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The Gospel According to St. Mark

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- Chapter 11 -

(Zechariah 9:9–13; Matthew 21:1–11; Luke 19:28–40; John 12:12–19)
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!”(a) “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”(b)
10
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!”(c)
11
Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts.(d) He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

(Matthew 21:18–22; Mark 11:20–25)
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

(Matthew 21:12–17; Luke 19:45–48; John 2:12–25)
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 Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’(e)? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’(f)”
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 (g) out of the city.

The Withered Fig Tree

(Matthew 21:18–22; Mark 11:12–14)
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 for 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.(h)”
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.”

Footnotes

(a)11:9 Hosanna is a transliteration of the Hebrew Hosia-na, meaning Save, we pray or Save now, which became a shout of praise; see Psalms 118:25.
(b)11:9 Psalms 118:26
(c)11:10 Or “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” See Psalms 118:25 and Psalms 148:1.
(d)11:11 Literally the temple; also in verses 15, 16, and 27
(e)11:17 Isaiah 56:7
(f)11:17 Jeremiah 7:11
(g)11:19 Literally they went; BYZ and TR He went
(h)11:25 BYZ and TR include 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses; see Matthew 6:15.
(Zechariah 9:9–13; Matthew 21:1–11; Luke 19:28–40; John 12:12–19)
1
When they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage(a) and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples
2
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.
3
If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs him;’ and immediately he will send him back here.”
4
They went away, and found a young donkey tied at the door outside in the open street, and they untied him.
5
Some of those who stood there asked them, “What are you doing, untying the young donkey?”
6
They said to them just as Jesus had said, and they let them go.
7
They brought the young donkey to Jesus and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it.
8
Many spread their garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.
9
Those who went in front and those who followed cried out, “Hosanna!(b) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!(c)
10
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
11
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.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

(Matthew 21:18–22; Mark 11:20–25)
12
The next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry.
13
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.
14
Jesus told it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” and his disciples heard it.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

(Matthew 21:12–17; Luke 19:45–48; John 2:12–25)
15
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.
16
He would not allow anyone to carry a container through the temple.
17
He taught, saying to them, “Isn’t it written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? (d) But you have made it a den of robbers!” (e)
18
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.
19
When evening came, he went out of the city.

The Withered Fig Tree

(Matthew 21:18–22; Mark 11:12–14)
20
As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots.
21
Peter, remembering, said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away.”
22
Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.
23
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.
24
Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.
25
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.

Jesus’ Authority Challenged

(Matthew 21:23–27; Luke 20:1–8)
26
But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.” (f)
27
They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him,
28
and they began saying to him, “By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?”
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
The baptism of John—was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me.”
31
They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we should say, ‘From heaven;’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
32
If we should say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet.
33
They answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Footnotes

(a)11:1 TR &NU read “Bethphage” instead of “Bethsphage”
(b)11:9 “Hosanna” means “save us” or “help us, we pray”.
(c)11:9 ℘ Psalms 118:25-26
(d)11:17 ℘ Isaiah 56:7
(e)11:17 ℘ Jeremiah 7:11
(f)11:26 NU omits verse 26.
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