Mark 11

The Triumphal Entry

1 As they approached Jerusalem [and came] to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, [Jesus] sent out two of His disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied [there] , on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring [it here] . 3 If anyone asks, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell [him] , ‘The Lord needs it and will return it shortly.’” 4 So they went and found [the] colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. They untied it, 5 and some who were standing there asked, “Why are you untying the colt?” 6 [The disciples] answered as Jesus had instructed [them] , and [the people] gave them permission. 7 Then they led the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, and He sat on it. 8 Many [ in the crowd ] spread their cloaks on the road, while others [spread] branches they had cut from the fields. 9 The [ones who] went ahead and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna!” ▼

▼Psalm 118:25

“Blessed is He [who] comes in [the] name of [the] Lord!” ▼

▼Psalm 118:26

10 “Blessed [is] the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!” ▼

▼Psalm 148:1

11 Then [Jesus] entered Jerusalem [and went] into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, [but since] [it] was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

12 The next day, [when] they had left Bethany, [Jesus] was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if there was any [fruit] on it. But when He reached it, He found nothing [on it] except leaves, since it was not the season for figs. 14 Then He said to [the tree] , “ {May} no one ever eat of your fruit {again} .” And His disciples heard [this statement] .

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

15 When they arrived in Jerusalem, [Jesus] entered the temple courts [and] began to drive out those who were buying and selling [there] . He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 Then He began to teach them and declare, “vvv Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? ▼

▼Isaiah 56:7

But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” ▼

▼Jeremiah 7:11

18 When the chief priests and scribes heard [this] , they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching. 19 And when evening came, [Jesus and His disciples] went out of the city.

The Withered Fig Tree

20 [As] they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from [its] roots. 21 Peter remembered [it] [and] said, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree You cursed has withered.” 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them. 23 “Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that [it] will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received [it] , and [it] will be yours. 25 And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against [another] , forgive [it] , so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.” ▼

▼See Matthew 6:15. BYZ and TR 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Jesus' Authority Challenged

27 After their return to Jerusalem, [Jesus] was walking in the temple courts, [and] the chief priests, scribes, and elders came up to Him. 28 “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “ [And] who gave You the authority to do [them] ?” 29 “I will ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and [if] you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John’s baptism— was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me!” 31 They deliberated among themselves what they should answer: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘From men’...” they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet. 33 So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither {will} I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”