BibleWord.ai›Bible›Mark›Chapter 11

Mark Chapter 11

New Testament Gospel 33 Verses

What is Mark 11 about?

The fast-paced Gospel of action — Jesus as the Suffering Servant who came not to be served but to give his life as a ransom. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1And when they draw nigh unto Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples,
2and saith unto them, Go your way into the village that is over against you: and straightway as ye enter into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat; loose him, and bring him.
3And if any one say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye, The Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him back hither.
4And they went away, and found a colt tied at the door without in the open street; and they loose him.
5And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
6And they said unto them even as Jesus had said: and they let them go.
7And they bring the colt unto Jesus, and cast on him their garments; and he sat upon him.
8And many spread their garments upon the way; and others branches, which they had cut from the fields.
9And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, Hosanna; Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
10Blessed [is] the kingdom that cometh, [the kingdom] of our father David: Hosanna in the highest.
11And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple; and when he had looked round about upon all things, it being now eventide, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
12And on the morrow, when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered.
13And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season of figs.
14And he answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And his disciples heard it.
15And they come to Jerusalem: and he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and them that bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves;
16and he would not suffer that any man should carry a vessel through the temple.
17And he taught, and said unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? but ye have made it a den of robbers.
18And the chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, for all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.
19And every evening he went forth out of the city.
20And as they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots.
21And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it.
24Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26[But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.]
27And 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;
28and they said unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? or who gave thee this authority to do these things?
29And Jesus said unto them, I will ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
30The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? answer me.
31And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
32But should we say, From men--they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet.
33And they answered Jesus and say, We know not. And Jesus saith unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
← Mark 10Mark 12 →

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, etc..] The Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, “when he came nigh”; that is, Jesus; though not without his disciples, nor the multitude: unto Bethphage and Bethany; two places so called, near Jerusalem: Bethphage began where Bethany ended, and reached to the city itself. The Vulgate Latin only makes mention of Bethany; (see Gill on “<402101>Matthew 21:1”). At the Mount of Olives; near which, the above places were: he sendeth forth two of his disciples; perhaps Peter and John.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“ENTANGLING QUESTIONS ABOUT TRIBUTE THE RESURRECTION, AND THE GREAT COMMANDMENT, WITH THE REPLIES--CHRIST BAFFLES THE PHARISEES BY A QUESTION ABOUT DAVID, AND DENOUNCES THE SCRIBES. ( = Mat. 22:15-46; Luke 20:20-47). (Mark 12:13-40) And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees--"their disciples," says Matthew (Mat 22:16); probably young and zealous scholars in that hardening school. and of the Herodians--(See on Mat 12:14). In Luk 20:20 these willing tools are called "spies, which should feign themselves just [righteous] men, that they might take hold of His words, that so they might deliver Him unto the power…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“See this passage illustrated in the notes at Matthew 21:1-16. Mark 11:4 Two ways met - A crossroads. A public place, probably near the center of the village. Mark 11:5 What do ye, loosing the colt? - Or, why do ye do this? What authority have you for doing it? See this passage illustrated in the notes at Matthew 21:1-16. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“To Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives - The limits of Bethany reached to the mount of Olives, and joined to those of Bethphage. Bethphage was part of the suburbs of Jerusalem, and reached from the mount of Olives to the walls of the city. Our Lord was now come to the place where the boundaries of Bethany and Bethphage met. Mat 21:1; Luk 19:29; Joh 12:12. Mark 11:11”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“11:1–13:37 This section centers on Jesus’ relationship to the Jerusalem Temple. Mark’s geographical arrangement places in 11:1–16:8 all his accounts of Jesus’ teachings and events associated with Jerusalem. • The section concludes (13:1-37) with Jesus’ second extended teaching discourse (see 4:1-34), now focusing on the destruction of the Temple and the coming of the Son of Man. It is the climax for numerous statements within 11:1–13:37 concerning the divine judgment about to fall on Jerusalem and the Temple (see especially 11:12-25 and 12:1-12). 11:1 Jerusalem was Jesus’ goal. During the week before his…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“when: Mat 21:1-11; Luk 19:29-40; Joh 12:14-19 at the: Mar 13:3; Sa2 15:30; Zac 14:4; Mat 24:3, Mat 26:30; Joh 8:1; Act 1:12 he: Mar 6:7, Mar 14:13 Mark 11:2”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Mark overviewCompare translationsOpen this chapter in the study reader

Sources and verification