And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.
And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
And when even was come, he went out of the city.
And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,
And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
Mark 11 marks a pivotal point in Jesus' ministry, transitioning from the miracles and teachings in Galilee to the dramatic final days in Jerusalem. This chapter sets the stage for the Passion Week, filled with confrontation, revelation, and ultimately, sacrifice. Jesus' actions in Mark 11 are not random; they are deliberate displays of His authority and prophetic pronouncements concerning the spiritual state of Israel.
The Triumphal Entry (Mark 11:1-11)
As Jesus neared Jerusalem, specifically Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives (Mark 11:1), He orchestrated a powerful demonstration of His Messianic identity. He sent two disciples ahead to retrieve a colt, a young donkey that had never been ridden (Mark 11:1-2). This detail is significant. The fact that the colt was unused would make it naturally unwilling to receive a rider, but its submission demonstrated Jesus’s authority over creation. They were instructed to say, "The Lord needs it," a simple yet profound declaration of Jesus' authority (Mark 11:3). The disciples' obedience and the subsequent ease with which they obtained the colt highlight Jesus' foreknowledge and control over events (Mark 11:4-6).
This act directly fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, where the Messiah is depicted as entering Jerusalem humbly, riding on a donkey. As Jesus rode, the crowds, many of whom had heard of His raising of Lazarus, welcomed Him with shouts of "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" (Mark 11:7-10). People spread their cloaks and leafy branches on the road, creating a royal pathway. “Hosanna” is the Greek transliteration of a Hebrew phrase that means, “Please save!” (see Psalm 118:25). This wasn't just a spontaneous outburst; it was a public acknowledgment of Jesus as the Messiah, the promised King.
The triumphal entry wasn't about earthly power or political revolution. It was a spiritual declaration. Jesus presented Himself as the King who comes not to conquer through military might, but to offer salvation and establish God's kingdom. He entered Jerusalem, observed the temple, and then returned to Bethany with His disciples, a temporary retreat before the events of the following days unfolded (Mark 11:11). Passover week was beginning, thousands of Jewish pilgrims were arriving in Jerusalem, and already things were becoming chaotic because of how people were responding to Jesus.
The Barren Fig Tree (Mark 11:12-14, 20-25)
The next morning, as Jesus returned to Jerusalem, He encountered a fig tree covered in leaves but bearing no fruit (Mark 11:12-14). Though it was not the season for figs yet, the presence of early leaves was an indication that fruit should’ve been appearing. Disappointed, Jesus cursed the tree, declaring that no one would ever eat fruit from it again. This act often troubles readers, but it's crucial to understand its symbolic meaning.
The fig tree, in this context, represents Israel, particularly its religious leaders. It appeared outwardly prosperous, full of religious activity and tradition, but it was spiritually barren, failing to produce the fruit of righteousness and genuine faith. Many people today are like that too. They attend church regularly, carry fancy Bibles, and shout “Amen!” But there’s a lack of spiritual vitality inside them; thus, there’s no kingdom fruit in their lives. Jesus' curse was not an act of random anger, but a prophetic judgment on a nation that had failed to live up to its calling.
The withering of the fig tree, discovered the following day by the disciples (Mark 11:20-21), served as a powerful visual lesson on the consequences of spiritual emptiness. Peter was stunned. How could this have happened—and so quickly? Jesus used this moment to teach about the power of faith (Mark 11:22-24). He emphasized that with unwavering faith in God, even seemingly impossible things, like moving a mountain, could be accomplished. It’s important to note that Jesus is not commending an extraordinary faith. After all, on one occasion he told his disciples something similar and said faith needed to be no larger than a tiny “mustard seed” (Matthew 17:20). The most important aspect of faith, then, is the worthiness of its object. You must be trusting in the right thing. You can place tremendous faith in the tooth fairy or Santa Claus, but you’ll be disappointed. If, however, you have true, vibrant faith in the God of the Bible, you have spiritual authority to access divine power. God has already blessed you “with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Through faith in Jesus, you have access to divine power. It’s like having a contract with the electric company. Since you have a legal relationship with them, they provide you with electricity. Nevertheless, you must access that power yourself by flipping the light switch.
Furthermore, Jesus connected faith with forgiveness (Mark 11:25), highlighting the importance of a clear conscience and a right relationship with others in receiving God's blessings. Exercising your spiritual authority comes by taking responsibility to do what God has told you to do. This comes through prayer and through repenting of sin—such as the sin of unforgiveness. Prayer enables us to access God’s power in our lives, but unrepentant sin blocks God’s power.
Cleansing the Temple (Mark 11:15-19)
Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Jesus went directly to the temple and took decisive action. He overturned the tables of the money changers and drove out those who were buying and selling (Mark 11:15-17). The business activities themselves were not necessarily a problem since pilgrims coming to worship needed to buy animals to make sacrifices. The problem was that these activities were taking place in the temple, hindering worship. Moreover, the businessmen themselves engaged in corrupt practices, cheating their customers.
Jesus' actions were fueled by righteous anger and a deep concern for the sanctity of God's house. He quoted Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11, declaring that the temple should be a "house of prayer for all nations," not a den of robbers (Mark 11:17). In Old Testament times, wicked kings and priests in Jerusalem allowed God’s temple to fall into disrepair and to be used for unrighteous purposes, but Jesus was zealous for his Father’s temple. He couldn’t let a materialistic use of God’s house go unaddressed. Commerce had trumped communion with God. This act was a direct challenge to the religious establishment and their corrupt practices, highlighting their failure to provide a place of genuine worship for all people.
The chief priests and scribes hated Jesus. They were looking for opportunities to use against him. Their problem was the whole crowd. They were astonished by Jesus, so naturally the religious leaders were afraid (Mark 11:18) because they didn’t want Jesus leading an uprising of the people against them. Jesus’s actions in the temple drew the ire of the religious leaders (Mark 11:18), who sought to destroy Him. However, they were restrained by the crowd's support for Jesus, demonstrating the growing tension that would ultimately lead to His crucifixion.
Challenging Jesus' Authority (Mark 11:27-33)
The religious leaders confronted Jesus in the temple, questioning His authority to perform such actions (Mark 11:27-28). They wanted to know who authorized him to do such things. Jesus, in turn, responded with a question of His own, asking them about the authority of John the Baptist (Mark 11:29-30): Was John’s baptism from heaven or of human origin? In other words, he said, “You want to know if I’m legitimate, if I’m operating on God’s authority? Tell me: Was John the Baptist legitimate? Did he minister on God’s authority?”
The leaders were caught in a dilemma. If they acknowledged John's divine authority, they would be forced to admit their own failure to heed his call to repentance and his testimony about Jesus. If they denied John's authority, they risked the wrath of the people who widely regarded him as a prophet (Mark 11:31-32).
Even before they answered, it was obvious the leaders weren’t interested in the truth. They had to huddle together to discuss their response options. If they admitted that John’s authority was from heaven, then Jesus would ask them, why didn’t you believe him? After all, John himself testified that Jesus was the Messiah. But they were also reluctant to reject John and his ministry because they were afraid of all the people who thought John was truly a prophet. If they denigrated John, the crowd might stone them!
Unable to answer honestly, they feigned ignorance, claiming, "We do not know" (Mark 11:33). Given their dilemma, the religious leaders chose to avoid the question by throwing in the towel: We don’t know. They were self-serving hypocrites. They demanded that Jesus answer their questions truthfully, but they had no interest in the truth—only in advancing their own agenda. Therefore, Jesus refused to answer them. This encounter exposed their hypocrisy and their rejection of God's messengers, further solidifying their opposition to Jesus.
Mark 11 reveals Jesus as the Messiah, the King who enters Jerusalem not to seize earthly power, but to confront spiritual corruption and offer salvation. The triumphal entry, the cursing of the fig tree, and the cleansing of the temple all point to the urgent need for genuine faith and repentance. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder to examine our own hearts, ensuring that our outward appearances are matched by inward transformation and a genuine commitment to God's will.
And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.
And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
And when even was come, he went out of the city.
And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,
And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
Mark 11 marks a pivotal point in Jesus' ministry, transitioning from the miracles and teachings in Galilee to the dramatic final days in Jerusalem. This chapter sets the stage for the Passion Week, filled with confrontation, revelation, and ultimately, sacrifice. Jesus' actions in Mark 11 are not random; they are deliberate displays of His authority and prophetic pronouncements concerning the spiritual state of Israel.
The Triumphal Entry (Mark 11:1-11)
As Jesus neared Jerusalem, specifically Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives (Mark 11:1), He orchestrated a powerful demonstration of His Messianic identity. He sent two disciples ahead to retrieve a colt, a young donkey that had never been ridden (Mark 11:1-2). This detail is significant. The fact that the colt was unused would make it naturally unwilling to receive a rider, but its submission demonstrated Jesus’s authority over creation. They were instructed to say, "The Lord needs it," a simple yet profound declaration of Jesus' authority (Mark 11:3). The disciples' obedience and the subsequent ease with which they obtained the colt highlight Jesus' foreknowledge and control over events (Mark 11:4-6).
This act directly fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, where the Messiah is depicted as entering Jerusalem humbly, riding on a donkey. As Jesus rode, the crowds, many of whom had heard of His raising of Lazarus, welcomed Him with shouts of "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" (Mark 11:7-10). People spread their cloaks and leafy branches on the road, creating a royal pathway. “Hosanna” is the Greek transliteration of a Hebrew phrase that means, “Please save!” (see Psalm 118:25). This wasn't just a spontaneous outburst; it was a public acknowledgment of Jesus as the Messiah, the promised King.
The triumphal entry wasn't about earthly power or political revolution. It was a spiritual declaration. Jesus presented Himself as the King who comes not to conquer through military might, but to offer salvation and establish God's kingdom. He entered Jerusalem, observed the temple, and then returned to Bethany with His disciples, a temporary retreat before the events of the following days unfolded (Mark 11:11). Passover week was beginning, thousands of Jewish pilgrims were arriving in Jerusalem, and already things were becoming chaotic because of how people were responding to Jesus.
The Barren Fig Tree (Mark 11:12-14, 20-25)
The next morning, as Jesus returned to Jerusalem, He encountered a fig tree covered in leaves but bearing no fruit (Mark 11:12-14). Though it was not the season for figs yet, the presence of early leaves was an indication that fruit should’ve been appearing. Disappointed, Jesus cursed the tree, declaring that no one would ever eat fruit from it again. This act often troubles readers, but it's crucial to understand its symbolic meaning.
The fig tree, in this context, represents Israel, particularly its religious leaders. It appeared outwardly prosperous, full of religious activity and tradition, but it was spiritually barren, failing to produce the fruit of righteousness and genuine faith. Many people today are like that too. They attend church regularly, carry fancy Bibles, and shout “Amen!” But there’s a lack of spiritual vitality inside them; thus, there’s no kingdom fruit in their lives. Jesus' curse was not an act of random anger, but a prophetic judgment on a nation that had failed to live up to its calling.
The withering of the fig tree, discovered the following day by the disciples (Mark 11:20-21), served as a powerful visual lesson on the consequences of spiritual emptiness. Peter was stunned. How could this have happened—and so quickly? Jesus used this moment to teach about the power of faith (Mark 11:22-24). He emphasized that with unwavering faith in God, even seemingly impossible things, like moving a mountain, could be accomplished. It’s important to note that Jesus is not commending an extraordinary faith. After all, on one occasion he told his disciples something similar and said faith needed to be no larger than a tiny “mustard seed” (Matthew 17:20). The most important aspect of faith, then, is the worthiness of its object. You must be trusting in the right thing. You can place tremendous faith in the tooth fairy or Santa Claus, but you’ll be disappointed. If, however, you have true, vibrant faith in the God of the Bible, you have spiritual authority to access divine power. God has already blessed you “with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Through faith in Jesus, you have access to divine power. It’s like having a contract with the electric company. Since you have a legal relationship with them, they provide you with electricity. Nevertheless, you must access that power yourself by flipping the light switch.
Furthermore, Jesus connected faith with forgiveness (Mark 11:25), highlighting the importance of a clear conscience and a right relationship with others in receiving God's blessings. Exercising your spiritual authority comes by taking responsibility to do what God has told you to do. This comes through prayer and through repenting of sin—such as the sin of unforgiveness. Prayer enables us to access God’s power in our lives, but unrepentant sin blocks God’s power.
Cleansing the Temple (Mark 11:15-19)
Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Jesus went directly to the temple and took decisive action. He overturned the tables of the money changers and drove out those who were buying and selling (Mark 11:15-17). The business activities themselves were not necessarily a problem since pilgrims coming to worship needed to buy animals to make sacrifices. The problem was that these activities were taking place in the temple, hindering worship. Moreover, the businessmen themselves engaged in corrupt practices, cheating their customers.
Jesus' actions were fueled by righteous anger and a deep concern for the sanctity of God's house. He quoted Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11, declaring that the temple should be a "house of prayer for all nations," not a den of robbers (Mark 11:17). In Old Testament times, wicked kings and priests in Jerusalem allowed God’s temple to fall into disrepair and to be used for unrighteous purposes, but Jesus was zealous for his Father’s temple. He couldn’t let a materialistic use of God’s house go unaddressed. Commerce had trumped communion with God. This act was a direct challenge to the religious establishment and their corrupt practices, highlighting their failure to provide a place of genuine worship for all people.
The chief priests and scribes hated Jesus. They were looking for opportunities to use against him. Their problem was the whole crowd. They were astonished by Jesus, so naturally the religious leaders were afraid (Mark 11:18) because they didn’t want Jesus leading an uprising of the people against them. Jesus’s actions in the temple drew the ire of the religious leaders (Mark 11:18), who sought to destroy Him. However, they were restrained by the crowd's support for Jesus, demonstrating the growing tension that would ultimately lead to His crucifixion.
Challenging Jesus' Authority (Mark 11:27-33)
The religious leaders confronted Jesus in the temple, questioning His authority to perform such actions (Mark 11:27-28). They wanted to know who authorized him to do such things. Jesus, in turn, responded with a question of His own, asking them about the authority of John the Baptist (Mark 11:29-30): Was John’s baptism from heaven or of human origin? In other words, he said, “You want to know if I’m legitimate, if I’m operating on God’s authority? Tell me: Was John the Baptist legitimate? Did he minister on God’s authority?”
The leaders were caught in a dilemma. If they acknowledged John's divine authority, they would be forced to admit their own failure to heed his call to repentance and his testimony about Jesus. If they denied John's authority, they risked the wrath of the people who widely regarded him as a prophet (Mark 11:31-32).
Even before they answered, it was obvious the leaders weren’t interested in the truth. They had to huddle together to discuss their response options. If they admitted that John’s authority was from heaven, then Jesus would ask them, why didn’t you believe him? After all, John himself testified that Jesus was the Messiah. But they were also reluctant to reject John and his ministry because they were afraid of all the people who thought John was truly a prophet. If they denigrated John, the crowd might stone them!
Unable to answer honestly, they feigned ignorance, claiming, "We do not know" (Mark 11:33). Given their dilemma, the religious leaders chose to avoid the question by throwing in the towel: We don’t know. They were self-serving hypocrites. They demanded that Jesus answer their questions truthfully, but they had no interest in the truth—only in advancing their own agenda. Therefore, Jesus refused to answer them. This encounter exposed their hypocrisy and their rejection of God's messengers, further solidifying their opposition to Jesus.
Mark 11 reveals Jesus as the Messiah, the King who enters Jerusalem not to seize earthly power, but to confront spiritual corruption and offer salvation. The triumphal entry, the cursing of the fig tree, and the cleansing of the temple all point to the urgent need for genuine faith and repentance. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder to examine our own hearts, ensuring that our outward appearances are matched by inward transformation and a genuine commitment to God's will.