Matthew Henry Commentary Mark 11
Matthew Henry Commentary
Mark 11
Matthew Henry Commentary
Mark 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 will send him 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 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: Blessed [is] the kingdom that cometh, [the kingdom] of our father David: Hosanna in the highest. 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." — Mark 11:1-11 (ASV)
Christ's coming into Jerusalem so remarkably shows that He was not afraid of the power and malice of His enemies. This would encourage His disciples, who were full of fear. It also shows that He was not untroubled by the thoughts of His approaching sufferings.
But all this marked His humiliation. These events teach us not to set our minds on high things, but to condescend to those of low estate. How poorly it suits Christians to put on airs, when Christ was so far from claiming it!
They welcomed His person, declaring: Blessed is he that cometh—the “He that should come,” so often promised and so long expected; he comes in the name of the Lord.
Let Him have our best affections. He is a blessed Savior and brings blessings to us, and blessed be He that sent Him. Praises be to our God, who is in the highest heavens, over all, God blessed for ever.
"And on the morrow, when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered. 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. And he answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And his disciples heard it. 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; and he would not suffer that any man should carry a vessel through the temple. And he taught, and said unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? but ye have made it a den of robbers. 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." — Mark 11:12-18 (ASV)
Christ looked for some fruit, because the time for gathering figs, though near, had not yet come; but he found none. He made this fig tree an example, not to the trees, but to the men of that generation. It was a symbol of the doom upon the Jewish church, to which he came seeking fruit, but found none.
Christ went to the temple and began to reform the abuses in its courts, to show that when the Redeemer came to Zion, it was to turn away ungodliness from Jacob. The scribes and the chief priests sought, not how they might make their peace with him, but how they might destroy him. It was a desperate attempt, which they could not help but fear was fighting against God.
"And every evening he went forth out of the city. And as they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 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. Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 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. [But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.]" — Mark 11:19-26 (ASV)
The disciples could not understand why that fig tree should wither away so soon; but all who reject Christ wither. It represented the state of the Jewish church.
We should rest in no religion that does not make us fruitful in good works. From this, Christ taught them to pray in faith.
This teaching may be applied to the mighty faith with which all true Christians are endowed, a faith that does wonders in spiritual things. It justifies us, and thus removes mountains of guilt, never to rise up in judgment against us. It purifies the heart, and thus removes mountains of corruption, and makes them level before the grace of God.
One great purpose in approaching the throne of grace is to pray for the pardon of our sins; and this should be our daily concern.
"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; and they said unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? or who gave thee this authority to do these things? And Jesus said unto them, I will ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? answer me. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did ye not believe him? But should we say, From men--they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet. 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." — Mark 11:27-33 (ASV)
Our Savior shows how closely related His doctrine and baptism were to those of John; they had the same design and tendency, to bring in the gospel kingdom.
These elders did not deserve to be taught; for it was plain that they contended not for truth, but for victory. Nor did He need to tell them. For the works He did told them plainly that He had authority from God, since no man could do the miracles which He did, unless God was with Him.
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