Mark 11: The King Enters Jerusalem
Jesus rides into Jerusalem to shouts of praise, cleanses the temple, curses a fruitless tree, and teaches his disciples about believing prayer and forgiveness.
Mark 11 (WEB)
1 When they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
2 and said to them, “Go your way into the village that is opposite you. Immediately as you enter into it, you will find a young donkey tied, on which no one has sat. Untie him, and bring him.
3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs him;’ and immediately he will send him back here.”
4 They went away, and found a young donkey tied at the door outside in the open street, and they untied him.
5 Some of those who stood there asked them, “What are you doing, untying the young donkey?”
6 They said to them just as Jesus had said, and they let them go.
7 They brought the young donkey to Jesus, and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it.
8 Many spread their garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from the trees, and spreading them on the road.
9 Those who went in front, and those who followed, cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
11 Jesus entered into the temple in Jerusalem. When he had looked around at everything, it being now evening, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
12 The next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry.
13 Seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.
14 Jesus told it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” and his disciples heard it.
15 They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the temple, and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables, and the seats of those who sold the doves.
16 He would not allow anyone to carry a container through the temple.
17 He taught, saying to them, “Isn’t it written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ But you have made it a den of robbers!”
18 The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.
19 When evening came, he went out of the city.
20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots.
21 Peter, remembering, said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away.”
22 Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.
23 For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says.
24 Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.
25 Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions.
26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.”
27 They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders came to him,
28 and they began saying to him, “By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?”
29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
30 The baptism of John—was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me.”
31 They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we should say, ‘From heaven;’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
32 If we should say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet.
33 They answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said to them, “Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Mark 11 (KJV)
1 And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
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.
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.
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.
5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
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.
12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
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.
14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
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;
16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
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.
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.
19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.
20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
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.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall havethem.
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.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
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,
28 And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?
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.
30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
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.
Mark 11 (ASV)
1 And when they draw nigh unto Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples,
2 and 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.
3 And 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.
4 And they went away, and found a colt tied at the door without in the open street; and they loose him.
5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had said: and they let them go.
7 And they bring the colt unto Jesus, and cast on him their garments; and he sat upon him.
8 And many spread their garments upon the way; and others branches, which they had cut from the fields.
9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, Hosanna; Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
10 Blessed [is] the kingdom that cometh, [the kingdom] of our father David: Hosanna in the highest.
11 And 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.
12 And on the morrow, when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered.
13 And 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.
14 And he answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And his disciples heard it.
15 And 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;
16 and he would not suffer that any man should carry a vessel through the temple.
17 And 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.
18 And 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.
19 And every evening he went forth out of the city.
20 And as they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots.
21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 Verily 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.
24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And 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.]
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;
28 and they said unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? or who gave thee this authority to do these things?
29 And 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.
30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? answer me.
31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
32 But should we say, From men--they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet.
33 And they answered Jesus and say, We know not. And Jesus saith unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
Summary
Jesus sends two disciples for a colt and rides into Jerusalem as crowds spread garments and branches, crying Hosanna and blessing the one who comes in the Lord's name. He enters the temple, looks around, and returns the next day. On the way he finds a fig tree with leaves but no fruit and curses it. In the temple he overturns the tables of the money changers, declaring that God's house should be a house of prayer for all nations, but they have made it a den of robbers; the chief priests look for a way to destroy him. The next morning the fig tree is withered, and Jesus teaches his disciples about faith in God, the power of believing prayer, and the need to forgive others so that the Father may forgive them. Back in the temple, the chief priests, scribes, and elders challenge his authority, and he answers with a question about John's baptism that leaves them unable to reply.
Main Characters
- Jesus — He enters Jerusalem as the humble King, cleanses the temple, and teaches faith, prayer, and forgiveness.
- The crowds — Pilgrims who welcome Jesus with cloaks, branches, and shouts of Hosanna as he enters the city.
- The disciples — Two are sent for the colt, and all are taught about believing prayer and forgiveness by the withered fig tree.
- The chief priests and scribes — Temple leaders who seek to destroy Jesus and challenge the authority by which he acts.
Key Verse
Mark 11:17 (WEB)
He taught, saying to them, “Isn’t it written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ But you have made it a den of robbers!”
Lessons Learned
- Jesus comes as the promised King, yet humble, riding into his city to the praise of the people.
- God desires his house to be a place of prayer, not of empty show or self-serving religion.
- Like a leafy but fruitless tree, outward appearance without true fruit cannot satisfy the Lord.
- Believing prayer and a forgiving heart belong together in the life of faith.
- Jesus is welcomed as the King who comes in the Lord's name. The crowds cry, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' and 'Hosanna in the highest!' (Mark 11:9-10, WEB).
- God's house is meant for prayer for all nations. Jesus declares, 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations,' but 'you have made it a den of robbers' (Mark 11:17, WEB).
- God looks for real fruit, not mere appearance. Jesus curses the fig tree that has leaves but no fruit, and it withers from the roots (Mark 11:13-14, 20, WEB).
- Faith-filled prayer trusts God to act. Jesus says, 'All things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them' (Mark 11:24, WEB).
- Forgiving others opens us to the Father's forgiveness. Jesus teaches, 'Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone' (Mark 11:25, WEB).
- How do the crowds welcome Jesus as he enters Jerusalem, and what do their words mean?
- Why does Jesus cleanse the temple, and what does he say God's house should be?
- What is the meaning of the fig tree that has leaves but no fruit?
- What does Jesus teach about prayer and forgiveness after the disciples see the withered tree?
- Where in your own life might God be calling you to bear real fruit rather than mere appearance?
- The crowds spread cloaks and branches and shout, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' (Mark 11:8-9). They greet Jesus as the long-awaited King, though he comes humbly on a colt.
- Jesus drives out those buying and selling and overturns the tables, declaring his house a house of prayer for all nations that they have made a den of robbers (11:15-17). He confronts religion that has lost its true purpose.
- The tree has leaves promising fruit but bears none (11:13). It pictures empty profession and fruitless religion, like the temple, that cannot satisfy God despite its outward show.
- Jesus calls them to have faith in God, to pray believing they have received, and to forgive others so the Father will forgive them (11:22-25). Believing prayer and a forgiving heart go together.
- This is a personal application question. Invite members to reflect honestly on where their faith is outward only, and encourage humble dependence on Christ. As leader, foster gentle sharing and do not press anyone to say more than they wish.