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Mark: 11:15-33
Jesus runs out the moneychangers 15 And they come to Jerusalem: and 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; 16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. 17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. 19 And 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. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For 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. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.* 27 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, 28 And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? 29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. 31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? 32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. 33 And 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. *Some manuscripts do not include verse 11:26. |
Margin notes:
"And they come to Jerusalem." (11:15) - Jesus and His disciples arrived in Jerusalem after spending the night in Bethany, two miles away. "Cast out them that sold and bought in the temple." (11:15) - Jews from around the Roman Empire came to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. Instead of bringing their sacrificial animals (cattle, lambs, doves and other small birds) with them, many visitors found it more convenient to purchase them when they arrived at the Temple. Stalls were set up in the Court of the Gentiles (a section of the Temple where Gentiles could worship) to sell the sacrificial animals. This upset Gentiles who came to worship. For the second time (John 2:14-16), Jesus cast the merchants and their customers out of the Temple. "Moneychangers" (11:15) - Vendors who exchanged the foreign coinage carried by out of town visitors into the Jewish or Temple currency. A fee of 10-12 percent was usually charged. With so many visitors in Jerusalem for Passover, business was brisk. "Would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple." (11:16) - Means, "Would not allow anyone to carry goods through the Temple." Jesus was disturbed that merchants were using the Temple as a shortcut to carry their wares to the Court of Gentiles. "Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?" (11:17) - Jesus is referring to Isaiah 56:7. The Court of Gentiles was the only part of the Temple open to people of other faiths to worship and offer sacrifices. "They feared him." (11:18) - The scribes and chief priests also feared upsetting the people who believed in Jesus (Matthew 21:46; Mark 12:12; Luke 20:19). "All the people was astonished at his doctrine." (11:18) - People were impressed with Jesus and His teachings, and this caused the Pharisees to hate Him more. "They saw the fig tree dried up from the roots." (11:20) - This is the same fig tree cursed by Jesus in verses 11:12-14 (lesson 86). It is now Tuesday morning of Passion Week. "And Peter calling to remembrance." (11:21) - "And Peter remembered." "When ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (11:24) - Means, trust the power of prayer. Turn to God when in crisis or in need of spiritual guidance. He will answer your prayers, but remember, even when God's answer isn't the one you for praying for, it will always be in your best interest. Jesus repeated this teaching in Matthew 7:7-8, John 14:13, 15:7 and 16:24. "Forgive." (11:25) - So you will be forgiven. "If ye have ought against any." (11:25) - "If you have something against anyone." "As he was walking in the temple." (11:27) - Remember, this is one day after Jesus caused a ruckus in the Temple and upset the Pharisees and scribes (11:15-18). "By what authority doest thou these things?" (11:28) - The priest, scribes and elders want to know who gave Jesus the authority to clear the Temple. If Jesus answers his power comes from God, they will accuse Him of blasphemy. "John." (11:30) - John the Baptist. "They reasoned with themselves." (11:31) - "They discussed it among themselves." "All men counted John, that he was a prophet." (11:32) - "All men believed John to be a prophet." |