In his opening verse, Mark provides readers with the main key to understanding his Gospel: Although we can learn much about the disciples and other characters from reading Mark, it is most important to understand what he is teaching about Jesus: Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). Setting It is generally agreed that Mark was the first of the four canonical Gospels to be written. …
1Cuando se acercaban a Jerusalén, junto a Betfagé y a Betania, frente al monte de los Olivos, Jesús envió dos de sus discípulos,
2y les dijo: Id a la aldea que está enfrente de vosotros, y luego que entréis en ella, hallaréis un pollino atado, en el cual ningún hombre ha montado; desatadlo y traedlo.
3Y si alguien os dijere: ¿Por qué hacéis eso? decid que el Señor lo necesita, y que luego lo devolverá.
4Fueron, y hallaron el pollino atado afuera a la puerta, en el recodo del camino, y lo desataron.
5Y unos de los que estaban allí les dijeron: ¿Qué hacéis desatando el pollino?
6Ellos entonces les dijeron como Jesús había mandado; y los dejaron.
7Y trajeron el pollino a Jesús, y echaron sobre él sus mantos, y se sentó sobre él.
8También muchos tendían sus mantos por el camino, y otros cortaban ramas de los árboles, y las tendían por el camino.
9Y los que iban delante y los que venían detrás daban voces, diciendo: ¡Hosanna! ¡Bendito el que viene en el nombre del Señor!
10¡Bendito el reino de nuestro padre David que viene! ¡Hosanna en las alturas!
11Y entró Jesús en Jerusalén, y en el templo; y habiendo mirado alrededor todas las cosas, como ya anochecía, se fue a Betania con los doce.
12Al día siguiente, cuando salieron de Betania, tuvo hambre.
13Y viendo de lejos una higuera que tenía hojas, fue a ver si tal vez hallaba en ella algo; pero cuando llegó a ella, nada halló sino hojas, pues no era tiempo de higos.
14Entonces Jesús dijo a la higuera: Nunca jamás coma nadie fruto de ti. Y lo oyeron sus discípulos.
15Vinieron, pues, a Jerusalén; y entrando Jesús en el templo, comenzó a echar fuera a los que vendían y compraban en el templo; y volcó las mesas de los cambistas, y las sillas de los que vendían palomas;
16y no consentía que nadie atravesase el templo llevando utensilio alguno.
17Y les enseñaba, diciendo: ¿No está escrito: Mi casa será llamada casa de oración para todas las naciones? Mas vosotros la habéis hecho cueva de ladrones.
18Y lo oyeron los escribas y los principales sacerdotes, y buscaban cómo matarle; porque le tenían miedo, por cuanto todo el pueblo estaba admirado de su doctrina.
19Pero al llegar la noche, Jesús salió de la ciudad.
20Y pasando por la mañana, vieron que la higuera se había secado desde las raíces.
21Entonces Pedro, acordándose, le dijo: Maestro, mira, la higuera que maldijiste se ha secado.
22Respondiendo Jesús, les dijo: Tened fe en Dios.
23Porque de cierto os digo que cualquiera que dijere a este monte: Quítate y échate en el mar, y no dudare en su corazón, sino creyere que será hecho lo que dice, lo que diga le será hecho.
24Por tanto, os digo que todo lo que pidiereis orando, creed que lo recibiréis, y os vendrá.
25Y cuando estéis orando, perdonad, si tenéis algo contra alguno, para que también vuestro Padre que está en los cielos os perdone a vosotros vuestras ofensas.
26Porque si vosotros no perdonáis, tampoco vuestro Padre que está en los cielos os perdonará vuestras ofensas.
27Volvieron entonces a Jerusalén; y andando él por el templo, vinieron a él los principales sacerdotes, los escribas y los ancianos,
28y le dijeron: ¿Con qué autoridad haces estas cosas, y quién te dio autoridad para hacer estas cosas?
29Jesús, respondiendo, les dijo: Os haré yo también una pregunta; respondedme, y os diré con qué autoridad hago estas cosas.
30El bautismo de Juan, ¿era del cielo, o de los hombres? Respondedme.
31Entonces ellos discutían entre sí, diciendo: Si decimos, del cielo, dirá: ¿Por qué, pues, no le creísteis?
32¿Y si decimos, de los hombres…? Pero temían al pueblo, pues todos tenían a Juan como un verdadero profeta.
33Así que, respondiendo, dijeron a Jesús: No sabemos. Entonces respondiendo Jesús, les dijo: Tampoco yo os digo con qué autoridad hago estas cosas.
TYNDALE OPEN STUDY NOTES
I
Versículo 1
I. 11:1–13:37 This section centers on Jesus’ relationship to the Jerusalem Temple. Mark’s geographic…
11:1–13:37 This section centers on Jesus’ relationship to the Jerusalem Temple. Mark’s geographical arrangement places in 11:1–16:8 all his accounts of Jesus’ teachings and events associated with Jerusalem. • The section concludes (13:1-37) with Jesus’ second extended teaching discourse (see 4:1-34), now focusing on the destruction of the Temple and the coming of the Son of Man. It is the climax for numerous statements within 11:1–13:37 concerning the divine judgment about to fall on Jerusalem and the Temple (see especially 11:12-25 and 12:1-12).
11:1 Jerusalem was Jesus’ goal. During the week before his crucifixion, Jesus apparently stayed in Bethany with his disciples (11:11-12; 14:3-9). • The Mount of Olives is frequently associated with the site of the final judgment (Zech 14:4) and the place where the Messiah will manifest himself (Ezek 11:23; 43:1-5; see also Josephus, Antiquities 20.8.6). • As he did at other times, Jesus sent two of them (see Mark 6:7).
II
Versículo 2
II. 11:2-3 There have already been numerous examples of Jesus’ supernatural knowledge (2:8; 3:5; 5:30…
11:2-3 There have already been numerous examples of Jesus’ supernatural knowledge (2:8; 3:5; 5:30, 32; 8:17, 31), but the people’s acceptance of the reply that the Lord needs it (11:3, 6) suggests that Jesus had prearranged it (cp. 14:13-16). Jesus had intentionally planned to enter Jerusalem in fulfillment of Zech 9:9.
III
Versículo 3
III. 11:3 The Lord needs it and will return it soon: Mark’s readers have already seen the word Lord us…
11:3 The Lord needs it and will return it soon: Mark’s readers have already seen the word Lord used to refer to Jesus (1:3; 2:28; 5:19; see also 12:36-37; 13:35), so they would understand it as referring to the Lord Jesus Christ, who needed the colt (see also Rom 10:9; Phil 2:11).
IV
Versículo 4
IV. 11:4-6 The disciples carried out Jesus’ instructions and found things as he had said.
11:4-6 The disciples carried out Jesus’ instructions and found things as he had said.
V
Versículo 7
V. 11:7-8 the colt . . . he sat on it: Cp. Zech 9:9; some of the people undoubtedly understood that …
11:7-8 the colt . . . he sat on it: Cp. Zech 9:9; some of the people undoubtedly understood that they were witnessing the arrival of the Messiah. • The disciples made a seat for Jesus with their outer garments and others spread garments and branches from nearby trees into an honorary pathway for Jesus to ride upon to Jerusalem (see 1 Kgs 1:38-48; 2 Kgs 9:13).
VI
Versículo 9
VI. 11:9-10 Praise God! (Greek Hosanna): By the first century AD, Hosanna was no longer used literall…
11:9-10 Praise God! (Greek Hosanna): By the first century AD, Hosanna was no longer used literally as a cry for rescue from enemies but had become an idiomatic expression of joy and jubilation (cp. “Praise the Lord!” as used today). For the people, it was the exuberant welcome (Luke 19:38-40) of a famous pilgrim, the prophet from Galilee (Matt 21:11). The miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead might have contributed to the excitement of the day (John 12:9-11), but even the disciples did not truly understand this event until later (John 12:16). For Jesus, though, it was a fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus prepared for the occasion carefully and offered himself to the people of Israel as God’s Anointed, the Messiah.
VII
Versículo 11
VII. 11:11 The account ends surprisingly: The exuberant crowd disappears and Jesus’ actual entrance in…
11:11 The account ends surprisingly: The exuberant crowd disappears and Jesus’ actual entrance into the Temple is anticlimactic in comparison to his approach. Apparently, in the minds of the people, nothing important had taken place. Jesus’ looking around prepares the reader for God’s judgment on the Temple (11:15-17).
VIII
Versículo 12
VIII. 11:12-25 In the synoptic Gospels, Jesus’ messianic entry into Jerusalem is intimately associated …
11:12-25 In the synoptic Gospels, Jesus’ messianic entry into Jerusalem is intimately associated with the cleansing of the Temple (see 11:15-17; cp. Matt 21:1-17; Luke 19:28-48). In John, however, the account of the cleansing is recorded early in Jesus’ ministry (John 2:13-22). It is uncertain whether there were two separate cleansings of the Temple (an early event recorded in John and this later event recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke) or just one cleansing recorded at different places by John and the synoptic writers. • In Mark’s account, the cursing of the fig tree (Mark 11:12-14, 20-25) forms an inclusio (bookends) around the cleansing of the Temple (11:15-19). Mark thus indicates that Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple should be interpreted in light of his cursing of the fig tree—as an act of judgment rather than reformation.
IX
Versículo 13
IX. 11:13-14 it was too early in the season for fruit: Jesus did not curse the fig tree merely becaus…
11:13-14 it was too early in the season for fruit: Jesus did not curse the fig tree merely because it lacked fruit. Rather, he was performing a prophetic sign act like those of earlier prophets (Isa 20; Jer 13:1-11; 19:1-13; Ezek 4). Just as Jesus judged the fruitless fig tree, so too he judged the Temple and the worship of Israel, in which he found no fruit. This judgment was fulfilled in AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Romans.
X
Versículo 15
X. 11:15-19 The largest part of the Temple in Jerusalem was the Court of the Gentiles, surrounded by…
11:15-19 The largest part of the Temple in Jerusalem was the Court of the Gentiles, surrounded by covered porticoes. It was here that this selling probably took place.
11:15-16 When they arrived back: Upon entering the Temple, Jesus was intensely disturbed by the buying and selling of sacrificial animals and by the exchange of money. It was supervised by priests, who alone could certify that a potential sacrificial offering was acceptable. The practice of selling sacrificial animals was meant to ensure that only blemish-free animals were used in the service of the Temple. It was facilitated by setting up exchange tables in areas around Jerusalem, but exchange tables were set up within the Temple itself on the fifteenth of Adar, the month before Passover. Usually the exchange rate involved a 4- to 8-percent commission. Because of the large number of half-shekels (see Exod 30:11-16) and sacrifices involved, the money exchange and the sale of sacrificial animals was quite profitable. Jewish literature of the time was intensely critical of the priests for accumulating great wealth by robbing the poor. Jesus was not opposed to the Temple nor attacking the sacrificial system (Mark 1:44; Matt 5:17-19, 23; 17:24-27; Luke 17:14; Acts 6:7; 21:20-26), but he viewed this profiteering as theft and as desecrating the holy place. • Jesus’ actions probably did not affect as large a number of people as is sometimes envisioned. These actions took place in one part of the large Court of the Gentiles and would not have been observed by most people in other parts of the Temple. The lack of interference by the Roman authorities suggests that they did not observe the event or did not regard it as a riot or as insurrection. Furthermore, at Jesus’ trial, this action is never mentioned. It was not a massive attempt to stop all such activity, but a symbolic act foretelling the judgment soon to befall the Temple and the city.
XI
Versículo 16
XI. 11:16 from using the Temple as a marketplace: Or from carrying merchandise through the Temple. Th…
11:16 from using the Temple as a marketplace: Or from carrying merchandise through the Temple. The Temple was also defiled by its use as a shortcut for carrying things from one part of the city to another. Other rabbis also forbade this practice (see Mishnah Berakhot 9.5; see Josephus, Against Apion 2.8).
XII
Versículo 17
XII. 11:17 Jesus quoted Isa 56:7 and Jer 7:11 in defense of his action. The first quotation emphasizes…
11:17 Jesus quoted Isa 56:7 and Jer 7:11 in defense of his action. The first quotation emphasizes the importance of the Temple for Gentiles. God’s house was intended by its very architecture (i.e., the Court of the Gentiles) to assist Gentiles in becoming children of Abraham. Jesus’ act of judgment fell upon the leaders of Israel for hindering the Gentiles’ access to the Temple. They were desecrating the Temple by taking part of the Temple specifically designated as a house of prayer for all nations and turning it into a den of thieves through the profiteering taking place.
XIII
Versículo 18
XIII. 11:18 The leading priests and teachers of religious law plotted to kill Jesus because they feared…
11:18 The leading priests and teachers of religious law plotted to kill Jesus because they feared him. His great influence among the people, the amazement created by his actions, and the influence of his teaching threatened their position (see 3:6; 12:12; 14:1-2, 10-11). Their response shows that reform was not enough: God’s judgment was necessary.
XIV
Versículo 19
XIV. 11:19 Jesus and the disciples left: They presumably returned to Bethany (11:11; 14:3).
11:19 Jesus and the disciples left: They presumably returned to Bethany (11:11; 14:3).
XV
Versículo 20
XV. 11:20-21 Jesus’ miraculous power to judge the fig tree testified to his authority to bring about …
11:20-21 Jesus’ miraculous power to judge the fig tree testified to his authority to bring about the judgment of Jerusalem that he had foretold. If Mark’s original audience was hearing his Gospel read to them in the late AD 60s, they knew that Roman legions were already enacting this prophetic judgment against Jerusalem.
16
Versículo 22
16. 11:22-23 The importance of Jesus’ words is emphasized by his emphatic I tell you the truth. • Thi…
11:22-23 The importance of Jesus’ words is emphasized by his emphatic I tell you the truth. • This mountain probably indicates the Temple Mount, not the Mount of Olives. The judgment of the Temple is the focus of 11:12-25; it will be referred to again in 12:9 and at great length in 13:1-37. Jesus’ reference to destroying the Temple would later be raised at his trial (14:58) and crucifixion (15:29).
17
Versículo 24
17. 11:24-25 Two additional sayings on prayer are tied to 11:23 by the word believe. In the first (11…
11:24-25 Two additional sayings on prayer are tied to 11:23 by the word believe. In the first (11:24), we are told that we will receive what we ask for (see Matt 7:7) if we pray with the faith described in Mark 11:23. • Forgiveness is the second condition for answered prayer. Only when we forgive others can our most important prayer, that God forgive us, be answered (Matt 5:23-24; 6:12, 14-15; Luke 6:37; 11:4; cp. Luke 7:41-43, 47; Eph 4:32; Col 3:13).
18
Versículo 27
18. 11:27-33 Following the cleansing of the Temple (11:15-17; Matt 21:12-22; Luke 19:45-46), Jesus’ o…
11:27-33 Following the cleansing of the Temple (11:15-17; Matt 21:12-22; Luke 19:45-46), Jesus’ opponents question his authority to do so (see also Matt 21:23-27; Luke 20:1-8; cp. John 2:18-22).
11:27 Upon returning again to Jerusalem (see 11:1, 11, 15), Jesus and the disciples entered the Temple. The frequent repetition of Jerusalem reminds readers of what would soon take place there (10:32-34; see 8:31; 9:31; 14:1–16:8). • In the Temple, Jesus encountered the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders. These three groups made up the seventy-one–member high council (the ruling body of the nation). From earlier encounters with them (8:31; see also 14:43, 53; 15:1), we expect them to oppose Jesus.
19
Versículo 28
19. 11:28 Jesus’ authority includes his divine authority to cast out demons (1:22, 27; 5:1-13), heal …
11:28 Jesus’ authority includes his divine authority to cast out demons (1:22, 27; 5:1-13), heal (1:29–2:12; 5:21-43), forgive sins (2:10), and now cleanse the Temple. Jesus’ authority clearly was from God, but the religious leaders were unwilling to accept it.
20
Versículo 29
20. 11:29-30 Jesus often replied to his opponents with counter-questions (e.g., 2:8-9, 19, 25-26; 3:4…
11:29-30 Jesus often replied to his opponents with counter-questions (e.g., 2:8-9, 19, 25-26; 3:4, 23; 10:3, 38; see also 12:16), which is an effective way both to teach and to refute.
21
Versículo 31
21. 11:31-32 Jesus clearly placed his opponents in a bind, for either a “yes” or a “no” would damage …
11:31-32 Jesus clearly placed his opponents in a bind, for either a “yes” or a “no” would damage their reputation and authority in the eyes of the people. Denying John’s prophetic authority would probably anger the people. Affirming it would mean that they should have accepted what John said, including what he said about Jesus. This answer would also answer their own question (11:28).
22
Versículo 33
22. 11:33 In answering, “We don’t know,” the religious leaders of the nation admitted that they could…
11:33 In answering, “We don’t know,” the religious leaders of the nation admitted that they could not answer a simple question that the people had no difficulty in answering: John was sent from God. They thus forfeited the religious leadership of the nation on this question. Their hardness of heart (3:5; 7:6), their unwillingness to see (4:12), and their deliberate refusal to accept the truth made further discussion fruitless. Their blindness and hostility toward God’s servants John the Baptist and Jesus, their desecration of the Temple, and their plot to kill Jesus all revealed why God’s judgment would come within that very generation (13:30).
Nuevo Testamento
Mark — Capítulo 11
In his opening verse, Mark provides readers with the main key to understanding his Gospel: Although we can learn much about the disciples and other characters from reading Mark, it is most important to understand what he is teaching about Jesus: Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). Setting It is generally agreed that Mark was the first of the four canonical Gospels to be written. …
Texto — Reina-Valera 1960
1Cuando se acercaban a Jerusalén, junto a Betfagé y a Betania, frente al monte de los Olivos, Jesús envió dos de sus discípulos,
2y les dijo: Id a la aldea que está enfrente de vosotros, y luego que entréis en ella, hallaréis un pollino atado, en el cual ningún hombre ha montado; desatadlo y traedlo.
3Y si alguien os dijere: ¿Por qué hacéis eso? decid que el Señor lo necesita, y que luego lo devolverá.
4Fueron, y hallaron el pollino atado afuera a la puerta, en el recodo del camino, y lo desataron.
5Y unos de los que estaban allí les dijeron: ¿Qué hacéis desatando el pollino?
6Ellos entonces les dijeron como Jesús había mandado; y los dejaron.
7Y trajeron el pollino a Jesús, y echaron sobre él sus mantos, y se sentó sobre él.
8También muchos tendían sus mantos por el camino, y otros cortaban ramas de los árboles, y las tendían por el camino.
9Y los que iban delante y los que venían detrás daban voces, diciendo: ¡Hosanna! ¡Bendito el que viene en el nombre del Señor!
10¡Bendito el reino de nuestro padre David que viene! ¡Hosanna en las alturas!
11Y entró Jesús en Jerusalén, y en el templo; y habiendo mirado alrededor todas las cosas, como ya anochecía, se fue a Betania con los doce.
12Al día siguiente, cuando salieron de Betania, tuvo hambre.
13Y viendo de lejos una higuera que tenía hojas, fue a ver si tal vez hallaba en ella algo; pero cuando llegó a ella, nada halló sino hojas, pues no era tiempo de higos.
14Entonces Jesús dijo a la higuera: Nunca jamás coma nadie fruto de ti. Y lo oyeron sus discípulos.
15Vinieron, pues, a Jerusalén; y entrando Jesús en el templo, comenzó a echar fuera a los que vendían y compraban en el templo; y volcó las mesas de los cambistas, y las sillas de los que vendían palomas;
16y no consentía que nadie atravesase el templo llevando utensilio alguno.
17Y les enseñaba, diciendo: ¿No está escrito: Mi casa será llamada casa de oración para todas las naciones? Mas vosotros la habéis hecho cueva de ladrones.
18Y lo oyeron los escribas y los principales sacerdotes, y buscaban cómo matarle; porque le tenían miedo, por cuanto todo el pueblo estaba admirado de su doctrina.
19Pero al llegar la noche, Jesús salió de la ciudad.
20Y pasando por la mañana, vieron que la higuera se había secado desde las raíces.
21Entonces Pedro, acordándose, le dijo: Maestro, mira, la higuera que maldijiste se ha secado.
22Respondiendo Jesús, les dijo: Tened fe en Dios.
23Porque de cierto os digo que cualquiera que dijere a este monte: Quítate y échate en el mar, y no dudare en su corazón, sino creyere que será hecho lo que dice, lo que diga le será hecho.
24Por tanto, os digo que todo lo que pidiereis orando, creed que lo recibiréis, y os vendrá.
25Y cuando estéis orando, perdonad, si tenéis algo contra alguno, para que también vuestro Padre que está en los cielos os perdone a vosotros vuestras ofensas.
26Porque si vosotros no perdonáis, tampoco vuestro Padre que está en los cielos os perdonará vuestras ofensas.
27Volvieron entonces a Jerusalén; y andando él por el templo, vinieron a él los principales sacerdotes, los escribas y los ancianos,
28y le dijeron: ¿Con qué autoridad haces estas cosas, y quién te dio autoridad para hacer estas cosas?
29Jesús, respondiendo, les dijo: Os haré yo también una pregunta; respondedme, y os diré con qué autoridad hago estas cosas.
30El bautismo de Juan, ¿era del cielo, o de los hombres? Respondedme.
31Entonces ellos discutían entre sí, diciendo: Si decimos, del cielo, dirá: ¿Por qué, pues, no le creísteis?
32¿Y si decimos, de los hombres…? Pero temían al pueblo, pues todos tenían a Juan como un verdadero profeta.
33Así que, respondiendo, dijeron a Jesús: No sabemos. Entonces respondiendo Jesús, les dijo: Tampoco yo os digo con qué autoridad hago estas cosas.
TYNDALE OPEN STUDY NOTES
Versículo 1
I. 11:1–13:37 This section centers on Jesus’ relationship to the Jerusalem Temple. Mark’s geographic…
Versículo 2
II. 11:2-3 There have already been numerous examples of Jesus’ supernatural knowledge (2:8; 3:5; 5:30…
Versículo 3
III. 11:3 The Lord needs it and will return it soon: Mark’s readers have already seen the word Lord us…
Versículo 4
IV. 11:4-6 The disciples carried out Jesus’ instructions and found things as he had said.
Versículo 7
V. 11:7-8 the colt . . . he sat on it: Cp. Zech 9:9; some of the people undoubtedly understood that …
Versículo 9
VI. 11:9-10 Praise God! (Greek Hosanna): By the first century AD, Hosanna was no longer used literall…
Versículo 11
VII. 11:11 The account ends surprisingly: The exuberant crowd disappears and Jesus’ actual entrance in…
Versículo 12
VIII. 11:12-25 In the synoptic Gospels, Jesus’ messianic entry into Jerusalem is intimately associated …
Versículo 13
IX. 11:13-14 it was too early in the season for fruit: Jesus did not curse the fig tree merely becaus…
Versículo 15
X. 11:15-19 The largest part of the Temple in Jerusalem was the Court of the Gentiles, surrounded by…
Versículo 16
XI. 11:16 from using the Temple as a marketplace: Or from carrying merchandise through the Temple. Th…
Versículo 17
XII. 11:17 Jesus quoted Isa 56:7 and Jer 7:11 in defense of his action. The first quotation emphasizes…
Versículo 18
XIII. 11:18 The leading priests and teachers of religious law plotted to kill Jesus because they feared…
Versículo 19
XIV. 11:19 Jesus and the disciples left: They presumably returned to Bethany (11:11; 14:3).
Versículo 20
XV. 11:20-21 Jesus’ miraculous power to judge the fig tree testified to his authority to bring about …
Versículo 22
16. 11:22-23 The importance of Jesus’ words is emphasized by his emphatic I tell you the truth. • Thi…
Versículo 24
17. 11:24-25 Two additional sayings on prayer are tied to 11:23 by the word believe. In the first (11…
Versículo 27
18. 11:27-33 Following the cleansing of the Temple (11:15-17; Matt 21:12-22; Luke 19:45-46), Jesus’ o…
Versículo 28
19. 11:28 Jesus’ authority includes his divine authority to cast out demons (1:22, 27; 5:1-13), heal …
Versículo 29
20. 11:29-30 Jesus often replied to his opponents with counter-questions (e.g., 2:8-9, 19, 25-26; 3:4…
Versículo 31
21. 11:31-32 Jesus clearly placed his opponents in a bind, for either a “yes” or a “no” would damage …
Versículo 33
22. 11:33 In answering, “We don’t know,” the religious leaders of the nation admitted that they could…