Mark 11:12-14
Summary for Mark 11:12-25: 11:12-25 a In the synoptic Gospels, Jesus’ messianic entry into Jerusalem is intimately associated with the cleansing of the Temple (see 11:15-17 b; cp. Matt 21:1-17 c; Luke 19:28-48 d). In John, however, the account of the cleansing is recorded early in Jesus’ ministry (John 2:13-22 e). It is uncertain whether there were two separate cleansings of the Temple (an early event recorded in John and this later event recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke) or just one cleansing recorded at different places by John and the synoptic writers.• In Mark’s account, the cursing of the fig tree (Mark 11:12-14 f, 20-25 g) forms an inclusio (bookends) around the cleansing of the Temple (11:15-19 h). Mark thus indicates that Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple should be interpreted in light of his cursing of the fig tree—as an act of judgment rather than reformation.
Summary for Mark 11:13-14: 11:13-14 i it was too early in the season for fruit: Jesus did not curse the fig tree merely because it lacked fruit. Rather, he was performing a prophetic sign act like those of earlier prophets (Isa 20 j; Jer 13:1-11 k; 19:1-13 l; Ezek 4 m). Just as Jesus judged the fruitless fig tree, so too he judged the Temple and the worship of Israel, in which he found no fruit. This judgment was fulfilled in AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Romans.
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