Gospel of Mark Chapter Eleven

11:1 Then as they neared Jerusalem – into Bethphage and Bethany – and came to the Mount of Olives, he dispatched two of his disciples.
11:2 He told them, “Travel the path ahead into the village and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, upon which no one has been seated. Unbind him and bring him –
11:3 and if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him that the Master needs it and will return it soon."
11:4 Then they left and found the colt tied by an out-going door where two paths met – so they loosened him.
11:5 And someone standing there said to them, “What are you doing – untying the colt?”
11:6 So they told him what Jesus had instructed him to say – and he let them go.
11:7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and they laid their coats on it – and Jesus sat on it.
11:8 Many spread their coats on the path while others cut branches from the trees and spread them along the path.
11:9 Those who were in front and those following all chanted, “Praise God1 – Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the LORD  –
11:10 Blessed is the refuge of our master, David, who came in the Name of the LORD – Praises to the Highest One.2
11:11 Then Jesus entered the Temple – and by the time he looked around at everything it was evening. He then left for Bethany with the twelve.
11:12 The next day, after they traveled from Bethany, he was hungry.
11:13 Seeing a fig tree from a distance with leaves, he approached it to see if he might find any fruit on it – but when he got to it he found nothing but leaves, because figs were not in season yet.
11:14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “No one will ever eat fruit from you.” And the disciples heard this.
11:15 Then they arrived in Jerusalem and Jesus went into the Temple. He began casting out the shoppers and merchants in the Temple. He overthrew the tables of the bankers and the chairs of those who sold doves.
11:16 And he would not allow anyone carrying any merchandise through the temple.
11:17 Then he began teaching, “Is it not written, ‘My house will be called the house of prayer for all nations'3? But you have turned it into a den of thieves.”
11:18 When the scribes and chief priests heard this, they sought ways to destroy him because they feared him, for all the people were amazed at his teachings.
11:19 Then when evening came, he left the city.
11:20 In the morning as they passed by the fig tree, they saw it had withered from the roots up.
11:21 And Peter reminded Jesus, saying, “Teacher, did you know the fig tree that you cursed has withered?”
11:22 Jesus replied, “Put your trust in God.
11:23 Because truly I tell you, whoever of you says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted and thrown into the sea’ and has no doubt within his heart – but trusts what He says - it will be done for him.
11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever things you pray and ask for, trust that you will receive and they will be granted to you.
11:25 And when you persist to pray, be forgiving of anything done against you, so that your Creator who is in the spiritual realm will also forgive you for your own offenses."
11:264
11:27 Then they traveled again into Jerusalem and as he was walking in the Temple the chief priests, scribes and elders approached him –
11:28 and they asked him, “By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority to do these things?”
11:29 Jesus replied, “I also ask of you one question – and if you answer me I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
11:30 The baptism of John – was it from the spiritual realm – or of men? Answer me this."
11:31 They debated this between themselves, saying, “If we say ‘From the spiritual realm’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
11:32 But if we say, ‘Of men’ …” – as they feared the people, because everyone considered John to be a genuine Prophet.
11:33 So they answered, saying to Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus answered them back by saying, “Neither will I tell you by whose authority I do these things.”

Footnotes:

1. Verse 11:9. The Greek word ὡσαννά (hōsanna) is a statement of praise for God – in declaring something as auspicious.

2. Verse 11:10. The Greek word ὕψιστος (hypsistos) refers to “the most high” or “the highest” according to the lexicon, indicating the Supreme Being. They are praising those (Jesus and David) who have come in the Name of God – because Jesus and David were God’s messengers who often praised God’s Names.

3. Verse 11:17.
And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." (Isaiah 56:6-7)

4. Verse 11:26. This verse was added in later manuscripts: “But if you don’t forgive, neither will your Creator who is in the spiritual realm forgive you of your offenses.”

Continue to Gospel of Mark Chapter Twelve