Mark 11: The Triumphal Entry and the Cursed Fig Tree

Jesus enters Jerusalem on a colt, curses a fig tree, and clears the temple courts.

After Bartimaeus receives his sight at the close of Mark 10, Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a colt to shouts of 'Hosanna,' then curses a fig tree that bears only leaves. The next day he overturns the tables of the moneychangers, declaring the temple should be 'the house of prayer.'


And, when they are drawing near unto Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, towards the Mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,—

and saith unto them—Go your way into the village that is over against you, and, straightway, as ye are entering it, ye shall find a colt tied, upon which, no, man, yet, hath sat: loose him, and bring him.

And, if anyone unto you should say—Why are ye doing this? say—The Lord, of him hath need; and, straightway, he sendeth him off again here.

And they departed, and found a colt, tied unto a door outside, on the street,—and they are loosing him.

And, certain of them that were there standing, were saying unto them—What are ye doing, loosing the colt?

and they said unto them as, Jesus, said,—and they let them go.

And they bring the colt unto Jesus, and throw upon him their mantles,—and he took his seat upon him.

And, many, spread out, their mantles, along the way, and, others, young branches,—cutting them out of the fields.

And, they who were going before, and they who were following after, were crying aloud—Hosanna! Blessed, is he that is coming in the name of the Lord!

Blessed, is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!

And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple, and, looking round on all things, late already being the hour, he went out into Bethany, with the twelve.

And, on the morrow, when they came forth from Bethany, he hungered;

and, seeing a fig-tree from afar, having leaves, he came… if, therefore, he should find aught in it, and, coming up to it, nothing, found he, save, leaves; for it was not, the season, of figs.

And, answering, he said unto it—No more, unto times age-abiding, let anyone of thee, eat fruit. And his disciples were listening.

And they come into Jerusalem. And, entering into the temple, he began to be casting out them who were selling and them who were buying in the temple, and, the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them who were selling doves, he overthrew,—

and was not suffering that anyone should carry a vessel through the temple;

and was teaching, and saying—Is it not written, My house, a house of prayer, shall be called, for all the nations? but, ye, have made it, A den of robbers.

And the High-priests and the Scribes, heard, it, and began seeking how they might, destroy, him,—for they were fearing him; for, all the multitude, were being struck with astonishment at his teaching.

And, as soon as it became late, they were going forth outside the city.

And, passing by early, they saw the fig-tree, withered from its roots;

and, put in mind, Peter saith unto him—Rabbi! see! the fig-tree which thou didst curse, is withered.

And, answering, Jesus saith unto them—Have faith in God.

Verily, I say unto you—Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be lifted up, and cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe that, what he speaketh, cometh to pass, it shall be his.

For this cause, I say unto you—All things, whatsoever ye are praying for and asking, believe that ye have received, and they shall be yours.

And, when ye stand praying, forgive, if aught ye have against any,—that, your Father also, who is in the heavens, may forgive you your offences.

And they come again into Jerusalem. And, as he is walking in the temple, the High-priests and the Scribes and the Elders come unto him,

and were saying unto him—By what authority, these things, art thou doing? And who to thee hath given this authority that, these things, thou shouldst be doing?

But, Jesus, said unto them—I will question you, as to one matter, and answer me,—and I will tell you, by what authority, these things, I am doing:

The immersion by John, Of heaven, was it, or, of men? Answer me!

And they were deliberating among themselves, saying—If we say, Of heaven, he will say, Wherefore [then] did ye not believe him?

But, should we say, Of men…, they were in fear of the multitude, for, one and all, were holding John, in very deed, that he was, a prophet.

And, making answer unto Jesus, they say—We know not; and Jesus saith unto them—Neither do, I, tell you, by what authority, these things, I am doing.

His promise that 'what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them' appears here at <a href="/bible/rotherham/mark/chapter-11/24">Mark 11:24</a> and is echoed almost word for word at <a href="/bible/rotherham/matthew/chapter-21/22">Matthew 21:22</a>. The chapter closes with the chief priests unable to answer his question about John's baptism.