1Christ rideth into Jerusalem in triumph: 12curseth a barren fig tree: 15driveth the buyers and sellers out of the temple. 20The cursed fig tree is dried up: Christ exhorteth to faith in prayer, and to forgiveness of enemies: 27and silenceth the priests and others, who called in question his authority.
1ANDa when they came nigh to Jerusalem, 1unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
a Mat. 21:1; Luke 19:29.
1 Gr. in, that is, about, as is expressed in Luke 19:29. Of the location of these two places, see Mat. 21:1.
2And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find 2a colt tied, whereon never 3man sat; loose him, and bring him.
2 Mat. 21:2 states that there was likewise an ass tied with her colt, but Mark makes only mention of the colt, because Christ rode thereon. See Luke 19:35.
3 Gr. none of men, that is, no one.
3And 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.
4And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door withoutb in a place where 4two ways met; and they loose him.
b outside*
4 Or, cross-road, parting of the ways.
5And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
6And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
75And they brought thec colt to Jesus, and cast theird garments on him; and he sat upon him.
5 See of this entrance of Christ into Jerusalem the annotations at Mat. 21 on verse 1, etc.
c John 12:14.
d 2 Kings 9:13.
8And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down 6branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
6 The Greek word signifies little, tender, green branches, upon which are suitable to sit and walk. See also John 12:13.
9And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, 7Hosanna; 8Blessedeis he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
7 What this word signifies, see Mat. 21 on verse 9.
8 Or, praised be He.
e Psalm 118:26.
10Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosannaf9in the highest.
f save, we pray; a shout of praise
9 That is, Thou Who art in the highest heavens.
11Andg Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the 10eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
g Mat. 21:12, 14; Luke 19:45; John 2:14.
10 Gr. evening hour.
12¶Andh on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
h Mat. 21:18.
13And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haplyi he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for 11the time of figs was not yet.
i perhaps, lest it should happen*
11 That is, the right and ordinary season for fig trees to have their full and ripe fruits; although in those hot countries the fig trees, even out of season, bear also some untimely fruits, which used to be eaten by the common people, and such it seems Christ had thought to find thereon.
14And Jesus 12answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
12 The word answer, according to the Hebrew phrase, signifies often to begin to speak, as here clearly appears.
15¶And they come to Jerusalem: andj 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;
j Mat. 21:12; Luke 19:45; John 2:14.
16And would not suffer that any man should carry any 13vessel through the temple.
13 Namely, not belonging to the service of God.
17Andk he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, Myl house shall be 14called of all nations the house of prayer? butm ye have made it a den of thieves.
k Mat. 21:13; Luke 19:46.
l 1 Kings 8:29; Isa. 56:7.
14 That is, be, and be accounted.
m Jer. 7:11.
18And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and soughtn how they might 15destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was 16astonished at his doctrine.
n John 7:19.
15 Gr. kill, or ruin.
16 Or, was stricken, namely, through admiration, and therefore they feared that all the people would adhere to His doctrine, and fall away from them.
19And 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.
21And Peter calling to 17remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
17 Namely, what was said before by Christ in verse 14.
22And Jesus answering saith unto them, 18Have faith in God.
18 Gr. have the faith of God, that is, which firmly relies and trusts on God, and His promises.
23Foro 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.
o Mat. 17:20; 21:21; Luke 17:6.
24Therefore I say unto you, Whatp things soever ye 19desire, when ye pray, believe that ye 20receive them, and ye shall have them.
p Jer. 29:12; Mat. 7:7; Luke 11:9; John 14:13; 15:7; 16:24; James 1:5, 6; 1 John 3:22; 5:14.
19 Namely, according to the will of God. See 1 John 5:14.
20 Or, shall receive.
25And when ye 21stand 22praying, forgive,q if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
21 That is, appear before God and present yourselves there to pray. For, though the Jews prayed sometimes standing, Job 30:20; Jer. 15:1; Luke 18:13, yet for the most part they prayed on their knees, 2 Chron. 6:13; Dan. 6:10; Acts 9:40; 20:36.
22 Or, for to pray. Gr. praying.
q Mat. 6:14; Col. 3:13.
26Butr if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
r Mat. 18:35.
27¶Ands 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 23elders,
s Mat. 21:23; Luke 20:1.
23 That is, the rulers or the elders of the people, who, together with the chief priests and scribes, made up the great council of the Jews at that time.
28And say unto him, 24Byt what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?
24 Gr. In what authority.
t Exod. 2:14; Acts 4:7; 7:27.
29And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you 25one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
25 That is, one thing. Hebraism.
30The 26baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
26 That is, the doctrine of John, confirmed by Baptism, as appears by the following verses.
31And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
32But if we shall say, Of men; 27they feared the people: foru all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
27 Or, we fear. It is an abrupt manner of speaking, whereby their disturbance and imaginations are briefly expressed. Gr. they feared.
u Mat. 14:5; Mark 6:20.
33And 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.