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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 11:24 mean?

Explanation

Mark 11:24 is a passage that often captures the attention of those who study the New Testament due to its bold proclamation about faith and prayer.

This verse reports Jesus' words about the power of belief in the context of prayer.

Literally, it suggests that if someone prays for something and truly believes that it will happen, it will be granted to them.

The deeper meaning points towards a radical trust in God and the belief that God is willing to respond to the petitions made by the faithful.

This verse not only speaks about the importance of faith but also about the expectations one should hold when praying , that God is capable of all things and listens to the desires of the heart.

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Historical Context

Mark 11:24 is part of a passage in which Jesus is teaching his disciples about the power of faith.

The verse is set shortly after the event known as the Cursing of the Fig Tree, where Jesus curses a barren fig tree, and it withers.

The disciples are amazed by this, and Jesus uses the moment to teach about the importance of having faith in God.

This instruction was given in a time and culture where prayer, faith, and reliance on God were central to the daily lives of the Jewish people.

The historical context during which Mark was written, possibly around 70 A.D., was marked by social and political upheaval, including the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which could have led early Christians to place even greater importance on faith and prayer.

Theological Insights

There are various theological views on Mark 11:24. The more traditional viewpoint would affirm that this verse underscores the importance of faith in the life of a believer and reinforces the concept that God will provide according to His will when His followers have unwavering belief.

Some prosperity gospel proponents might use this verse to suggest that faith is a means to securing material blessings or whatever the heart desires.

However, most mainstream Christian traditions caution against such interpretations, emphasizing that the verse must be read in the larger context of Scripture, which suggests that the fulfillment of prayer requests is always subordinate to the will of God.

Theological perspectives that focus on the overall sovereignty of God interpret this passage as an invitation to align one's desires with the purposes and will of God rather than a blanket promise of granting all requests.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this verse encourages believers to approach prayer with a trusting and expectant heart.

It suggests that when one makes a petition to God, they should do so with the confidence that God hears and is capable of responding positively to that petition.

Practically, this involves cultivating a robust faith, not giving in to doubt, and also understanding that the answer may come in ways that they may not expect.

This verse also serves as a reminder that the act of prayer itself is an act of faith and a demonstration of reliance on God’s power.

Cross-References

Matthew 21:22: "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
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."

John 14:13-14: "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

Language Study

The Greek words underlying the phrase "believe that ye receive them" are key to understanding this verse.

The word for "believe" (πιστεύω - pisteuō) carries the meaning of "to trust" or "have faith in".

The phrase "ye receive" (λαμβάνω - lambanō) in the present tense implies a belief that is as good as having received it already , an assurance of things not yet seen. The immediacy of the tense underscores the certainty and expectation that the prayer is already answered.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of faith influencing reality, seen in this verse, is not unique to Christianity.

Similar themes are present in other religious and mythological traditions.

For instance, the power of spoken word and the concept of calling things into existence is a common trope in various myths.

In Hinduism, the Bhagavad Gita speaks about the importance of faith and surrender to God's will.

In Islam, the concept of Dua (prayer) is also based on trust in Allah's plan, with parallels to the Christian concept of prayer.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, prayer and belief have been subjects of interest in the context of their effects on human psychology and physiology.

Studies in positive psychology have observed that maintaining a positive expectation (like believing in the positive outcome of prayer) can affect one's mental state and potentially their physical health.

However, science does not confirm the causality suggested in the verse , that belief alone will result in the fulfillment of specific desires , as this falls outside the realm of empirical measurement.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentaries offer different interpretations of Mark 11:24.

Some commentaries, such as The Pulpit Commentary, highlight the need for understanding this verse in the context of God’s will, reminding readers that it is not a blank check for any desire.

Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the need for purity of motive and alignment with God's commandments.

Other scholars reflect on the essence of faith as understood by first-century Christians, especially in light of the challenges they faced.

Contemporary thought leaders like N.T.

Wright or John Piper implore believers to see the relational aspect of this teaching, as Jesus emphasizes a relationship with God that is deeper and more profound than merely asking for material needs.

Mark 11

Mark 11

What does Mark 11:24 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 11:24 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?