Mark 11:1-33

Christ in the Bible: Mark’s Gospel

Keith Simons

This commentary has been through Advanced Checking.

Chapter 11

Christ the King comes to Jerusalem

Verses 1-11

Jesus and the crowd were near Jerusalem. Jesus sent two *disciples into a village. There, they asked someone to lend them a donkey. A donkey is a small animal that is like a horse. It is able to carry a man.

Jesus wanted the animal so that he could ride toward Jerusalem’s gate. He only rode it for a short way.

The crowd had been afraid that there would be trouble in Jerusalem (Mark 10:32). But when they saw Jesus on the donkey, they were not afraid. They were very happy. They remembered that God had promised to send a king, called the Christ. (See my note about Mark 8:27-30). And they began to thank God for that promise.

They used the word ‘hosanna’. That word is in the language called Hebrew. It means, ‘We ask you to save us.’ People said that to a great king or an army officer. They were saying, ‘We need your help.’

The crowd said that their king (the Christ) would come on behalf of God. He would have God’s authority. And that is how the king would save them.

The crowd also said that the king was from David’s family. David was the first king who ruled Israel in Jerusalem. He was a good king, who loved God.

People took their coats. And they took branches from the fields. They put these things in front of Jesus. His donkey walked over these things, like a carpet. People did that when a great king arrived at a city.

But Jesus did not seem like a great king. Jesus chose a little donkey. A king would ride on a large horse. Jesus rode alone. A king would have a large army with him. And Jesus did not have the beautiful clothes that a king would wear.

The *disciples did not know why they did this (John 12:16). But after some time, they remembered Zechariah 9:9. That verse describes this event. And then they knew that Jesus really was the Christ.

A tree without fruit

Verses 12-14

The donkey (small horse) in Mark 11:1-7 was ready to work. It was in the right place when the *disciples came. It let Jesus ride it. So it did its work for God.

But this tree was not ready. Jesus was hungry. He wanted its fruit. But when he came, there was no fruit. So the tree could not do its work for God.

That tree disappointed Jesus. Everything that God has made should be ready to do his work. And that tree is like many people. Everybody that God has made should be happy to do his work. But many people are not ready for God. He wants to come into their lives. But they send him away. They disappoint him.

The purpose of that tree was to grow fruit. But that tree had failed completely. Jesus said that the tree would never have any fruit again.

It is bad if a tree is not ready for God. It is even worse if a person is not ready for God.

The market in the temple

Verses 15-19

But even the temple (*God’s Great House) was not ready for God. God had come to his temple. (See Malachi 3:1-3).

Inside its gates, people were doing business. There was a market in its yard. Some people were selling the special coins that people used in the temple. Other people were selling birds and animals. People bought birds and animals there to give them to God.

The temple had a proper purpose. That purpose was certainly not business. The temple was a place for people to pray. People from other countries would see how the *Jews prayed. And then those other people would learn about God. And they would pray too (2 Chronicles 6:32-33). God wanted people in every country to know about him.

But this temple disappointed God. Jesus stopped the market. He told the people that they must take their animals away. He would not let them continue their business.

Jesus did all these things in a very strong way. But nobody stopped him. The important *priests were afraid because the crowds wanted to listen to Jesus.

And Jesus taught the Bible to the crowds. He told them about Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11.

Jesus teaches the *disciples to believe

Verses 20-25

Peter was very surprised when he saw this tree. On the day before, the tree was leafy and healthy (Mark 11:12-14). But Jesus said that it would die. And when Peter recognised the tree, it was completely dead. Peter did not think that Jesus’ words would be so powerful.

Jesus’ words were powerful because Jesus had God’s authority to speak those words. And God is very powerful. Jesus told the *disciples that they should always believe God. Even a mountain must obey God’s words. If a person believes God, God will do powerful things to help that person.

But a person who prays must do two things:

(1) He must continue to believe God. That person must not let other thoughts into his mind.

(2) He must *forgive other people. Then God will *forgive him too.

Jesus’ authority

Verses 26-33

Jesus had stopped the market at the temple (*God’s Great House). And he was teaching the people.

The leaders asked Jesus whether he had authority to do these things. Really, they meant that he had no authority. The government did not tell him to do these things. The important *priests did not tell him to do these things. All the *priests did only the things that their leaders let them do. And the teachers did the same. But Jesus was doing whatever things he wanted to do. That is what the leaders thought.

Jesus told the leaders that he was like John the *Baptist.

Nobody told John that he should *baptise. John was a *priest, but the important *priests did not give any authority to him. All the people believed that God chose John to do his work. In other words, God gave John his authority. God is more important than any person is. So John did not need any human authority.

But the leaders did not want to say that God gave authority to John. All the people believed that God had sent John. Only the leaders refused to believe him.

So the leaders would not answer Jesus’ question. And Jesus would not answer their question.

Jesus’ authority was from God his father. But the leaders were against Jesus.

This book is in EasyEnglish Level A (1200 words).

Gospel ~ a book that tells about the things that Jesus did. And it includes some things that he taught. There are 4 Gospels in the Bible. They are the books by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
disciple ~ a student of a great teacher. Usually, the disciple travelled with his teacher and he worked for his teacher.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
priest ~ a man who offered gifts to God on behalf of other people. The Jews had priests who worked in *God’s Great House.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.'forgive, forgave ~ not to remember wrong things that a person has done. God forgives us for the wrong things that we have done. He chooses to do this, but we must change our minds. We must ask him to come into our lives.
Baptist ~ John was called John the Baptist because he baptised people.
baptise ~ to wash a person in a special way while people pray for that person. John baptised the people who came to him. The people were sorry for all the wrong things that they had done. And they wanted to obey God.
baptise ~ to wash a person in a special way while people pray for that person. John baptised the people who came to him. The people were sorry for all the wrong things that they had done. And they wanted to obey God.

Mark’s Good News

Mark’s Gospel

Hilda Bright

Chapter 11

A new part of Mark’s *Gospel begins here. Jesus enters Jerusalem as the *Messiah. He teaches in the *Temple and he argues with the *religious authorities.

Jesus enters Jerusalem as *Messiah 11:1-11

v1 As they approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage and Bethany, at the *Mount of *Olives. Jesus sent out two of his *disciples. v2 He said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you. Just as you enter it, you will find a young *donkey tied up. Nobody has ever sat on it. Free it and bring it to me. v3 If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” say, “The *Lord needs it. He will send it back soon.” ’ v4 They went and found a young *donkey tied outside a door in the street. They freed it. v5 Some people who were standing there said to them, ‘What are you doing? Why are you freeing the *donkey?’ v6 They told them what Jesus had said. So they let them go.

v7 They brought the *donkey to Jesus. They put their coats on it. Then Jesus sat on it. v8 Many people spread their coats on the road. Other people cut branches from the fields and they spread them on the road. v9 Those in front and those at the back continued to shout, ‘Hosanna (Please save us now)! *Blessed is the man who comes in the name of the *Lord! v10 *Blessed is the coming *kingdom of our father David! *Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

v11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and he went into the *Temple. He looked round at everything. But it was already late. So he went out to Bethany with the 12 *disciples.

Verse 1 Bethphage and Bethany were two villages near each other on the slope of the *Mount of *Olives. Bethany was about two miles from Jerusalem. It was the village where Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived. They were friends of Jesus.

Verses 2-3 We think that Jesus made arrangements about the *donkey some time before. We know from John’s *Gospel that he made more than one visit to Jerusalem. Jesus spoke about ‘how often’ he would have gathered the people of Jerusalem to himself (Matthew 23:37). ‘The *Lord needs it’ was the special sign to the owner that Jesus’ *disciples were not stealing the animal.

A *donkey was the animal that a king used. That is why Jesus chose to ride on one. When a king went to war, he rode on a horse. A *donkey showed that the king came in peace. Jesus made the words of Zechariah (9:9) come true. ‘Your king comes to you - - -. He is riding on a *donkey.’ Because the young *donkey had never carried anyone before, it was suitable for a holy purpose. It was like a young cow that had to be perfect for a *sacrifice (Numbers 19:2).

Verses 7-8 The crowd were probably following a custom when they spread their clothes on the road. John’s *Gospel says that they carried ‘palm’ branches (John 12:13). (A palm is a kind of tree.) So Christians call the day Palm Sunday.

Verses 9-10 ‘Hosanna’ is a word to praise God. It means ‘Please save us now’. It would be an appeal to God to save his people from their enemies. The word comes from Psalms 118:25. ‘*Blessed is the man who comes’ was a welcome for people who were coming to a special day in Jerusalem. ‘The man who comes’ was also another name for the *Messiah. The crowd was not shouting ‘Hosanna’ only as a cry of praise. They were asking God to save his people from the *Romans now that their *Messiah had come. Jesus showed that he rode in peace. But they did not understand.

Verse 11 Jesus rode down the *Mount of *Olives. He crossed the Kidron valley and he went into Jerusalem. He looked round at everything in the *Temple. He was deciding what to do there next. But he went to Bethany, where he probably stayed with his friends. He could be quiet and he could gain strength from God. His friends would encourage him.

The *fig tree without fruit 11:12-14; 20-21

The account of the *fig tree is in two parts. The account of Jesus’ action in the *Temple comes in between the parts. There is an important link with what happened to the *fig tree. And Mark shows us that.

The *fig tree, Part 1 11:12-14

v12 The next day, as Jesus and his *disciples came from Bethany, he was hungry. v13 Jesus saw a *fig tree in the distance. It was full of leaves. He went to see if he could find any fruit on it. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves. It was not the season for *figs. v14 Jesus said to the tree, ‘I do not want anyone ever to eat fruit from you again!’ And his *disciples heard what he said.

Verse 12 Jesus was a real man, who became hungry.

Verse 13 There is a difficulty in the words ‘It was not the season for *figs.’ It does not seem right that Jesus should blame the tree for having no fruit then. But a *fig tree was a way to speak about the nation of the *Jewish people.

‘When I saw your fathers, they were like a *fig tree with its early fruit on it’ (Hosea 9:10). There is a *parable in Luke 13:6-9. It is about a *fig tree. The owner gave the tree a last chance to yield fruit. Jesus warned people that they needed to *repent. Then he told that *parable afterwards. It is probable that Mark’s story is an acted *parable. The fruit is like a picture of the *obedience that the *Jewish people should have shown to God. The leaves are like a picture of their religion. Their religion gave a false hope. The *Jews had many *religious rules and ceremonies as the tree had many leaves. As Jesus looked in vain for *figs, God looked in vain for good behaviour and sincere *worship. The *Jews should have shown that they were ready to give a welcome to their *Messiah.

Verse 14 Jesus was warning the people very seriously. They were obeying the traditions and rules of their religion. But they were not changing their behaviour. They were not doing the things that God wanted them to do. They were not really serving God. And they were refusing to accept the *Messiah whom God had sent.

Jesus used the *fig tree as a type of *prophecy. He was showing what would happen in the future. Soon, the *Jewish people would suffer greatly. There would be great troubles for them when the *Romans destroyed Jerusalem in *AD 70. So, it was very important for the *Jewish people to trust God now.

The story that follows is about Jesus in the *Temple. And it shows how the *religious leaders wanted to get money from people. They would not allow *Gentiles the opportunity to pray. Their religion was a matter of ceremonies only and it made no difference to their way of life. They did not produce the ‘fruit’ of a good and sincere *faith.

Jesus in the *Temple 11:15-19

v15 They came to Jerusalem. Jesus entered the *Temple. And he began to force out those people who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the people who were changing money. He turned over the seats of the people who were selling birds. v16 He would not allow anyone to carry anything through the *Temple court. v17 Then he taught them. He said, ‘The *scriptures say, “People will call my house a house of prayer for all the nations.” But you have made it a cave for thieves.’ v18 The chief priests and the *scribes heard about this. They began to look for a way to kill Jesus. What he taught astonished the whole crowd. And so the chief priests and the *scribes were afraid of him. v19 When evening came, Jesus and his *disciples left the city.

Verse 15 The outer court was the only part of the *Temple where *Gentiles could go to pray. There was a wall that prevented them from entering the *Jewish part. They would risk their lives if they tried to pass it. But this ‘Court of the *Gentiles’ had become more like a market place. The *Jews paid a tax of a certain amount of money to the *Temple each year. But it had to be in special coins and not coins from other countries. The people who were changing the money were charging too much. People could buy birds for *sacrifice in Jerusalem. But the priests claimed that people could buy perfect birds in the *Temple and nowhere else. So they charged high prices for them. The priests were responsible for all this trade. And the priests were even using God’s holy *Temple as a place where they cheated people.

Verse 16 People were also using the court as a short way from one side of the city to another. They were carrying their goods through it as if it were a public road.

Verse 17 Jesus used words from Isaiah (56:7). They showed that the *Jews were not allowing *Gentiles to *worship in God’s ‘house’. He also spoke Jeremiah’s words (Jeremiah 7:11). They describe wicked people who came to the *Temple to *worship.

Verse 18 The *religious leaders realised that Jesus had become a danger to their authority. He had also disturbed their ways to get money. What Jesus taught astonished many people. So the authorities had to find a way to kill Jesus. But they wanted a way that would not cause trouble from the crowd.

Verse 19 It is possible that Jesus and his *disciples returned to Bethany for the night.

The *fig tree, Part 2 11:20-21

v20 In the morning, as they walked along, they saw the *fig tree. It had dried up all the way to its roots. v21 Peter remembered. He said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, look! The *fig tree that you *cursed has dried up!’

Verse 21 Peter said that Jesus had ‘*cursed’ the tree. Nobody would eat fruit from the tree again. For three years, Jesus had taught the people about God. But now that time was ending. If they refused to believe God’s message, they would not avoid God’s punishment.

Many people who listened to Jesus never really believed his message. They had their own religion, but they would not serve God. Jesus had warned them many times about such attitudes. ‘Not everyone who says to me “*Lord, *Lord”, shall enter the *kingdom of heaven. It is only he who does the will of my Father in heaven’ (Matthew 7:21).

Jesus teaches about prayer 11:22-25

v22 Jesus answered them, ‘Believe in God. v23 I tell you the truth. Suppose that one of you says to this mountain, "Go and throw yourself into the sea." You must not have doubt in your mind. You must believe that it will happen. Then it will happen for you. v24 Therefore I tell you this. When you pray for anything, you must believe. Believe that you have already received it. Then you will receive it. v25 You may be standing and praying. Then, forgive anyone who has behaved wrongly towards you. So your Father in heaven will forgive your *sins.’ [v26 ‘But if you do not forgive them, your Father will not forgive you.’]

Verse 22 These words about *faith may have been a suitable end to the account of the *fig tree. Jesus knew that the *fig tree would die. The *disciples must continue to trust God whatever happened.

Verses 23-24 Jesus may have pointed to the *Mount of *Olives as he said ‘this’ mountain. It would have made his words easy to remember. The ‘mountain’ is picture language for any kind of difficulty that seems impossible to remove. Matthew has similar words (17:20), but they are in a different place in his *Gospel. The ‘mountain’ can be a personal difficulty or even a difficulty between nations.

Jesus said that the answer to prayer depended on *faith. There must be complete confidence that God will answer. ‘Anything’ would not include a selfish or foolish prayer.

Verse 25 *Jews usually stood in order to pray.

Mark shows that he knew the words of the *Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:12; Luke 11:4). It is essential to forgive other people. God is Love. We might approach God in prayer with a *spirit that is not willing to show love. But that is of no use. There can be no real communication between God and a man who does not forgive. That is because God does forgive. We do not deserve that God should forgive us. So we must forgive other people when they do not deserve it.

[Verse 26] is probably a copy of Matthew 6:15. Modern translations of Mark’s *Gospel usually leave it out.

The question about Jesus’ authority 11:27-33

v27 They came again to Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking in the *Temple, the chief priests, *scribes and the other leaders came to him. v28 They said to him, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you authority to do them?’ v29 Jesus answered them, ‘I will ask you a question. Answer me. Then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. v30 Was John’s authority to *baptise from heaven, or merely human? Answer me.’ v31 The *religious leaders argued with each other. ‘If we say, “from heaven”, he will say, “Why then did you not believe John?” v32 But we dare not say, “It was merely human.” ’ Really, they were afraid of the people. All the people thought that John was a real *prophet. v33 So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ Jesus replied, ‘Then I will not tell you by what authority I do these things, either.’

Verse 27 The chief priests, *scribes and other leaders were members of the *Sanhedrin, the *Jewish ruling group.

Verse 28 They intended to test Jesus with this question. He had cleared the Court of the *Gentiles of the merchants and of those who changed money. They wanted to know whose authority he had for that. Maybe Jesus would say that his authority came from God. Then they could say that he was insulting God. They would say that God would never allow a man to turn over anything in the *Temple. Maybe Jesus would say that he was acting on his own authority. Then he might lose public support. The *Sanhedrin could stop him from teaching in the *Temple courts without their authority.

Verses 29-30 Jesus did not give them an immediate answer. He asked a question about the authority of John the *Baptist to do his work.

Verse 31 Jesus had asked a question that the *religious leaders could not answer. They could not say that John was a genuine *prophet. Because then Jesus could ask them why they had not believed John.

Verse 32 They were afraid to say that John acted on his own authority. The crowd who were listening might have caused trouble. People had believed that John was a *prophet. So the *religious leaders could not answer.

Verse 33 Jesus said that they had refused to answer his question. So, he would not answer theirs. John the *Baptist had prepared the way for Jesus and John pointed to him as the *Messiah. But the authorities refused to believe John. So, it was of no use for Jesus to declare his own authority.

gospel ~ good news that God saves people from sin by Jesus Christ.
Gospel ~ one of the first four books in the New Testament.
save ~ rescue from the results of sin.
sin ~ when people do not obey God’s commands.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus. It is about Jesus’ works and the things that he taught and about the first Christians.
Messiah ~ the Jews' word for the king who would come and rescue them.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
Temple ~ the special building in Jerusalem where the Jews worshipped God.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
worship ~ show honour to God, usually with other people.
religious ~ something that people do as part of the worship of God.
worship ~ show honour to God, usually with other people.
mount ~ a short word for mountain; small mountain.
olive ~ a tree with small fruits (or the fruits themselves) that people use to make oil. They burned the oil to give them light. They used it in other ways too.
disciples ~ people who follow someone in order to learn from him.
donkey ~ an animal that carries people or goods.
Lord ~ master; a name that we call God or Jesus; we call God or Jesus Lord when we obey them.
blessed ~ happy or glad. We call people blessed if they have received good things. But when we call God blessed, it is a way to praise him.
kingdom ~ people or place that a king rules; or people that God rules.
Hosanna ~ a word to praise God.
sacrifice ~ a gift to God to ask him to forgive sins; or to thank him for something. A gift to God, often an animal or bird, by the Jews to ask God to forgive their sins. Jesus gave himself to die as a sacrifice for our sins.
sin ~ when people do not obey God’s commands.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
Roman ~ Rome was the capital city of the rulers at that time. That which belonged to Rome was Roman.
fig ~ a small soft fruit full of tiny seeds. People eat it fresh or dried.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew or anything about Jews.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
parable ~ a story with a hidden meaning.
repent ~ to change; to stop doing wrong things and to start to obey God.
obedience ~ we show obedience when we obey someone.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
worship ~ show honour to God, usually with other people.
prophecy ~ words that God gave to a person to speak or to write down.
AD ~ AD 50 means the year that was 50 years after Jesus came, and so on.
Gentiles ~ people who are not Jews.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
faith ~ belief in someone or something, or things that Christians believe about Jesus.
scriptures ~ the books in the Old Testament or in the Bible.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible, which the writers wrote before the life of Jesus.
scribes ~ writers, especially the Jewish lawyers.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew or anything about Jews.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
curse ~ to say that you want evil things to happen to something or someone.
sin ~ when people do not obey God’s commands.
spirit ~ the part of a person who is alive that we cannot see. There are good spirits, like God’s Spirit and his angels. And there are bad spirits, like Satan and his angels.
angel ~ God’s special messenger.
Satan ~ the chief evil spirit.
messenger ~ a person who gives a message.

'baptise/baptism ~ to put a person in water, or to put water on a person. It is to show that they want to follow Christ.
prophet ~ a person who told people what God wanted.
Sanhedrin ~ the group of Jewish priests and other leaders.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew or anything about Jews.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
Baptist ~ a person who baptises people (like John the Baptist).

baptise/baptism ~ to put a person in water, or to put water on a person. It is to show that they want to follow Christ.