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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 11:2 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 11:2 is part of the New Testament narrative describing Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, which is celebrated in Christianity as Palm Sunday.

In this verse, Jesus instructs two of his disciples to go into the village ahead and find a young donkey that has never been ridden.

He gives specific details about the animal's location and its state (tied up), and then orders them to untie it and bring it to Him.

The instructions are precise, and they suggest that Jesus had foreknowledge of the situation, or it was prearranged.

The deeper meaning often associated with this instruction is symbolic. The colt, having never been ridden, can represent innocence and purity. In Jewish tradition, an animal that had not been put to work was considered especially suitable for sacred purposes.

Furthermore, a king riding a donkey was a sign of peace, as opposed to a horse, which was a sign of war.

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Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, the method of entering a city was significant.

Leaders entering in triumph typically rode on horses, symbols of war and conquest.

By choosing a colt, specifically one that had not been ridden, Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, portraying himself as a humble king of peace.

It takes place around the Jewish holiday of Passover, a time when Jerusalem would be filled with Jews from all over the empire who had come for the festival.

Theological Insights

Views on this verse vary among different theological traditions. In Christian theology, Mark 11:2 is seen as a direct fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, specifically Zechariah 9:9, which strengthens the claim of Jesus' messianic role.

Some scholars suggest this is an example of Jesus' divine omniscience, as he seemed to know about the colt in advance. On the other hand, some critical scholars might argue that the evangelists crafted their narratives to align with Old Testament prophecies.

Practical Applications

In daily life, Mark 11:2 can be seen as a lesson in obedience and faith. Just as the disciples followed Jesus' detailed instructions without question, believers today are encouraged to trust in God's guidance, even when it might not make sense at the moment.

It is also a reminder of the importance of humility and peace in Christian life.

Cross-References

Related verses from the King James Version of the Bible include:

Zechariah 9:9: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."
Matthew 21:2-3: "Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them."

Luke 19:30-31: "Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

And if any one ask you, 'Why are you untying it?' you shall say this: 'The Lord has need of it.'"

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for colt is "πῶλον" (polon), which refers specifically to the young offspring of a horse or donkey.

The phrase "ἐφ’ ὃν οὐδεὶς ἄνθρωπος ἐκάθισεν" (eph' hon oudeis anthrōpos ekathisen) literally translates to "on which no one has ever sat." The use of the word "ουδεὶς" (oudeis) meaning "no one" emphasizes the animal's purity and the fact that it had not been used for mundane purposes.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of an untouched or pure animal being used for a sacred purpose was common in ancient cultures, including Jewish culture where animals used in temple sacrifice often had to be without blemish.

In many ancient myths, certain animals were considered divine or were used symbolically to signify deities or royalty.

For example, in ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh was often depicted with horse-drawn chariots, which were symbols of power and divine authority.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific point of view, there is no evidence to suggest preternatural insight in Jesus' knowledge of the colt; natural explanations could include prior arrangement or observation.

Animal behavior experts could also offer insight into the significance of using an untrained colt, which might have been more challenging to ride, thereby further amplifying the miraculous nature of the event in the eyes of contemporaries.

Commentaries

Various Bible commentaries offer insights into Mark 11:2.

The Pulpit Commentary discusses Christ's omniscience and divine providence in knowing the location and availability of the colt.

Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes the fulfillment of prophecy and the humility of Christ in this act.

John Calvin's commentary would likely discuss the sovereignty of Christ and His authority over creation, signified by the immediate provision of the colt.

These interpretations, while varied, tend to converge on the themes of prophetic fulfillment and the nature of Jesus' kingship.

Mark 11

Mark 11

What does Mark 11:2 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 11:2 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?