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Bible Commentaries
Mark 11

Zerr's Commentary on Selected Books of the New TestamentZerr's N.T. Commentary

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Verse 1

1 The mount of Olives was near Jerusalem (Act 1:12) and the towns named were on or near the mount. They are mentioned to indicate haw "nigh" they were.

Verse 2

2Jesus usually traveled on foot, and being so near the city he would not change his mode of travel just from being tired. But he wished to prepare for the fulfilling of a certain prophecy by procuring this animal. He instructed his disciples to bring him a colt tied in a nearby village, one that had never been "broke to ride."

Verse 3

3 They were given the authority to take the colt, equipped with the all-sufficient explanation to its owners that the Lord hath need of him.

Verse 4

4 They found the colt tied at an intersection of two streets, or rather, where they came together as "a fork in the road."

Verse 5

5 The inquiry was made of them that Jesus had anticipated. It was quite natural to ask for an explanation when others besides the owners were taking possession of this untrained colt.

Verse 6

6 Their explanation was accepted as Jesus said it would be.

Verse 7

7 Brought the colt . . . he sat upon him. Jesus rode the mother of the colt also although Mark does not say so. For an explanation of this subject see the comments on Mat 21:5.

Verse 8

8 When a dignitary was approaching, it was customary to make a carpet on which he might proceed. These people did so with the materials at hand, namely, their outer garments. Some found the branches or leaves of palm trees to use for a carpet.

Verse 9

9 Hosanna is defined in the comments on Mat 21:9.

Verse 10

0 Our father David. These people were Jews who had come to Jerusalem to attend the feast of the Passover. They were acquainted with the prophecies that David was to have a descendant who was to sit on his throne and here recognized Jesus as that person. (See Psa 132:11).

Verse 11

1 This verse mentions only in general terms the visit of Jesus to the temple. In Mat 21:12-13, is the account of his casting out the moneychangers, and it is also mentioned in verse 15 of this chapter. Having purged the temple, Jesus went out to the nearby village of Bethany to stay over night.

Verse 12

2 In the morning they returned from Bethany and Jesus became hungry.

Verse 13

3 See the comments at Mat 21:19 for the explanation of the fig tree.

Verse 14

4 No man eat fruit of thee is the curse pronounced upon the fig tree.

Verse 15

5 This verse describes what is referred to at verse 11 and in the passage in Matthew. The chronological order of the events is not quite the same in Mark as it is in Matthew, but the facts are the same so that no contradiction exists.

Verse 16

6 This verse means Jesus stopped all commercial activities in the temple.

Verse 17

7 The place where this saying is written is Isa 56:7. Jesus called it a den of thieves because they were taking advantage of the situation to charge undue fees for their transactions; they were profiteering.

Verse 18

8 The scribes and chief priests feared him in the bad sense of that word. They were afraid of an uprising among the people if they did any harm to Jesus.

Verse 19

0 On the return to Jerusalem they observed the fig tree that Jesus had cursed. So completely did this "curse" affect the fig tree that it had withered from its top to its roots.

Verse 21

1 Peter called the attention of Jesus to the fig tree, evidently in a manner that indicated his astonishment.

Verse 22

2 The first reply of Jesus was that it requires faith in God.

Verse 23

3 No miracles were performed by Jesus or his apostles for the mere gratification of curiosity, or just to make a show of power. If any good reason appeared for removing a mountain in this way it could be done, for one miracle is as easy as another as far as power is concerned. Verse 24. Even miracles that are right and needed cannot be performed without the proper degree of faith. (See Mat 17:19-21.)

Verse 25

5 The word stand does not refer to the posture of the body, but is a term that applies to the established practice of praying. Besides, the things Jesus instructs to be done in connection with praying to God are just as necessary in any other position of the body as they are in that of standing.

Verse 26

6 The duty of forgiving others in connection with our plea for pardon, mentioned in this and the preceding verse, is taught in Mat 6:12-15.

Verse 27

7 The old foes of Jesus were these men who met him in the temple.

Verse 28

8 These things means the driving of the moneychangers out of the temple.
Bibliographical Information
Zerr, E.M. "Commentary on Mark 11". Zerr's Commentary on Selected Books of the New Testament. https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/znt/mark-11.html. 1952.
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