Mark 11

Passage overview

Luke 11 begins with Jesus teaching His disciples to pray (the Lord's Prayer) and giving them instruction about prayer (verses 1-13). Next, His ministry of casting out demons unfolds, along with the reactions of the people surrounding Him, and a defense of His authority (verses 14-28). Finally, it concludes with warnings spoken to the Pharisees and teachers of the law ("Woe to you") (verses 29-54).

1verseWhen they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples

2verseand 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.

3verseIf anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs him;’ and immediately he will send him back here.”

4verseThey went away, and found a young donkey tied at the door outside in the open street, and they untied him.

5verseSome of those who stood there asked them, “What are you doing, untying the young donkey?”

6verseThey said to them just as Jesus had said, and they let them go.

7verseThey brought the young donkey to Jesus and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it.

8verseMany spread their garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.

9verseThose who went in front and those who followed cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

10verseBlessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

11verseJesus 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.

12verseThe next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry.

13verseSeeing 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.

14verseJesus told it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” and his disciples heard it.

15verseThey 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.

16verseHe would not allow anyone to carry a container through the temple.

17verseHe 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!”

18verseThe 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.

19verseWhen evening came, he went out of the city.

20verseAs they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots.

21versePeter, remembering, said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away.”

22verseJesus answered them, “Have faith in God.

23verseFor 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.

24verseTherefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.

25verseWhenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions.

26verseBut if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.”

27verseThey came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him,

28verseand they began saying to him, “By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?”

29verseJesus said to them, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

30verseThe baptism of John—was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me.”

31verseThey reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we should say, ‘From heaven;’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

32verseIf we should say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet.

33verseThey answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The Lord's Prayer and Instruction on Prayer (Verses 1-13)

When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, He taught them the Lord's Prayer. This prayer contains five key elements: that God's name be honored as holy, that His kingdom come, daily provision, forgiveness of sins, and a request not to be led into temptation. After that, Jesus emphasizes the importance of persistent and bold prayer through the parable of a daring request and by pointing out that God is the Father who gives good things to His children.

The Debate After Casting Out a Demon (Verses 14-28)

After Jesus cast out a mute demon, some accused Him of doing it by the power of Beelzebul, while others demanded a sign from heaven. Jesus refutes them with the logic that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, and He says that His work was accomplished by God's finger (power). This section reveals the legitimacy of Jesus' ministry and the reality of spiritual warfare.

True Blessing and the Happiness of Those Who Hear the Word (Verses 27-28)

When a woman praises Jesus' mother, Jesus responds instead, "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it." He emphasizes that greater blessing lies not in blood relationships, but in putting God's will into practice.

A Warning to This Generation and the Parable of Light (Verses 29-36)

Using examples from the Old Testament, including Jonah, Jesus says that this generation demands signs, but that enough signs have already been given. In the following parable about light, He asks us to be careful that the light within us is not swallowed up by darkness.

Reproof to the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law (Verses 37-54)

At the place of a meal, Jesus strongly rebukes the Pharisees and teachers of the law for their hypocrisy (having different appearances inside and out), for faith that loses sight of the essence of the rules, and for inheriting the wrongdoing of their ancestors. Along with a serious warning against hypocrisy, He urges them to properly receive the truth of the gospel.

Points for Reflection

  • Apart from the sign I expect, what grace and what word has already been given to my life?
  • In prayer, do my actions contain urgency and sincerity?
  • Let’s examine whether my faith matches the inside and outside, and whether I am focusing on hearing and keeping the word.

Try Applying It to Yourself

  • Let’s repeat the prayer the Lord taught us in our daily lives, and seriously put into practice deep fellowship with God.
  • Rather than focusing on visible signs or events I can grasp, let’s make a decision to concentrate on God’s word that has already been given and rely on it.
  • Let’s reflect on whether my faith is for showing others or whether I have been drawn only to form, and let’s live a life that practices the word.

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