Mark 11

The triumphant entry into Jerusalem (vs. 1-11)—Much of this chapter is parallel to Matthew 21. The triumphant entry is recorded by Matthew. Here are my comments on Matthew 21:1-11. The verse references are from Matthew: “Jesus makes His final trip to Jerusalem. He sent His apostles after a donkey and colt, and rode into Jerusalem. A great multitude thronged Him and “spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road” (v. 8). They shouted praises to Him as well: “Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!" (v. 9). The word “Hosanna” means “save now,” or “save, we pray.” Jesus entry into Jerusalem like this was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Matthew quotes Zechariah 9:9: “Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey” (v. 5). Interestingly, some people didn’t know him (v. 10), but Jesus hadn’t spent much, if any, time in Jerusalem the previous two years.” Mark’s account doesn’t add anything noteworthy to Matthew’s.

The barren fig tree (vs. 12-14, 20-26)—Mark indicates that this event happened over two days; Matthew condenses it. There are two points to this story. First, the “hypocritical” fig tree. It had leaves on it, thus appeared as though it would have fruit. It didn’t, so Jesus cursed it. Jesus is not being unjust to the poor tree; He’s making the point that we should truly be what we appear to be. If we have leaves, we better have fruit, too. The second point is found in verses 20-26 regarding faith. Jesus tells his disciples “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (vs. 23-24). This statement may have a specific reference to the apostles and their faith in the age of miracles, but the principles is true. Jesus uses the marvelous hyperbole of casting the mountain into the sea. If faith can do such great and powerful things, then imagine how successful it can be in accomplishing the small matters of our daily lives. But to have a profitable prayer life, we must be merciful like God and forgive those who have sinned against us (vs. 25-26). Forgiveness of our sins is the most supreme manifestation of the love and mercy of God, and thus we cannot even begin to approach Him if we do not imitate Him in forgiving others.

Religion for money (vs. 15-19)—Jesus was understandably upset when He came into the temple and found greedy merchants selling sacrificial animals. How crude. He drove them out, “and He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple” (v. 16). He refers to two Old Testament passages, one of them, Isaiah 56:7, indicating what the temple was supposed to be—“a house of prayer for all nations”—and the other, Jeremiah 7:11, indicating what the Jews had turned it into—“a den of thieves.” The reason Jesus could successfully expel these mockers was because He had the support of the people, and the “scribes and chief priests” were afraid to move against Him (v. 18).

The question on authority (vs. 27-33)—Here’s my comments on this section from Matthew 21:23-27: “The conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders heats up significantly now; the rest of this chapter and the next two are given to this theme. As He went back into the temple, the chief priests and elders of the temple asked Him by what authority He did His deeds (v. 23). Jesus turns it back on them: “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John--where was it from? From heaven or from men?" (vs. 24-25). He had them trapped. They had not submitted to John, either, so if they replied, “from heaven,” then Jesus would ask them “'Why then did you not believe him?'” (v. 25). But if they said “from men,” then “we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet" (v. 26). So they answered “We do not know” (v. 27), to which Jesus responded, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things” (v. 27). A key point in this section is to indicate to us that there are only two sources of religious authority: from heaven and from men. Obviously, we must have heaven’s approval for what we do. We must be careful, in all that we do, that we are not following the “commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9), for such constitutes vain service and worship to God.” Mark adds nothing substantial to Matthew’s account.