Mark 11King James Version
The triumphal entry. Jesus enters Jerusalem on a colt. The crowds shout Hosanna and spread garments and branches. He cleanses the temple, overturning the tables of the moneychangers. My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. The cursing of the fig tree: in the morning it has dried up from the roots. Have faith in God. Whatsoever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Jesus sends two disciples to fetch a colt. He enters Jerusalem to palm branches and shouts of Hosanna. He surveys the temple and leaves. Next morning he curses a fig tree for having leaves but no fruit. He clears the temple, overturning tables of money changers and dove sellers. The cursed fig tree is found withered by roots. Chief priests and scribes plot to kill him. His authority is questioned; he answers with a question about John's baptism they cannot answer.
The fig tree with no fruit and the temple full of commerce are the same statement: religious performance with no real life at the root is condemned.
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." Two scriptures, two verdicts: what it was supposed to be, and what it had become.
The temple mount was under Herod's massive construction project, still ongoing in Jesus's day. The outer courts where the money changers operated were the only place Gentiles were permitted. Jesus quotes Isaiah 56, which is specifically about Gentiles being welcomed into God's house. The den of thieves quotation is from Jeremiah 7, a temple condemnation sermon. Both references are deliberate.
Two unnamed disciples sent for the colt; crowds welcoming with branches; the fig tree; money changers and dove sellers; chief priests and scribes, watching and plotting; the disciples, marveling at the withered tree.
The triumphal entry fulfills Zechariah 9: a king coming on a donkey is a king coming in peace, not on a war horse. But the crowd hears what they want to hear. The temple clearing is not a purification, it is a condemnation: Mark frames it with the fig tree sandwich to say the institution has already been cursed. Jesus's authority challenge is the opening move in a final week of escalating confrontations.
For when something once meant for life has calcified into something that only serves itself. The temple Jesus entered was supposed to be a house of prayer for all nations. It had become a marketplace for the already-included.
1And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
2And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
3And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
4And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.
5And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
6And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
7And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
8And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
10Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
11And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
12And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
13And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
14And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
15And 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;
16And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
17And 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.
18And 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.
19And when even was come, he went out of the city.
20And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23For 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.
24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
27And 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,
28And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?
29And 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.
30The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
31And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
32But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
33And 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.