PrevMark 11:23Next

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 11:23 mean?

Explanation

Mark 11:23 involves a statement made by Jesus to his disciples, emphasizing the power of faith and the effectiveness of prayer.

At the literal level, the verse suggests that with sufficient faith, even the most impossible task, like commanding a mountain to move, can be achieved.

Metaphorically, the mountain represents large obstacles or challenges in life.

The core message is that faith, free of doubt, has the ability to overcome any hurdle.

It underscores the idea that belief is a powerful force that can bring about tangible results when one speaks with conviction and does not waver in their faith.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The verse is found in the Gospel of Mark, written approximately in the late first century AD.

The Gospel was written at a time when early Christians faced persecution and crises of belief.

This text is situated just after Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his cursing of the fig tree, a symbolic act of judgment.

Jesus uses the fig tree as a teachable moment for his disciples about the importance of faith, and this statement to the disciples is a part of that lesson.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse is seen as an affirmation of the omnipotence of God and the importance of faith when approaching Him in prayer. Different Christian denominations interpret the passage in various ways.

Some take it quite literally, believing in the power of faith to perform miracles. Others view it as hyperbole, used to underscore the might of faith and its critical role in the believer's spiritual life.

Practical Applications

In terms of practical application, this verse inspires believers to practice a faith that is unwavering when faced with life's challenges.

It encourages individuals to trust in God's power, to believe wholeheartedly in the effectiveness of their prayers, and to approach difficulties with the conviction that they can be overcome.

People may find hope and strength in this teaching, using it to bolster their confidence in times of doubt or difficulty.

Cross-References

Matthew 17:20: "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, 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."
Matthew 21:21: "Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done."
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 text, the key words are:

"say" (λέγω, legō): To speak, command, or proclaim.
"mountain" (ὄρος, oros): Literally, a mountain, often symbolizing a barrier or a significant difficulty.
"removed" (ἀρθῇ, arthē): To lift, carry, take up, or remove.
"doubt" (διακρίνομαι, diakrinomai): To separate thoroughly, to hesitate, to doubt.
"believe" (πιστεύω, pisteuō): To have faith in, trust, to be firmly persuaded.

The precision of the language underscores the conditionality of the promise, faith must be without hesitation (διακρίνομαι) to achieve the desired outcome.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The notion of speaking to the natural world and it responding can be found in various ancient cultures and religious traditions. For instance, in Greco-Roman mythology, gods and demigods often had power over natural elements.

However, in the context of Mark, the power comes not from being a deity, but from the divine authority granted by faith in God.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific standpoint, the idea of a mountain being moved into the sea by command is not feasible, as it contradicts the known laws of physics and geology.

This verse is generally understood by the scientific community as metaphorical or hyperbolic rather than a description of a literal event or capability.

Commentaries

Scholars and biblical commentators offer various interpretations of Mark 11:23.

Some suggest that Jesus uses hyperbole to make the point about the power of faith; others consider it a literal statement on the potential of faith to enact God's will and work miracles.

Many agree, however, that the essence of the teaching is about the relationship between faith and the believer's ability to face and overcome life's obstacles.

Mark 11

Mark 11

What does Mark 11:23 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 11:23 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?