The Triumphal Entry

11 When(A) they approached Jerusalem,(B) at Bethphage and Bethany(C) near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.’”

So they went and found a colt outside in the street, tied by a door. They untied it, and some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They answered them just as Jesus had said; so they let them go.

They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and he sat on it. Many people spread their clothes on the road,(D) and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields.[a] Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted:

Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes
in the name(E) of the Lord![b](F)
10 Blessed is the coming kingdom(G)
of our father David!(H)
Hosanna(I) in the highest heaven!

11 He went into Jerusalem(J) and into the temple.(K) After looking around at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany(L) with the Twelve.

The Barren Fig Tree Is Cursed

12 The(M) next day when they went out from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig(N) tree with leaves, he went to find out if there was anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit(O) from you again!”(P) And his disciples(Q) heard it.

Cleansing the Temple

15 They came to Jerusalem,(R) and he went into the temple(S) and began to throw out those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers(T) and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. 17 He was teaching them: “Is it not written,(U) My house(V) will be called a house of prayer(W) for all nations?[c] But you have made it a den of thieves!”[d](X)

18 The chief priests and the scribes(Y) heard it and started looking for a way to kill him. For they were afraid(Z) of him, because the whole crowd was astonished by his teaching.

19 Whenever evening came, they would go out of the city.

The Barren Fig Tree Is Withered

20 Early(AA) in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. 21 Then Peter(AB) remembered and said to him, “Rabbi,(AC) look! The fig tree that you cursed(AD) has withered.”

22 Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God.(AE) 23 Truly I tell you,(AF) if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt(AG) in his heart, but believes(AH) that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.(AI) 24 Therefore I tell you, everything you pray(AJ) and ask for(AK)believe that you have received[e](AL) it and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand(AM) praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive(AN) him, so that your Father(AO) in heaven(AP) will also forgive(AQ) you your wrongdoing.”[f]

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

27 They(AR) came again to Jerusalem.(AS) As he was walking in the temple,(AT) the chief priests, the scribes,(AU) and the elders(AV) came 28 and asked him, “By what authority(AW) are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do these things?”

29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question;(AX) then answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was John’s baptism(AY) from heaven or of human origin? Answer me.”

31 They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe(AZ) him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’”—they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was truly a prophet.(BA) 33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Footnotes

  1. 11:8 Other mss read others were cutting leafy branches from the trees and spreading them on the road
  2. 11:9 Ps 118:26
  3. 11:17 Is 56:7
  4. 11:17 Jr 7:11
  5. 11:24 Some mss read you receive; other mss read you will receive
  6. 11:25 Some mss include v. 26: “But if you don’t forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your wrongdoing.”

11 And when they draw nigh unto Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples, 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. And if any one say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye, The Lord hath need of him; and straightway he [a]will send him [b]back hither. And they went away, and found a colt tied at the door without in the open street; and they loose him. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had said: and they let them go. And they bring the colt unto Jesus, and cast on him their garments; and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments upon the way; and others [c]branches, which they had cut from the fields. 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, [d]My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? [e]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 [f]every evening [g]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 [h]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.[i]

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 [j]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 [k]But should we say, From men—they feared the people: [l]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.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 11:3 Greek sendeth.
  2. Mark 11:3 Or, again
  3. Mark 11:8 Greek layers of leaves.
  4. Mark 11:17 Isa. 56:7.
  5. Mark 11:17 Jer. 7:11.
  6. Mark 11:19 Greek whenever evening came.
  7. Mark 11:19 Some ancient authorities read they.
  8. Mark 11:24 Greek received.
  9. Mark 11:25 Many ancient authorities add verse 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Compare Mt. 6:15; 18:35.
  10. Mark 11:29 Greek word.
  11. Mark 11:32 Or, But shall we say, From men?
  12. Mark 11:32 Or, for all held John to be a prophet indeed