PrevMark 11:22Next

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 11:22 mean?

Explanation

Mark 11:22 is a concise imperative statement made by Jesus which encloses profound spiritual instruction.

Jesus tells His disciples to "Have faith in God," which, in its simplest translation, means to trust in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of God.

This instruction comes right after Jesus had caused a fig tree to wither away, as recounted earlier in this chapter.

The disciples were amazed at how quickly the tree had dried up, and Jesus used this moment to teach them a lesson about the power of faith.

The deeper meaning of this verse suggests a radical trust in God and implies that such faith can enable believers to do seemingly impossible things, consistent with God's will.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This verse takes place during what is commonly referred to as Holy Week, the last week of Jesus' life before His crucifixion.

Mark's Gospel positions this teaching shortly after Jesus enters Jerusalem and cleanses the Temple, and right after the cursing of the fig tree.

The cursing of the fig tree is a symbolic act, representing the judgment on spiritual barrenness.

Within this framework, Jesus' call to have faith emphasizes the contrast between the sterile religious practices of the Temple authorities and the vital, faith-driven life that He was teaching His followers to lead.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this statement can be understood in a variety of ways. Within Christian doctrine, the concept of faith is central.

Many traditions see faith as a gift, a divine enablement to trust and rely on God.

This concept is echoed in the teachings of the Reformation, where faith is emphasized as a key element of salvation.

Other theological interpretations focus on the aspect of faith as a human response, suggesting that a relationship with God entails an active trust and participation in God's plans.

Additionally, there are those who interpret this kind of faith as a means to access divine power, as is evident in prosperity gospel teachings that underscore faith as a catalyst for miracles, health, and wealth.

Practical Applications

Practically, "Have faith in God" can serve as a fundamental principle in the lives of believers.

It suggests a call to maintain trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty, especially in times of challenge or when facing tasks that appear insurmountable.

This can relate to personal struggles, communal hardships, or even social justice issues.

The practice of faith encourages reliance not on one's own strength, but in the power and provision of God.

Cross-References

Matthew 17:20 – "And Jesus said unto them, ...If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
Hebrews 11:1 – "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
James 1:6 – "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.

For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

Language Study

In the original Greek, "Have faith" translates to "Έχετε πίστιν" (echete pistin), with "echete" being a form of the verb "to have” implying possession or holding.

"Pistin" is the accusative form of "πίστις" (pistis), meaning faith, trust, or belief.

Therefore, the phrase instructs one to literally possess or hold onto faith or trust in God.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient myths and religious texts, trust in a higher power or deity is a common theme.

For example, in the Hindu epic, the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna emphasizes trust in the divine as a way to spiritual enlightenment.

In both instances, a central message is the relinquishment of personal ego and a turning towards a divine will with trust and belief that surpasses the ordinary human understanding.

Scientific Perspectives

While science typically operates within the domain of empirical evidence, this verse speaks to the human need for trust, which can be seen within psychological contexts.

Trust is recognized as an essential component of mental health and well-being, affecting social bonds and personal resilience.

Studies in psychology have noted the impact of faith and religious belief as coping mechanisms, influencing stress reduction and improving life satisfaction.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentators have provided insights on Mark 11:22.

Matthew Henry, for instance, points out that this statement directs believers to the root of all comforts - God Himself, and not His creatures or other things.

John Calvin emphasizes the readiness of God to listen to the prayers of the faithful, provided their desires are aligned with God's will.

Contemporary scholars such as N.T.

Wright suggest that Jesus is combining the teaching on faith with the authority given to His disciples, framing it as a lesson on spiritual authority that comes from steadfast faith in God.

Mark 11

Mark 11

What does Mark 11:22 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 11:22 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?