111 As they approached Jerusalem , at Bethphage and Bethany , near the Mount of Olives , He sent two of His disciples , 2 and said to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one e yet has ever sat ; untie it and bring it here. 3 "If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this ?' you say , 'The Lord has need of it'; and immediately he will send it back here ." 4 They went away and found a colt tied at the door , outside in the street ; and they untied it. 5 Some of the bystanders e were saying to them, "What are you doing , untying the colt ?" 6 They spoke to them just as Jesus had told them, and they gave them permission . 7 They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their coats in the road , and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields . 9 Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting : "Hosanna ! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE Lord ; 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David ; Hosanna in the highest !" 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple ; and after looking around at everything , He left for Bethany with the twelve , since it was already late .
12 On the next day , when they had left Bethany , He became hungry . 13 Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf , He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves , for it was not the season for figs . 14 He said to it, "May no one ever e eat fruit from you again !" And His disciples were listening .
15 Then they came to Jerusalem . And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple , and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves ; 16 and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple . 17 And He began to teach and say to them, "Is it not written , ' MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS '? But you have made it a ROBBERS' DEN ." 18 The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 11:1-18
Commentary on Mark 11:1-11
(Read Mark 11:1-11)
Christ's coming into Jerusalem thus 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. Also, that he was not disquieted at the thoughts of his approaching sufferings. But all marked his humiliation; and these matters teach us not to mind high things, but to condescend to those of low estate. How ill it becomes Christians to take state, when Christ was so far from claiming it! They welcomed his person; Blessed is he that cometh, the "He that should come," so often promised, so long expected; he comes in the name of the Lord. Let him have our best affections; he is a blessed Saviour, 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.
Commentary on Mark 11:12-18
(Read Mark 11:12-18)
Christ looked to find some fruit, for the time of gathering figs, though it was near, was 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 figure 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. A desperate attempt, which they could not but fear was fighting against God.