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Mark 11

And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,

And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.

And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.

And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?

And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.

And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.

And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:

Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

And when even was come, he went out of the city.

And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,

And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.

And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

What does Mark 11:18 mean?

Explanation

Mark 11:18 deals with conflict between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders of his time, specifically the scribes and chief priests.

After Jesus had cleared the temple of merchants and money-changers (Mark 11:15-17), he taught the people at the temple, which impressed the crowds.

His teaching "astonished" them, indicating that they found his words to be powerful and authoritative.

The scribes and chief priests perceive Jesus not only as a challenge to their authority but also as a danger to their position because he had the people's admiration.

They began to scheme ways to "destroy" him, essentially plotting to kill Jesus.

This was because they felt threatened by his growing influence and the fear that his teachings could undermine their authority and power.

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Historical Context

This passage is set in Jerusalem during the time of Passover.

The Passover was one of the most significant Jewish festivals and attracted Jews from all over to the temple in Jerusalem.

The cleansing of the temple by Jesus would have been particularly provocative because it questioned the practices and authority of the temple leadership at a time when the city was crowded with pilgrims.

At this time, there were several Jewish sects with significant influence, including the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots.

The scribes were a class of people trained in writing and interpreting the Scriptures, and the chief priests had religious and political power over the Jewish people.

They collaborated with the Roman occupants to maintain a fragile balance of power.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse highlights the inevitable clash between the kingdom of God inaugurated by Jesus and the established religious order of the day.

It raises themes of prophetic challenge to religious hypocrisy, and the true nature of spiritual authority.

It can also be seen as a fulfillment of prophecies in the Hebrew scriptures about the suffering servant (Isaiah 53) who is rejected by his own people.

From a Jewish standpoint of the time period, some would view Jesus’ actions as those of a radical threat to the stability and piety of Jewish religious practice, potentially incurring the wrath of Rome upon the nation.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse serves as a reminder that truly standing up for one's beliefs can lead to conflict with established powers.

For modern readers, it is a call to examine whether their practices align with their spiritual values and to be prepared for the consequences of challenging the status quo.

Cross-References

Mark 12:12 - "And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way."
John 11:47-50 - "Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation."

Luke 19:47-48 - "And he taught daily in the temple.

But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him."

Language Study

The Greek word for "destroy" in this passage is "ἀπολέσωσιν" (apolesosin), which can mean to destroy fully, kill, or declare that one must be put to death.

The term "feared" is "ἐφοβοῦντο" (ephobounto), indicating they were afraid or terrified.

The word "astonished" comes from "ἐξεπλήσσοντο" (exeplēssonto), suggesting they were amazed or struck with panic or shock.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the context of other ancient religions, the confrontation between a prophetic figure and the established religious order is somewhat common.

Prophets in ancient times were often seen as both divinely inspired and potentially dangerous to the status quo, as they could challenge the religious hierarchy and social norms.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives might focus on the psychology behind group dynamics and the reaction of the chief priests and scribes. Fear of losing influence and the cognitive dissonance between one's beliefs and an emerging new ideology could inform the aggressive reaction of the religious leaders.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentators and scholars interpret this verse through different lenses.

Some emphasize the courage of Jesus in the face of potential danger. Others point out the political and social risks that Jesus' actions and popularity posed to the religious leaders.

Many agree that this verse sets the stage for the ensuing passion narrative, showing the increasing tension that will lead to the crucifixion of Jesus.

Mark 11

Mark 11

What does Mark 11:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 11:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?