Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Mark 11
Mark 11:9And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
The crowd shouts 'Hosanna,' which means 'Save us now,' recognizing Jesus as the one coming in God's name.Mark 11:17And he was teaching them and saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers."
Jesus explains that the temple should be a place where all people can talk to God, not a place for cheating others.Mark 11:22And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.
Jesus gives a clear command to have faith in God, which is the key to all his teaching about prayer.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Humble King Enters the City
As Jesus and His followers approach Jerusalem, they stop near the Mount of Olives. Jesus sends two disciples on a specific mission to find a young donkey that has never been ridden. This careful planning shows that Jesus is intentionally fulfilling the role of the promised King who comes in peace. The atmosphere is electric with expectation as the crowd prepares for His arrival.
Cleansing the Temple and Cursing the Tree
After the public celebration, Jesus visits the temple and then returns to Bethany. The next morning, He uses a hungry moment to teach a lesson about a fig tree that has leaves but no fruit. This leads directly into His confrontation at the temple, where He stops the dishonest business practices happening in God's house. These events together show Jesus' authority to judge what is spiritually dead or corrupt.
The King's Arrival and His Authority
In Mark 11:1-33, the scene moves from the dusty road into the heart of Jerusalem's religious center. Jesus moves with purpose, demonstrating His right to rule and His desire for genuine faith among His people.
The Triumphal Entry (Mark 11:1-11)
1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples
2 and said to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it.
3 And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’
4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it.
5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”
6 And they said to them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.
7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.
8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.
9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!
11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Commentary:
Jesus enters Jerusalem as the promised King, welcomed by cheering crowds.
The Fig Tree and the Temple (Mark 11:12-19)
12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.
13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.
14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.
16 and would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.
17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers."
18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.
19 And when evening came they went out of the city.
Commentary:
Jesus judges a fruitless tree and clears out the corrupt business in the temple.
Lessons on Faith and Forgiveness (Mark 11:20-26)
20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.
21 And Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered."
22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.
23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, 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 whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Commentary:
Jesus teaches that bold faith and a forgiving heart are the keys to powerful prayer.
Related Verse Analysis
The Question of Authority (Mark 11:27-33)
27 And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him,
28 and said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?"
29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me."
31 And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
32 But shall we say, ‘From man’?” - they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet.
33 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Commentary:
Jesus silences the religious leaders who try to challenge His right to lead.
The Authority of the King and the Fruit of Faith
True vs. False Worship
The chapter contrasts the 'leaves' of religious activity with the 'fruit' of genuine devotion. Jesus' actions in the temple show that God is not impressed by busy rituals if the heart is far from Him or if people are being exploited.
The Sovereignty of Jesus
From knowing exactly where the colt was to commanding the fig tree to wither, Jesus demonstrates total control over creation and circumstances. He isn't merely a guest in Jerusalem. He is the Lord who has 'need' of things and the authority to judge.
The Power of Forgiving Prayer
Jesus reveals that prayer is not merely about asking for things, but about aligning our hearts with God's character. By linking prayer to forgiveness, He shows that our relationship with others directly affects our relationship with God.
Applying the King's Authority to Our Lives
It reminds you that God cares about the sincerity of your heart more than the outward show of religion. As Jesus cleared the temple in Mark 11:15-17, He wants to remove any distractions or 'business' in your life that keep you from truly connecting with Him in prayer.
According to Mark 11:22-23, you should respond with 'faith in God' rather than doubt. This means trusting that God's power is greater than your problem and believing that He is able to act when you ask Him in prayer.
Jesus makes it clear in Mark 11:25 that holding onto a grudge can block your own experience of God's forgiveness. To live in the freedom and power of God's kingdom, you must be willing to release others from their debts, as God has released you from yours.
The King Demands a Fruitful Heart
Mark 11 shows us that when Jesus enters our lives, He doesn't come merely to be a spectator. He comes to take charge. He inspects our 'temples' and our 'fruit,' looking for genuine faith rather than empty religious shows. The message is that the King who deserves our 'Hosannas' also has the authority to overturn the tables of our hearts to make room for true prayer. He invites us into a life where faith moves mountains and forgiveness opens the door to God's presence.
What This Means for Us Today
Faith is more than merely agreeing with facts. It is a radical trust that changes how we live and pray. Mark 11 invites us to welcome Jesus as our King and to let Him clear away anything that hinders our relationship with God. When we pray with faith and a heart that forgives, we experience the true power of His kingdom in our daily lives.
- Is there a 'table' in your heart that Jesus needs to overturn today?
- Who is one person you need to forgive so that your prayers can be unhindered?
- What is one 'mountain' in your life that you need to bring to God with total faith?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
The Old Testament prophecy that describes the King coming to Jerusalem humble and riding on a donkey.
The passage Jesus quotes to show that God's house is intended to be a house of prayer for all nations.
A parallel account of the triumphal entry and the cleansing of the temple with additional details.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think Jesus chose to ride a young donkey instead of a horse, and what does that tell us about His kingdom?
- The fig tree looked healthy because it had leaves, but it was actually failing its purpose. In what ways can we look 'spiritually healthy' on the outside while lacking real fruit on the inside?
- Jesus says we should believe we have received what we ask for in prayer. How do we balance this bold faith with the understanding that God's will might be different from our own?