Mark 11
1 When they came near to Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage and Bethany [villages] near Olive [Tree] Hill. Then Jesus [summoned] two of his disciples.
As they approached Jerusalem, near to Bethphage and Bethany, beside the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples on ahead.
2 He said to them, “Go to that village just ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey that no one has ever ridden, that has been tied {people have tied} up. Untie it, and then bring it [to me].
He told them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter, you'll find a colt tied up that no one has ever ridden before. Untie it and bring it here.
3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing that?’, say, [‘Jesus], our Lord, needs [to use] it. He will send it back here [with someone] as soon as [he no longer needs it].’”
If anyone asks you what you are doing, tell them, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back soon.’”
4 So [the two disciples] went and they found the young donkey. It was tied close to the door [of a house], which was beside the street. Then they untied it.
So they set off, and found a colt tied to a door, out on the street, and they untied it.
5 Some of the [people who were there] said to them, “Why are you untying the donkey?”
Some of the people standing around asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt”?
6 They told them what Jesus had said. So the people permitted them [to take the donkey].
The disciples replied just as Jesus told them to, and the people let them go.
7 They brought the donkey to Jesus. [The disciples] put some of their clothes on it [in order to make something for him to sit on].
They brought the colt to Jesus, put their cloaks on it, and Jesus sat on it.
8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road [to honor him as a king]. Others, [in order to honor him], spread along the road branches that they cut from [palm trees] in the fields [beside the road].
Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others laid down leafy branches that they'd cut in the fields.
9 The people who were going in front of him and behind him were all shouting [things like], “Praise God!” “May God bless this one who comes (with his authority/as his representative) [MTY].”
Those leading in the front and those that were following were all shouting, “Hosanna! Bless the one coming in the name of the Lord.
10 “May you be blessed {May [God] bless you} when you rule [like] our ancestor [King] David ruled!” “Praise God who is in the highest heaven!”
Bless the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!”
11 He entered Jerusalem [with them], and then he went into the Temple [courtyard]. After he looked around at everything [there], he left [the city] because it was already late [in the afternoon]. He returned to Bethany with the twelve [disciples and slept there].
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went in to the Temple. He looked around him, observing everything, and then, since it was getting late, he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples.
12 The next day, as Jesus and his disciples were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
The next day, as they left Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
13 He saw from a distance a fig tree with all its leaves, so he went [to it] to see if he could find any [figs] on it. But when he came to it, he found only leaves on it. This was because it was not yet time when [normal fig trees have ripe] figs.
From some distance away he saw a fig tree with leaves, so he went over to it to see if it had any fruit. But when he got there, he found it had only leaves, because it was not the season for figs.
14 [But to illustrate how God would punish the nation of Israel,] he said to the tree, “No one shall ever eat from you again [because you will no longer bear figs].” The disciples heard what he said. (aiōn g165)
He said to the tree, “May no one eat fruit from you ever again.” His disciples heard his words. (aiōn g165)
15 Jesus and his disciples went [back] to Jerusalem. He entered the Temple [courtyard. He saw people] who were selling and buying [animals for sacrifices. They were spoiling the place of worship]. He chased those people [from the Temple courtyard.] He also overturned the tables of those who were giving Temple tax money in exchange for Roman coins. He overturned the seats of the men who were selling doves [for sacrifices],
They arrived back in Jerusalem, and Jesus went into the Temple. He started driving out the people who were buying and selling in the Temple. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the chairs of the people selling doves.
16 and he would not allow anyone who was carrying anything [to sell] to go through the Temple [area].
He stopped anyone carrying things through the Temple.
17 Then as he taught those people, he said to them, “It is written {[One of the prophets] wrote} [in the Scriptures that God said], ‘[I want] my house to be called {[people] to call my house} a house where [people from] all nations may pray’, but you bandits have made it [like] a cave where you can hide! ([You know that!/Do you not know that]?) [RHQ]”
He explained to them, “Doesn't Scripture say, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have turned it into a den of thieves!”
18 The chief priests and the men who taught the [Jewish] laws [later] heard [about what he had done]. So they planned how they might kill him, [but they knew that it would be difficult], because they realized that the crowd was amazed at what he was teaching and they feared [that the people would soon decide that Jesus had more authority over the Temple than they did] (OR, [feared what the people would do if they tried to arrest Jesus]).
The chief priests and religious teachers heard what had happened, and tried to find a way to kill Jesus. But they were afraid of him, for everyone was so impressed by his teaching.
19 That evening, [Jesus and his disciples] left the city [and again slept in Bethany].
When evening came Jesus and his disciples left the city.
20 [The next] morning, while they were going along [the road toward Jerusalem, they saw that the fig tree that Jesus had cursed] had withered completely.
The following morning as they returned, they saw the fig tree, withered from the roots up.
21 Peter remembered [what Jesus had said to the fig tree] and he exclaimed to Jesus, “Teacher, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered!”
Peter remembered what Jesus had done, and said to him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree that you cursed has withered.”
22 Jesus replied, “[You should not be surprised that God did what I asked]! You must trust that God [will do whatever you ask him to do]!
“Trust in God,” Jesus replied.
23 [Also] note this: If anyone says to this hill, ‘Be raised up {Rise up} and then be thrown {throw yourself} into the lake!’ and if he does not doubt [that what he asks for will happen], that is, if he believes that what he asks for will happen, [God] will do it for him.
“Believe me when I say to you that if you told this mountain, ‘Get out of here and be thrown into the sea,’ and you don't doubt in your heart, but are convinced about what you're asking, then it will happen!
24 So I tell you, whenever you ask [God] for something when you pray, believe that you will receive it, and, [if you do, God] will do it [for you].
I'm telling you that whatever you pray for, whatever you ask, trust that you've received it, and it's yours.
25 Now, I [tell you this also]: Whenever you are praying, if you have a grudge against people [because they have harmed you], forgive them, in order that your Father in heaven will [likewise] forgive your sins.”
But when you're praying, if you have something against someone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your sins.”
27 Jesus and his disciples arrived in the Temple [courtyard] in Jerusalem again. While Jesus was walking [there, a group consisting of] chief priests, [some] men who taught the [Jewish] laws, and elders came to him and they said to him,
They returned to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the Temple, the chief priests, religious teachers, and the leaders approached him.
28 “By what authority are you doing these things? Who authorized you to do things [like those you did here yesterday]?”
“By what authority are you doing all this?” they demanded. “Who gave you the right?”
29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you who authorized me to do those things.
“Let me ask you a question,” Jesus told them. “You answer me, and I'll tell you by whose authority I do these things.
30 Did God [MTY] or people [authorize] John to baptize [those who came to him]?”
John's baptism—did that come from heaven, or from people?”
31 They debated among themselves [as to what they should answer]. They [said to each other], “If we say that it was God [who authorized] him, he will say to us, ‘Therefore, (you should have believed what John said!/why did you not believe what John said?) [RHQ]’
They discussed it among themselves. They said, “If we say it's from heaven, he'll reply, ‘So why didn't you believe him?’
32 On the other hand, if we say that it was people [who authorized John, then what will happen to us]?” They were afraid [to say that about where John got his authority, because they knew that] the people [would be very angry with them. They knew that] all the people truly believed that John was a prophet [whom God had sent].
But if we say, it's of human origin, well…” They were afraid of the crowd, because everyone believed that John was a true prophet.
33 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know [where John got his authority].” Then Jesus said to them, “[Because you did not answer my question, I] will not tell you who authorized me to do those things [here yesterday].”
So they answered Jesus, “We don't know.” “Then I'm not telling you by whose authority I do these things,” replied Jesus.
