Mar 11:20-26 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Mark 11:20-21: 11:20-21 Jesus’ miraculous power to judge the fig tree testified to his authority to bring about the judgment of Jerusalem that he had foretold. If Mark’s original audience was hearing his Gospel read to them in the late AD 60s, they knew that Roman legions were already enacting this prophetic judgment against Jerusalem.

Summary for Mark 11:20-21: 11:20-21 ^a Jesus’ miraculous power to judge the fig tree testified to his authority to bring about the judgment of Jerusalem that he had foretold. If Mark’s original audience was hearing his Gospel read to them in the late AD 60s, they knew that Roman legions were already enacting this prophetic judgment against Jerusalem.
Summary for Mark 11:22-23: 11:22-23 ^b The importance of Jesus’ words is emphasized by his emphatic I tell you the truth.

• This mountain probably indicates the Temple Mount, not the Mount of Olives. The judgment of the Temple is the focus of 11:12-25 ^c; it will be referred to again in 12:9 ^d and at great length in 13:1-37 ^e. Jesus’ reference to destroying the Temple would later be raised at his trial (14:58 ^f) and crucifixion (15:29 ^g).
Summary for Mark 11:24-25: 11:24-25 ^h Two additional sayings on prayer are tied to 11:23 ⁱ by the word believe. In the first (11:24 ^j), we are told that we will receive what we ask for (see Matt 7:7 ^k) if we pray with the faith described in Mark 11:23 ^l.

• Forgiveness is the second condition for answered prayer. Only when we forgive others can our most important prayer, that God forgive us, be answered (Matt 5:23-24 ^m; 6:12 ⁿ, 14-15 ^o; Luke 6:37 ^p; 11:4 ^q; cp. Luke 7:41-43 ^r, 47 ^s; Eph 4:32 ^t; Col 3:13 ^u).