Mark 11

When they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples

and said to them, “Go your way into the village that is opposite you. Immediately as you enter into it, you will find a young donkey tied, on which no one has sat. Untie him and bring him.

If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs him;’ and immediately he will send him back here.”

They went away, and found a young donkey tied at the door outside in the open street, and they untied him.

Some of those who stood there asked them, “What are you doing, untying the young donkey?”

They said to them just as Jesus had said, and they let them go.

They brought the young donkey to Jesus and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it.

Many spread their garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.

Those who went in front and those who followed cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Jesus entered into the temple in Jerusalem. When he had looked around at everything, it being now evening, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

The next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry.

Seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

Jesus told it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” and his disciples heard it.

They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the temple and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves.

He would not allow anyone to carry a container through the temple.

He taught, saying to them, “Isn’t it written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers!”

The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.

When evening came, he went out of the city.

As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots.

Peter, remembering, said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away.”

Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.

For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening, he shall have whatever he says.

Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.

Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions.

But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.”

They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him,

and they began saying to him, “By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?”

Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

The baptism of John—was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me.”

They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we should say, ‘From heaven;’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

If we should say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet.

They answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter presents Jesus’ messianic entry into Jerusalem and his confrontation with the religious establishment, centering on his authority and the condition of God’s house. It begins with the triumphal procession, shifts to the symbolic judgment on the fig tree, moves to the cleansing of the temple, and culminates in Jesus’ refusal to validate his authority to the chief priests and elders.

Flow.

Jesus orchestrates his entry into Jerusalem by sending disciples to retrieve a colt, fulfilling messianic expectation with quiet dignity.
The crowd’s acclamations echo Psalm 118, recognizing Jesus as the coming Davidic king, though their understanding remains incomplete.
The cursing of the barren fig tree, followed by the temple’s cleansing, symbolizes God’s judgment on fruitless religious formalism.
Jesus’ confrontation with the religious leaders highlights their unbelief, and his parabolic question about John’s baptism exposes their spiritual hypocrisy.

Connections. Following chapter 10, where Jesus reveals his messianic identity and the cost of discipleship, chapter 11 advances the mounting tension between Jesus and the religious authorities, which chapter 12 intensifies through further controversy and parables of judgment. The journey toward Jerusalem reaches its symbolic peak here, as Jesus acts as the long-awaited King and Prophet who purifies the temple, preparing readers for the decisive conflicts that lead to the crucifixion.

What it teaches. Jesus fulfills the Davidic kingship (WCF 8.5) not with political force but with humble authority, entering Zion as the promised Messiah (; cf. HC LD 15). The temple cleansing underscores that God’s house must be a place of prayer for all nations (; cf. WCF 21.5–6), not corrupted by commercialism or national exclusivity. The withered fig tree signifies divine judgment on Israel’s spiritual barrenness (; cf. WCF 3.7–8), while Jesus’ words on faith and prayer stress reliance on God’s power and the necessity of forgiveness (; cf. HC Q/A 116). His refusal to answer the leaders on their terms reveals that true authority carries divine authentication, not human endorsement (HC Q/A 32).

Apply. Trust the authority of Christ’s word, and approach God’s presence with reverence, knowing he calls his people to bear fruit and forgive as they have been forgiven.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.