MSB MARK Chapter 11

The Triumphal Entry

(Zechariah 9:9–13, Matthew 21:1–11, Luke 19:28–40, John 12:12–19)

11 As they approached Jerusalem [and came] to Bethphage[fn] and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, [Jesus] sent out two of His disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied [there], on which no one has sat.[fn] Untie it and bring [it here]. 3 If anyone asks ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell [him] ‘The Lord needs it,’ and he will send it here immediately.[fn]”

4 So they went and found a colt[fn] outside in the street, tied at a doorway. They untied it, 5 and some who were standing there asked “Why are you untying the colt?”

6 [The disciples] answered as Jesus had commanded [them],[fn] and [the people] gave them permission 7 Then they led the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, and He sat on it.

8 Many [ in the crowd ] spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread [them] on the road.[fn]

9 The [ones who] went ahead and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna!”[fn] “Blessed is He [who] comes in [the] name of [the] Lord!”[fn]

10 “Blessed [is] the kingdom of our father David [that is] coming in the name of the Lord!”[fn] “Hosanna in the highest!”[fn]

11 Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and [went] into the temple [courts].[fn] He looked around at everything, [but since] [it] was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

(Matthew 21:18–22, Mark 11:20–25)

12 The next day, [when] they had left Bethany, [Jesus] was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if there was any [fruit] on it. But when He reached it, He found nothing [on it] except leaves, since it was not the season for figs. 14 Then Jesus[fn] said to [the tree], “{May} no one ever eat of your fruit {again}.” And His disciples heard [this statement].

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

(Matthew 21:12–17, Luke 19:45–48, John 2:12–25)

15 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple [courts] [and] began to drive out those who were buying and selling [there]. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple [courts]. 17 Then [Jesus] began to teach them, and He declared, Is it not written ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’[fn]? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’[fn]”

18 When the chief priests and scribes[fn] heard [this], they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.

19 And when evening came, [Jesus] went[fn] out of the city.

The Withered Fig Tree

(Matthew 21:18–22, Mark 11:12–14)

20 [As] they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from [its] roots. 21 Peter remembered [it] [and] said “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree You cursed has withered.”

22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them. 23 “For truly[fn] I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that [it] will happen, whatever he says will be done for him.[fn] 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received [it],[fn] and [it] will be yours.

25 And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against [another], forgive [it], so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well. 26 But if you {do} not forgive, neither {will} your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”[fn]

Jesus’ Authority Challenged

(Matthew 21:23–27, Luke 20:1–8)

27 After their return to Jerusalem, [Jesus] was walking in the temple [courts], [and] the chief priests, scribes, and elders came up to Him. 28 “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked “And[fn] who gave You the authority to do [them]?”

29 “I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied “and [if] you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John’s baptism—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me![fn]”

31 They deliberated among themselves “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘From men’ ...” they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet.

33 So they answered “We do not know.” And Jesus replied “Neither {will} I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”