHARYAH 9:9) tied there, on which no one of Bnei Adam yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. [BAMIDBAR 19:2, DEVARIM 21:3, SHMUEL ALEF 6:7]

3 And if anyone says to you, Why are you doing this? You say, HaAdon has need of it and will send it here again.

4 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach’s talmidim left and found an AYIR (ZECHARYAH 9:9) tied at the shaar (gate) outside on the rekhov (street). And they untied him.

5 And some by-standers were saying to them, What are you doing untying the AYIR?

6 And the talmidim spoke to them just as Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach had instructed them. And the by-standers permitted them.

7 And the talmidim brought the AYIR to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, and they lay upon it their garments, and he sat upon it.

8 And many spread their garments on the derech, but others spread leafy branches they had cut from the sadot (fields).

9 And the vanguard and rearguard of the procession were crying out, HOSHAN NAH (Save now, TEHILLIM 118:25-26) BARUCH HABAH B’SHEM ADONOI!

10 A bracha on the coming Malchut Dovid Avinu! Hoshan nah in the highest!

11 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach entered into Yerushalayim into the Beis HaMikdash and, having looked around at everything, and, the hour now being late, he went out to Beit-Anyah with the Shneym Asar (Twelve).

12 And on the next day, when they came from Beit-Anyah, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was hungry.

13 And having seen in the distance an etz te’enah (fig tree) in leaf, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach approached it to see whether he might find pri (fruit) on it. But when he came to it, he found nothing except leaves. For it was not the te’enim season.

14 And in reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to it, May no one ever be nourished from pri from you again! And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach’s talmidim were listening.

15 Then they came to Yerushalayim. And having entered the Beis HaMikdash, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach began to drive out the ones buying and selling in the Beis HaMikdash, and he overturned the shulchanot (tables) of the machalifei hakesafim (money changers) and the chairs of the ones selling the yonim (doves).

16 And he was not allowing anyone to carry things through the Beis HaMikdash.

17 And he was teaching Torah and he was saying to them, Has it not been written, BEITI BEIT TEFILLAH YIKAREI LKHOL HAAMMIM (My House shall be called a House of Prayer [for] all peoples), but you have made it a MEARAT PARITZIM (den of robbers). [YESHAYAH 56:7; YIRMEYAH 7:11]

18 And the Rashei Hakohanim (the Chief Priests) and the Sofrim (Scribes) heard this, and they were seeking how they might destroy him, for they were afraid of him, for all the multitude were amazed at his torah (teaching).

19 And when it became late, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach and his talmidim went out of the city.

20 And in the boker (morning), early, as they passed by, they saw the etz teenah (fig tree) having been withered from [the] roots.

21 And, having remembered, Shimon Kefa says to him, Rebbe, look, the etz teenah (fig tree) which you cursed has been withered.

22 And in reply Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to them, Have emunah in Hashem.

23 Omein, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be lifted up and be thrown into the sea, and does not waver in his lev (heart) but has emunah that what he says happens, so it will be for him.

24 For this reason, I say to you, everything for which you daven (pray), everything you request in tefillos (prayers), have emunah (faith) that you have received it, and so it will be for you.

25 And when you stand davening, grant selicha (forgiveness) if something you hold against someone, in order that your Avinu shbaShomayim may grant you selicha for your peyshaim (transgressions).

26 [But if you do not give mechila (forgiveness) neither will your chattaim receive selicha (forgiveness) from your Av shbaShomayim.]

27 And again they come into Yerushalayim. And in the Beis Hamikdash, [when] Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was walking about, the Rashei Hakohanim (the Chief Priests) and the Sofrim (Scribes) and the Zekenim come to him.

28 And they were saying to him, By what kind of samchut do you do these things? Or who gave to you this samchut that you may do these things?

29 But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, I will ask you one dvar, and you answer me and I will tell you by what kind of samchut I do these things:

30 The tevilah [of teshuva] of Yochanan—was it from Shomayim or from Bnei Adam? Answer me!

31 And they were discussing among themselves, saying, If we say, from Shomayim, he will say, Why then did you not believe him?

32 But [if] we say from Bnei Adam, they were afraid of the multitude, for everyone was considering Yochanan beemes (in truth) a navi.

33 And in reply to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, they say, We do not have daas. And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to them, Neither will I tell you by what kind of samchut I do these things.

Markos 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.