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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 11:32 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 11:32 speaks about a situation involving Jesus and the religious leaders of His time.

In the broader context, Jesus is questioned by the chief priests, scribes, and elders about the authority by which He acts.

Jesus responds with a counter-question about the baptism of John the Baptist, asking whether it was from heaven (divine) or of human origin.

The leaders deliberate among themselves and are caught in a dilemma.

If they say John's baptism was from heaven, Jesus will ask why they did not believe John.

However, if they say it was of human origin, they feared the people, because everyone believed John was indeed a prophet.

The verse shows the religious leaders' internal conflict about admitting John's divine authority or denying it and facing the people's wrath.

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Historical Context

This verse is set in the Holy Week, the last week of Jesus' life before His crucifixion.

During this time, Jesus was teaching in the temple in Jerusalem and challenging the authority of the religious leaders.

John the Baptist had previously prepared the way for Jesus and was widely recognized by the people as a prophet.

Israel had a long history of prophets who spoke God’s message to the people, and John was seen as one of them.

Therefore, the religious leaders faced a significant challenge to their own authority from both Jesus and John the Baptist.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse underscores the tension between the divine authority exhibited by Jesus and John the Baptist and the religious authorities' human-established hierarchy.

The fear of the leaders to acknowledge John's baptism as divine suggests they were more concerned with their status and control than the truth.

The verse also highlights human nature's tendency to avoid spiritual truths when they threaten one's position, authority, or belief system. This episode reinforces the idea that Jesus' authority came directly from God, which the religious leaders were reluctant to accept.

Practical Applications

The scenario described in Mark 11:32 offers several practical applications.

It teaches the importance of standing by the truth even when it is inconvenient or may lead to personal repercussions.

It also cautions against the influence of public opinion and emphasizes the importance of personal conviction based on one’s beliefs rather than fear of others.

In daily life, this can translate to the courage to speak the truth and align one's actions with one's beliefs even in the face of opposition or when it contradicts popular opinion.

Cross-References

Matthew 21:26 - "But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet."
Luke 20:6 - "But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet."
Mark 1:4 - "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."

Language Study

The term "feared" (Greek: "ἐφοβοῦντο," transliterated as "ephobounto") implies more than simple fear; it suggests a deep dread or terror about possible consequences. This reflects the leaders' intense concern about the reaction of the people.

"Prophet" (Greek: "προφήτης," transliterated as "prophētēs") refers to an individual who claims to have received divine messages or revelations. John the Baptist is acknowledged as such by the people, suggesting his words held great weight and authority with the populace.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, prophetic figures were common, and their words were often treated with a mix of reverence and caution.

John’s role as a prophet in the Jewish tradition fits this pattern, as prophets were both deeply respected and sometimes feared for their frank pronouncements of divine will.

Similar figures existed in other religious traditions, who, like John, called for repentance and warned of divine judgment.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science typically does not address religious concepts such as prophecy or divine authority directly.

However, psychology can contribute an understanding of the human behavior exhibited in this verse, like the decision-making processes influenced by fear, social pressures, and cognitive dissonance that the religious leaders experienced.

commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have commented on this verse, noting the profound hesitancy and self-interest displayed by the religious leaders.

William Barclay points out their cowardice and inability to speak the truth for fear of losing their power.

John Calvin emphasizes that this predicament reveals the blindness and miserable comfort of those who waver between God and the approval of people.

Matthew Henry highlights the trap that Jesus sets for His questioners, which exposes their insincerity and unwillingness to submit to God's authority even when it's clearly evident in John's ministry.

Mark 11

Mark 11

What does Mark 11:32 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 11:32 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?