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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 11:33 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 11:33 captures the culmination of an exchange between Jesus and the religious leaders of his time, where the chief priests, scribes, and elders question Jesus's authority.

Jesus had been teaching in the temple and performing miracles, which challenged the religious status quo.

The leaders ask Jesus by what authority he does these things, looking to trap him into saying something they could use against him.

Jesus responds with a question of his own, asking them the origin of John the Baptist's baptism, whether from heaven or from men.

They confer among themselves but realize that any answer they give could corner them; if they say from heaven, they would be asked why they didn't believe John, but if they say from men, they fear the reaction of the people who held John as a prophet.

Therefore, they answer Jesus, "We cannot tell," and in response, Jesus refuses to disclose the source of his authority.

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Historical Context

The historical context of Mark 11:33 is crucial to understanding the dynamics at play.

Jesus had entered Jerusalem, an event now commemorated as Palm Sunday, and cleared the temple of money changers, asserting his authority over the Jewish religious practices.

This period is in the final days before his crucifixion.

The Jewish leaders were already feeling threatened by Jesus's increasing popularity and his challenges to their authority.

It's important to consider the power structure of Jewish society at the time, where priests, scribes, and elders played significant roles in maintaining religious order and power with some collaboration with the Roman authorities.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse illustrates Jesus's wisdom in handling attempts by the religious leaders to trap him.

Different viewpoints might interpret Jesus's refusal to answer as a criticism of the leaders' lack of sincerity in faith and spiritual discernment.

In essence, Jesus exposes their unwillingness to commit to what they know is true.

The question of Jesus's authority remains central to Christian theology as it relates to his divinity and his mission on Earth.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse can be interpreted in various ways. It challenges individuals to consider their own openness to spiritual authority and truth. It also encourages believers to answer God’s call with honesty and integrity, rather than evasion.

Furthermore, it is a reminder to engage in sincere and humble spiritual questioning and to avoid using faith as a tool for power plays or personal gain.

Cross-References

Matthew 21:24-27: This passage shows Matthew’s account of the same event, emphasizing the mirroring question of Jesus about John's baptism.
Luke 20:3-8: Luke also recounts this encounter, highlighting the leaders' inability to answer Jesus's question.
John 2:18-19: Here, the Jews ask Jesus for a sign to prove his authority, and Jesus speaks about destroying the temple and raising it in three days, a metaphor for his death and resurrection.

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek of this verse include:

ἀπεκρίθησαν (apekrithēsan, "they answered"): A common Greek verb for "answered," but in the context, it indicates a careful response to avoid entrapment.
διδάσκαλε (didaskale, "teacher"): This is a term of respect, but possibly used here in a disingenuous manner by the religious leaders.
ἐξουσίαν (exousian, "authority"): A key term in this passage that refers to the power or right to act, speak, or think.

It’s the central issue being challenged in Jesus's actions.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison with other ancient cultures and religions, the question of authority in religious leadership is a recurring theme.

Ancient myths often feature gods or demi-gods who challenge the established order, similar to how Jesus's ministry challenged the religious status quo of his day.

In other religious traditions as well, the tension between prophetic figures and established religious authorities is a common motif.

The narrative of Mark 11:33 can be seen as representing a paradigm shift that Jesus was bringing to the spiritual understanding of the time.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives do not directly apply to this verse, as it deals with historical events and theological concepts rather than empirical claims. The authority that Jesus speaks of is spiritual and metaphysical, which lies outside the purview of scientific inquiry.

However, modern historical and archeological research may provide additional context to the socio-political and cultural landscape of the period.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Mark 11:33 may offer insight into the motives of both Jesus and the religious leaders. Prominent biblical scholars propose that Jesus was fully aware of the leaders' attempts to discredit him and used this encounter to highlight their lack of spiritual understanding.

Commentators often agree that Jesus's refusal to answer their question was a strategic move to avoid direct confrontation at that moment while still asserting his divine authority.

The leaders' inability to answer Jesus’s retaliatory question is seen as indicative of their moral and spiritual bankruptcy.

Mark 11

Mark 11

What does Mark 11:33 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 11:33 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?