111 And when they come nigh to Jerusalem, to Bethphage, and Bethany, unto the mount of the Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, 2 and saith to them, 'Go away to the village that is over-against you, and immediately, entering into it, ye shall find a colt tied, on which no one of men hath sat, having loosed it, bring 'it': 3 and if any one may say to you, Why do ye this? say ye that the lord hath need of it, and immediately he will send it hither.' 4 And they went away, and found the colt tied at the door without, by the two ways, and they loose it, 5 and certain of those standing there said to them, 'What do ye—loosing the colt?' 6 and they said to them as Jesus commanded, and they suffered them. 7 And they brought the colt unto Jesus, and did cast upon it their garments, and he sat upon it, 8 and many did spread their garments in the way, and others were cutting down branches from the trees, and were strewing in the way. 9 And those going before and those following were crying out, saying, 'Hosanna! blessed 'is' he who is coming in the name of the Lord; 10 blessed is the coming reign, in the name of the Lord, of our father David; Hosanna in the highest.' 11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple, and having looked round on all things, it being now evening, he went forth to Bethany with the twelve.
12 And on the morrow, they having come forth from Bethany, he hungered, 13 and having seen a fig-tree afar off having leaves, he came, if perhaps he shall find anything in it, and having come to it, he found nothing except leaves, for it was not a time of figs, 14 and Jesus answering said to it, 'No more from thee—to the age—may any eat fruit;' and his disciples were hearing.
15 And they come to Jerusalem, and Jesus having gone into the temple, began to cast forth those selling and buying in the temple, and the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those selling the doves, he overthrew, 16 and he did not suffer that any might bear a vessel through the temple, 17 and he was teaching, saying to them, 'Hath it not been written—My house a house of prayer shall be called for all the nations, and ye did make it a den of robbers?' 18 And the scribes and the chief priests heard, and they were seeking how they shall destroy him, for they were afraid of him, because all the multitude 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.