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Texts -- Mark 11:20-33 (NET)

Context
The Withered Fig Tree
11:20 In the morning as they passed by , they saw the fig tree withered from the roots . 11:21 Peter remembered and said to him , “Rabbi , look ! The fig tree you cursed has withered .” 11:22 Jesus said to them , “Have faith in God . 11:23 I tell you the truth , if someone says to this mountain , ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea ,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen , it will be done for him . 11:24 For this reason I tell you , whatever you pray and ask for , believe that you have received it, and it will be yours . 11:25 Whenever you stand praying , if you have anything against anyone , forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your sins .” 11:26 [[EMPTY]]
The Authority of Jesus
11:27 They came again to Jerusalem . While Jesus was walking in the temple courts , the chief priests , the experts in the law , and the elders came up to him 11:28 and said , “By what authority are you doing these things ? Or who gave you this authority to do these things ?” 11:29 Jesus said to them , “I will ask you one question . Answer me and I will tell you by what authority I do these things : 11:30 John’s baptism – was it from heaven or from people ? Answer me .” 11:31 They discussed with one another , saying , “If we say , ‘From heaven ,’ he will say , ‘Then why did you not believe him ?’ 11:32 But if we say , ‘From people –’” (they feared the crowd , for they all considered John to be truly a prophet ). 11:33 So they answered Jesus , “We don’t know .” Then Jesus said to them , “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things .”

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Temple

    [nave] TEMPLE. Solomon's Called also Temple of the Lord, 2 Kin. 11:10; Holy Temple, Psa. 79:1; Holy House, 1 Chr. 29:3; House of God, 1 Chr. 29:2; 2 Chr. 23:9; House of the Lord, 2 Chr. 23:5, 12; Jer. 28:5; Father's House, John 2...

  • QUESTION

    [isbe] QUESTION - kwes'-chun: The noun for dabhar, "word," in 1 Ki 10:3 parallel 2 Ch 9:2, with "hard question" for chidhah, "dark saying," "riddle," in 1 Ki 10:1 parallel 2 Ch 9:1. In the New Testament for zetema, the synonym zete...

  • PRAYERS OF CHRIST

    [isbe] PRAYERS OF CHRIST - prarz: 1. The Lord's Prayer 2. Christ's Doctrine of Prayer: Sacredness, Importunity, Conditions 3. Prayers Offered by Christ (1) The High-priestly Prayer (2) The Prayer in Gethsemane (3) The Prayers on th...

  • PERSECUTION

    [isbe] PERSECUTION - pur-se-ku'-shun (@diogmos] (Mt 13:21; Mk 4:17; 10:30; Acts 8:1; 13:50; Rom 8:35; 2 Cor 12:10; 2 Thess 1:4; 2 Tim 3:11)): 1. Persecution in Old Testament Times 2. Between the Testaments 3. Foretold by Christ 4. ...

  • OLIVES, MOUNT OF

    [isbe] OLIVES, MOUNT OF - ol'-ivz, (har ha-zethim (Zec 14:4), ma`aleh ha-zethim, "the ascent of the mount of Olives" (2 Sam 15:30, the King James Version "the ascent of (mount) Olivet"); to oros ton elaion, "the Mount of Olives" (M...

  • MASTER

    [isbe] MASTER - mas'-ter ('adhon, ba`al, rabbi; despotes, didaskalos, kurios, rhabbi): "Master," when the translation of 'adhon, "ruler," "lord" (Sir), often translated "lord," denotes generally the owner or master of a servant or ...

  • MARK, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO, 2

    [isbe] MARK, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO, 2 - VI. Sources and Integrity. We have seen that, according to the testimony of the Fathers, Peter's preaching and teaching are at least the main source, and that many features of the Gospel su...

  • KING, CHRIST AS

    [isbe] KING, CHRIST AS - || I. THE REALITY OF CHRIST'S KINGSHIP 1. The Old Testament Foreshadowings In the Psalms and Prophets 2. The Gospel Presentation (1) Christ's Claim to Be King (2) Christ's Acceptance of the Title (3) Christ...

  • Jesus, The Christ

    [nave] JESUS, THE CHRIST. Index of Sub-topics History of; Miscellaneous Facts Concerning; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Ascension of; Atonement by; Attributes of; Compassion of; Confessing; Creator; Death of; Design of His...

  • JESUS CHRIST, 4E1

    [isbe] JESUS CHRIST, 4E1 - E. THE PASSION WEEK--BETRAYAL, TRIAL AND CRUCIFIXION Importance of the Last Events: We reach now the closing week and last solemn events of the earthly life of Jesus. The importance attached to this part ...

  • JAMES, EPISTLE OF

    [isbe] JAMES, EPISTLE OF - || I. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EPISTLE 1. Jewish 2. Authoritative 3. Practical II. AUTHOR OF THE EPISTLE III. STYLE OF THE EPISTLE 1. Plainness 2. Good Greek 3. Vividness 4. Duadiplosis 5. Figures of Speech...

  • GESTURE

    [isbe] GESTURE - jes'-tur, jes'-tur: The Oriental is rich in gestures by which feelings are expressed and force added to words. Of this we have abundant illustration in the Bible. Almost every available part of the body was employe...

  • GAMES

    [isbe] GAMES - gamz: I. ISRAELITISH GAMES 1. Children's Games Mimicry 2. Sports 3. Games of Chance and Skill 4. Story-Telling 5. Dancing 6. Proverbs 7. Riddles II. THE GAMES OF GREECE AND ROME 1. Historical Introduction 2. General ...

  • FIG, FIG-TREE

    [isbe] FIG, FIG-TREE - fig'-tre (te'enah, plural te'enim, specially "figs"; paggim, "green figs" only in Song 2:13; suke, "fig-tree," sukon, "fig"): 1. Fig-Trees in the Old Testament: The earliest Old Testament reference to the fig...

  • DOUBT

    [isbe] DOUBT - dout: This word, found only a score of times in the Bible, translates nevertheless about half as many different Hebrew and Greek originals with a corresponding variety of meanings. In Gen 37:33 "without doubt" is to ...

  • CURSE

    [isbe] CURSE - kurs ('alah (Nu 5:21,23,17, etc.), me'erah (Prov 3:33; Mal 2:2, etc.), klalah (Gen 27:12,13); katara (Gal 3:10,13)): This word as noun and verb renders different Hebrew words, some of them being more or less synonymo...

  • BAPTISM (LUTHERAN DOCTRINE)

    [isbe] BAPTISM (LUTHERAN DOCTRINE) - || I. THE TERM 1. The Derivation 2. The Meaning 3. The Application 4. Equivalent Terms II. THE ORDINANCE 1. The Teaching of Scripture (1) An Authoritative Command (2) A Clear Declaration of the ...

  • AUTHORITY IN RELIGION

    [isbe] AUTHORITY IN RELIGION - o-thor'-i-ti rabhah; toqeph; exousia; exousiazo; katexousiazo; epitage; huperoche; authenteo; dunastes I. GENERAL IDEA 1. Of Two Kinds (1) External (2) Internal 2. Universal Need of Authority 3. Neces...

  • ATTITUDES

    [isbe] ATTITUDES - at'-i-tuds: Customs change slowly in Bible lands. This becomes clear by a comparison of the many references found in the Bible and other literatures of the Orient with existing circumstances and conditions. The s...

  • ALL

    [isbe] ALL - ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings. (1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for...

Arts

Hymns

(Note: In "active" or "on" condition, the hymns music will be played automatically when mouse hover on a hymns title)
  • Naikkan Doa Tak Enggan [KJ.452] ( Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare )
  • Puji Tuhan, Haleluya [KJ.391]
  • Yerusalem, Pusaka Daud [KJ.155]
  • [Mar 11:23] Creator Of The Stars Of Night
  • [Mar 11:23] Give Me The Faith Which Can Remove
  • [Mar 11:23] Only Believe

Questions

  • I've heard and read the same statement a number of times, but have never troubled myself to look up each passage. I'm not surprised that looking up "heaven" and "hell" in a concordance would give you contradictory results. T...
  • Believing, fearing, loving, following, obeying and rejoicing in God (Mar. 11:22; Ecc. 12:13; I Pet 2:17; Deu. 6:5; Eph. 5:1; Luke 1:6; Ps. 33:1). Believing in, loving, obeying, rejoicing in, and following the example of Chris...
  • The texts you're referring to are Matt 17:20; 21:21; Mark 11:23. Jesus' point was not an instruction to speak thus to a mountain; rather, he was illustrating the power of faith. He was speaking hyperbolically (as Paul seems t...
  • Pardon for our sins was promised to us (Is. 1:18; Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:12). There can be none without the shedding of blood and legal sacrifices and outward purifications are ineffectual as only through the blood of Christ is i...

Sermon Illustrations

General; Prerequisites for Answered Prayer; Elements in Prayer; All Forgivenesses Are Not Alike!; Hindrances to Prayer

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • 6:10 The new decree did not deter Daniel from continuing to pray for the welfare of the city where God had sent them into exile and for the Jews' return from exile. That this was the subject of his praying, among other things...
  • This section is an individual lament similar to many of the psalms (cf. 1:8-16).7:1 Micah bewailed his own disappointment with Israel's situation. He compared himself to Israel's fruit pickers and grape gatherers who felt gre...
  • 4:6 The angel announced a word of explanation from Yahweh that Zechariah was to pass on to Zerubbabel, the descendant of David who was the leader of the first group of returnees from exile.88He was to tell him, "not by might ...
  • The exorcism of an epileptic boy67817:14-21 (cf. Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-43a)
    "The contrast between the glory of the Transfiguration and Jesus' disciples' tawdry unbelief (see v. 17) is part of the mounting tension that magnifies Jesus' uniqueness as he moves closer to his passion and resurrection."679...
  • The Triumphal Entry happened on Monday. The cursing of the fig tree took place on Tuesday, and the disciples' mention of its withering followed on Wednesday (cf. Mark 11:1-14).78021:18-19 Jesus passed the lone fig tree somewh...
  • I. Introduction 1:1-13A. The title of the book 1:1B. Jesus' preparation for ministry 1:2-131. The ministry of John the Baptist 1:2-82. The baptism of Jesus 1:9-113. The temptation of Jesus 1:12-13II. The Servant's early Galil...
  • Mark omitted Jesus' year of early Judean ministry (John 1:15-4:42), as did the other Synoptic evangelists. He began his account of Jesus' ministry of service in Galilee, northern Israel (1:14-6:6a). Because of increasing oppo...
  • This pericope introduces Jesus' continuing ministry in Galilee following the religious leaders' decision to kill Him (cf. 1:14-15; 2:13). It provides much more detail than the parallel account in Matthew.3:7-8 The sea to whic...
  • Mark again returned to the opposition theme (cf. 2:1-3:6). He directed his readers back and forth between Jesus' acceptance on a superficial level by the multitudes, His disciples' growing commitment to Him, and the increasin...
  • The rest of Jesus' ministry, as Mark recorded it, took place in and around Jerusalem. Chapters 11-13 present Jesus' ministry before His passion. It consisted of Jesus' formal presentation to the nation (11:1-26), His teaching...
  • Mark chose to record four events: the Triumphal Entry (11:1-11), the cursing of the fig tree (11:12-14), the cleansing of the temple (11:15-19), and the lesson of the cursed fig tree (11:20-25). These events happened on three...
  • Mark gave more precise time intervals than Matthew did. Matthew related the cursing of the fig tree (Matt. 21:12-17) and Jesus' lesson to the disciples the following day (Matt. 21:18-22) back to back.11:12-13 The next day was...
  • This was Jesus' second messianic act that constituted part of His formal presentation to Israel. The first was the Triumphal Entry (vv. 1-11).11:15-16 The market atmosphere existed in the court of the Gentiles, the outermost ...
  • This is the third part of the incident centering on the cleansing of the temple (cf. vv. 12-14).11:20-21 This event happened on Wednesday morning. "Withered from the roots"means that death was spreading through the tree begin...
  • This entire section contains Jesus' teaching in the temple courtyard on Wednesday. The religious leaders first questioned Jesus' authority (11:12-12:12) and then His teaching (12:13-37). Finally Jesus condemned their hypocris...
  • This controversy consisted of a discussion with the religious leaders over John the Baptist's authority (11:27-33) followed by a parable that illustrated the religious leaders' irresponsibility (12:1-12)....
  • 11:27-28 The chief priests, teachers or scribes, and elders constituted the three components of the Sanhedrin. This was a very official inquiry prompted by Jesus' presence and made necessary by His cleansing of the temple. Is...
  • The third attack by Jesus' enemies involved a question about the greatest commandment (cf. Luke 10:25-28).12:28 The rabbis counted 613 commands in the Mosaic Law, 365 positive and 248 negative. They recognized that all were n...
  • The Olivet Discourse is the longest section of Jesus' teaching that Mark recorded (cf. 4:1-34; 7:1-23). Mark used this discourse as a bridge between Jesus' controversies with Israel's leaders (11:27-12:44) and the account of ...
  • This is another section of the Gospel that has a chiastic or "sandwich"structure (cf. 3:20-35; 5:21-43; 6:7-31; 11:12-26; 14:27-52). Mark's account of the conspiracy to kill Jesus (vv. 1-2, 10-11) surrounds Jesus' anointing i...
  • 14:53 The high priest in view here was Caiaphas. Interestingly Mark never mentioned him by name. He was the high priest that the Romans had appointed in 18 A.D., and he served in this capacity until 36 A.D.This was an unoffic...
  • Adams, J. McKee. Biblical Backgrounds. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1965.Alexander, Joseph Addison. The Gospel According to Mark. 1881. Reprint ed. London: Banner of Truth, 1960.Alexander, William M. Demonic Possession in the N...
  • 17:5 Luke referred to the Twelve as apostles here probably to highlight the importance of this teaching for disciple leaders. Evidently the apostles concluded that such a magnanimous approach to forgiving would require more f...
  • In chapters 4-7 there is a series of similar confrontations with each one building up to the crisis of Stephen's death and the persecution that followed. The first four verses of chapter 4 conclude the incident recorded in ch...
  • 20:36 Prayer for God's grace and protection undoubtedly bonded these men together in Christian love. The kneeling posture here, as elsewhere in Scripture, reflects an attitude of submission to the sovereign God. The normal po...
  • Paul began by explaining the concept of justification.92"We now come to the unfolding of that word which Paul in Chapter One declares to be the very heart of the gospel . . ."933:21 The "righteousness of God"here refers to Go...
  • In these first three verses Paul showed that love is superior to the spiritual gifts he listed in chapter 12."It is hard to escape the implication that what is involved here are two opposing views as to what it means to be sp...
  • Paul had explained that Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ (2:15). Therefore he prayed that they might experience the unity that was theirs spiritually in their relations with one another. Verses 14-19 are also one sentence ...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

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