Mark 11
The Voice
Few people in the Gospels show as much persistence and eagerness in their desire to be healed as blind Bartimaeus. He is not about to be swayed from his efforts to attract Jesus’ attention. The discouragement from everyone around him only makes him shout louder, determined to get the attention of the healer he has heard about.
The blind man’s actions demonstrate his faith. Beggars in first-century Palestine would spread a cloak on the ground in front of them to collect donations from compassionate passersby. It probably isn’t much, but for Bartimaeus, his cloak is all he has. He throws it aside without a thought—probably along with the coins he collected that day—because he is certain that once he meets Jesus, he will not need to be a beggar anymore.
11 When they had gotten close to Jerusalem, near the two villages of Bethphage and Bethany and the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His followers ahead of them.
Jesus: 2 Go to that village over there. As soon as you get into the town, you’ll see a young colt tied that nobody has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it back to Me. 3 If anybody stops you and asks what you’re doing, just say, “The Lord needs it, and He will send it back right after He’s done.”
4 Everything happened just as Jesus had told them. They found the colt in the street tied near a door, and they untied it.
Bystanders: 5 What are you doing?
6 They answered as Jesus had instructed and were allowed to take it, 7 so they brought the colt back to Jesus, piled garments on its back to make a comfortable seat, and Jesus rode the animal toward Jerusalem. 8 As they traveled, people cast their cloaks onto the road and spread out leafy branches, which they had brought from the fields along the way. 9 People walked ahead of them, and others followed behind.
People (shouting): Hosanna! Rescue us now, Lord! Hosanna!
Blessed be the One who comes in the name of the Eternal One![a]
10 And blessed is the kingdom of our father David, which draws closer to us today!
Hosanna in the highest heavens!
Jesus enters Jerusalem, but this time He radically redefines the people’s every expectation. His descriptions to His disciples of where they will find the colt He is to ride and how they shall get it has an air of prophecy and supernatural knowledge. He rides a donkey instead of being carried into town on the backs of servants (in a litter as a conquering king would do), fulfilling the prophecy that the King will come riding a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). After all, donkeys are a poor man’s mount, and even in this triumphal entry, Jesus makes it clear He does not intend to conquer and rule in a worldly way. Now, for the first time, He allows the crowds to voice their excitement about who He is and all that He has been doing.
11 To the sound of this chanting, Jesus rode through the gates of Jerusalem and up to the temple. He looked around and saw that evening was coming, so He and the twelve went back to Bethany to spend the night.
12 The next morning, when they departed Bethany and were traveling back to the city, Jesus was hungry. 13 Off in the distance, He saw a fig tree fully leafed out, so He headed toward it to see if it might have any ripe fruit. But when He reached it, He found only leaves because the fig season had not yet come.
14 As the disciples listened, Jesus pronounced a curse on the tree.
Jesus: No one will ever eat fruit from your branches again.
This is the only time recorded in the Gospels when Jesus uses His supernatural power to destroy. The tree is “fully leafed out”—a stage that usually comes after figs are ripe and not before. Because the tree looks as though it ought to have fruit but doesn’t, it is a perfect illustration of people who believe they have the good fruit of righteousness even though their actions are void of true compassion and love, as empty and useless as leaves. And so Jesus curses the fig tree, not out of anger with the tree itself, but as a warning to hypocrites who think their appearance is more important than the fruit of their actions.
15 They continued into Jerusalem and made their way up to the temple.
Upon reaching the temple that morning, Jesus dealt with those who were selling and buying animals for sacrifices and drove them out of the area. He turned over the tables of those who exchanged money for the temple pilgrims and the seats of those selling birds, 16 and He physically prevented anyone from carrying anything through the temple.
Jesus (to those who were listening): 17 Didn’t the prophets write, “My house will be called a house of prayer, for all the people”[b]? But you have made it into a “haven for thieves.”[c]
At the temple, Jesus responds in shock to the scene before Him. He acts decisively and with great emotion against those who have turned God’s house into a place where pilgrims are exploited. He has a message and, like the prophets of old, this message is better seen than heard. Because the temple leadership has allowed profiteers and merchants to set up shop in the court of the Gentiles, they are making ridiculous profits. For the people who come long distances to worship, it is a normal practice to have merchants selling animals for the pilgrims to sacrifice. What is not normal and what is immoral is where and how they transact business. Jesus takes issue with robbers profiteering in His Father’s house.
18 The chief priests and the scribes heard these words and knew Jesus was referring to them, so they plotted His destruction. They had grown afraid of Him because His teachings struck the crowds into astonishment.
19 When evening came, [Jesus and His followers][d] left the city again. 20 The next morning on the way back to Jerusalem, they passed a tree that had withered down to its very roots.
Peter (remembering): 21 That’s the fig tree, Teacher, the one You cursed just yesterday morning. It’s withered away to nothing!
Jesus: 22 Trust in God. 23 If you do, honestly, you can say to this mountain, “Mountain, uproot yourself and throw yourself into the sea.” If you don’t doubt, but trust that what you say will take place, then it will happen. 24 So listen to what I’m saying: Whatever you pray for or ask from God, believe that you’ll receive it and you will. 25 When you pray, if you remember anyone who has wronged you, forgive him so that God above can also forgive you. [26 If you don’t forgive others, don’t expect God’s forgiveness.][e]
27 As they arrived in Jerusalem and were walking in the temple, the chief priests, scribes, and elders came to Jesus 28 and asked Him a question.
Leaders: Tell us, who has given You the authority to say and do the things You’re saying and doing?
Jesus: 29 I will answer your question, if you will answer one for Me. Only then will I tell you who gives Me authority to do these things. 30 Tell Me, when John was ritually cleansing through baptism for the forgiveness of sins, was his authority from heaven or was it merely human?
31 The priests, scribes, and elders huddled together to think through an answer.
Leaders (to themselves): If we say, “It must have been from heaven,” then Jesus will have us. He’ll ask, “Then why didn’t you listen to him and follow him?” 32 But if we say, “John’s cleansing was only human,” the people will be up in arms because they think John was a prophet sent by God. 33 (responding to Jesus) We don’t know what to tell You.
Jesus: All right, then don’t expect Me to tell you where I get the authority to say and do these things.
Footnotes
- 11:9 Psalm 118:26
- 11:17 Isaiah 56:7
- 11:17 Jeremiah 7:11
- 11:19 Some of the earliest manuscripts read “He.”
- 11:26 Some of the earliest manuscripts omit verse 26.
Marcu 11
Cornilescu 1924 - Revised 2010, 2014
Intrarea în Ierusalim
11 Când s-au apropiat(A) de Ierusalim şi au fost lângă Betfaghe şi Betania, înspre Muntele Măslinilor, Isus a trimis pe doi din ucenicii Săi 2 şi le-a zis: „Duceţi-vă în satul dinaintea voastră. Îndată ce veţi intra în el, veţi găsi un măgăruş legat, pe care n-a încălecat încă niciun om; dezlegaţi-l şi aduceţi-Mi-l. 3 Dacă vă va întreba cineva: ‘Pentru ce faceţi lucrul acesta?’ să răspundeţi: ‘Domnul are trebuinţă de el’. Şi îndată îl va trimite înapoi aici.” 4 Ucenicii s-au dus, au găsit măgăruşul legat afară, lângă o uşă, la cotitura drumului, şi l-au dezlegat. 5 Unii din cei ce stăteau acolo le-au zis: „Ce faceţi? De ce dezlegaţi măgăruşul acesta?” 6 Ei au răspuns cum le poruncise Isus. Şi i-au lăsat să plece. 7 Au adus măgăruşul la Isus, şi-au aruncat hainele pe el şi Isus a încălecat pe el. 8 Mulţi(B) oameni îşi aşterneau hainele pe drum, iar alţii presărau ramuri pe care le tăiaseră de pe câmp. 9 Cei ce mergeau înainte şi cei ce veneau după Isus strigau: „Osana(C)! Binecuvântat este Cel ce vine în Numele Domnului! 10 Binecuvântată este Împărăţia care vine, Împărăţia părintelui nostru David! Osana(D) în cerurile preaînalte!” 11 Isus(E) a intrat în Ierusalim şi S-a dus în Templu. După ce S-a uitat la toate lucrurile de jur împrejur, fiindcă era pe înserate, a plecat la Betania cu cei doisprezece.
Smochinul blestemat
12 A(F) doua zi, după ce au ieşit din Betania, Isus a flămânzit. 13 A zărit(G) de departe un smochin, care avea frunze, şi a venit să vadă poate va găsi ceva în el. S-a apropiat de smochin, dar n-a găsit decât frunze, căci nu era încă vremea smochinelor. 14 Atunci a luat cuvântul şi a zis smochinului: „În veac să nu mai mănânce nimeni rod din tine!”Şi ucenicii au auzit aceste vorbe. 15 Au(H) ajuns în Ierusalim şi Isus a intrat în Templu. A început să scoată afară pe cei ce vindeau şi cumpărau în Templu; a răsturnat mesele schimbătorilor de bani şi scaunele celor ce vindeau porumbei. 16 Şi nu lăsa pe nimeni să poarte vreun vas prin Templu. 17 Şi-i învăţa şi zicea: „Oare nu este scris: ‘Casa(I) Mea se va chema o casă de rugăciune pentru toate neamurile?’ Dar voi(J) aţi făcut din ea o peşteră de tâlhari.” 18 Preoţii cei mai de seamă şi cărturarii, când au(K) auzit cuvintele acestea, căutau cum să-L omoare, căci se temeau de El, pentru că tot(L) norodul era uimit de învăţătura Lui. 19 Ori de câte ori se însera, Isus ieşea din cetate.
Puterea credinţei
20 Dimineaţa(M), când treceau pe lângă smochin, ucenicii l-au văzut uscat din rădăcini. 21 Petru şi-a adus aminte de cele petrecute şi a zis lui Isus: „Învăţătorule, uite că smochinul pe care l-ai blestemat s-a uscat”. 22 Isus a luat cuvântul şi le-a zis: „Aveţi credinţă în Dumnezeu! 23 Adevărat(N) vă spun că, dacă va zice cineva muntelui acestuia: ‘Ridică-te şi aruncă-te în mare’ şi dacă nu se va îndoi în inima lui, ci va crede că ce zice se va face, va avea lucrul cerut. 24 De aceea vă spun că orice(O) lucru veţi cere, când vă rugaţi, să credeţi că l-aţi şi primit, şi-l veţi avea. 25 Şi, când staţi în picioare de vă rugaţi, să iertaţi(P) orice aveţi împotriva cuiva, pentru ca şi Tatăl vostru, care este în ceruri, să vă ierte greşelile voastre. 26 Dar dacă(Q) nu iertaţi, nici Tatăl vostru, care este în ceruri, nu vă va ierta greşelile voastre.”
Puterea lui Isus
27 S-au dus din nou în Ierusalim. Şi(R), pe când Se plimba Isus prin Templu, au venit la El preoţii cei mai de seamă, cărturarii şi bătrânii 28 şi I-au zis: „Cu ce putere faci Tu aceste lucruri? Şi cine Ţi-a dat puterea aceasta ca să le faci?” 29 Isus le-a răspuns: „Am să vă pun şi Eu o întrebare. Răspundeţi-Mi la ea şi apoi vă voi spune şi Eu cu ce putere fac aceste lucruri. 30 Botezul lui Ioan venea din cer ori de la oameni? Răspundeţi-Mi!” 31 Ei însă vorbeau astfel între ei: „Dacă răspundem: ‘Din cer’, va zice: ‘Dar de ce nu l-aţi crezut?’ 32 Şi dacă vom răspunde: ‘De la oameni’, se temeau de norod, căci toţi(S) socoteau că Ioan a fost în adevăr un proroc.” 33 Atunci au răspuns lui Isus: „Nu ştim”. Şi Isus le-a zis: „Nici Eu n-am să vă spun cu ce putere fac aceste lucruri”.
Mark 11
King James Version
11 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 have them.
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.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
Copyright of the Cornilescu Bible © 1924 belongs to British and Foreign Bible Society. Copyright © 2010, 2014 of the revised edition in Romanian language belongs to the Interconfessional Bible Society of Romania, with the approval of the British and Foreign Bible Society.
