Bible Commentaries
Mark 11

Verse 1

And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:1 "

Verse 2

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 .

Whereon never man sat — As if it had been done on set purpose. Here was a wheel within a wheel,Ezekiel 1:10; Ezekiel 1:10 , the better to convince the stubborn Jews of his kingly office.

Verse 3

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.

Say ye that the Lord hath need of him — See here six different arguments of our Saviour’s Deity: 1. That he knew there was such an ass colt. 2. That he sent for it. 3. Foresaw that the masters of the colt would question them that set it. 4. That he professeth himself the Lord of all. 5. That he could tell they would send the colt. 6. That accordingly they did so. (Piscater.)

Verse 4

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.

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:6 " See Trapp on " Luke 19:32 "

Verse 5

And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?

See Trapp on " Luke 19:33 "

Verse 6

And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:6 " See Trapp on " Luke 19:34 " See Trapp on " Luke 19:35 "

Verse 7

And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:7 " See Trapp on " Luke 19:35 "

Verse 8

And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:8 " See Trapp on " Luke 19:36 "

Verse 9

And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:9 " See Trapp on " Luke 19:35 "

Verse 10

Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:9 " See Trapp on " Luke 19:37 " See Trapp on " Luke 19:38 "

Verse 11

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.

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:12 "

Verse 12

And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

He was hungry — This, and that he knew not but that there were figs on the tree, declare him to be the true man.

Verse 13

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 .

Ver. 13, The time of figs was not yet — viz. Of ripe figs; but if he could have found but green figs only, he would at that time have been glad of them. He looked for somewhat from that great show of leaves. But the old proverb became true, Great bruit, (noise) little fruit.

Verse 14

And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it .

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:19 "

Verse 15

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;

Began to cast out — As he had done before, John 2:15 . See Trapp on " John 2:15 " Hath not the Lord done the like also lately among us, casting out many church choppers, that have been money changers rather than ministers in the temple?

Verse 16

And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

And would not suffer — This is one of those things recorded by St Mark only.

Verse 17

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.

My house shall be called, … — He inveighs against the same fault with the same arguments as before, John 2:16-17 .

Verse 18

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.

Astonished at his doctrine — While they hung upon his holy lips, Luke 19:48 .

Verse 19

And when even was come, he went out of the city.

He went out of the city — Having first cried, and said, "He that believeth on me," …, John 12:42 , to the end of that chapter.

Verse 20

And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:20 " Learn to stand in fear of Christ’s curse: he can blow men to destruction, smite the earth with the rod of his mouth,Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 11:4 ; Job 4:9 .

Verse 21

And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

And Peter calling to remembrance — So the fig tree bare far better fruit now that it was dried, than when it was green and flourishing. Instruunt nos Patres, tum docentes, tum labentes; The saints teach us, as by their instructions, so by their infirmities. (Aug.)

Verse 22

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:21 "

Verse 23

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.

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:21 "

Verse 24

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them , and ye shall have them .

What things soever ye desire, … — To an effectual prayer two things are here required: 1. An earnest desire after the thing prayed for; "the desire of the righteous shall be satisfied," Proverbs 10:24 ; but a cold suitor begs a denial. 2. A confident expectation of a gracious answer. He that prayeth and doubteth shutteth heaven’s gates against his own prayers, James 1:7 .

Believe that ye receive them — Even as soon as you ask, as the word λαμβαντετ signifies. See Daniel 9:20-21 ; Daniel 9:24 .

Verse 25

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.

And when ye stand, praying — Several gestures in prayer are described, not prescribed, in God’s book. The word στηκητε , here rendered stand, importeth a presenting one’s self before the Lord, whether he stand, sit, or kneel, …

Verse 26

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

See Matthew 6:14 . See Trapp on " Matthew 6:14 "

Verse 27

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,

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:23 "

Verse 28

And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:23 "

Verse 29

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.

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:24 "

Verse 30

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.

From heaven, or of men, answer me — So when the enemies of reformation demand what we mean by so doing, ask them what they think of that we do? Is it from heaven or of men? if from heaven, why do not they approve it? if of men, why do not they disprove it by the Scriptures? Bucer and Melancthon framed a form of reformation according to the truth of the gospel, with the approbation of the peers and states of Cullen; but the clergy, though not able to contradict it by good reason, yet rejected it with slander, and said that they had rather choose to live under the Turkish government than under a magistrate that embraced that reformation. (Melch. Ad. in Vita Bucer. )

Verse 31

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:25 "

Verse 32

But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:26 "

Verse 33

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.

See Trapp on " Matthew 21:27 "