Marcos 11
Thomas Constable · Citado em PreceptAustin
Marcos 11
Constable has an interesting comment - The Mosaic Law specified that an animal devoted to a sacred purpose had to be one that had not been used for ordinary purposes (Numbers 19:2; Deuteronomy 21:3). Jesus told the disciples to bring both the colt and its mother to Him (Matthew 21:2). The colt was unbroken, and Jesus was able to ride on it comfortably. These facts suggested that Jesus might be the sinless Man who was able to fulfill the Adamic Covenant mandate to subdue the animals (Genesis 1:28; cf. Matthew 17:27), the Second Adam.
Marcos 11
Constable - When Israel’s rulers wanted to present themselves as servants of the people, they rode donkeys (e.g., Judges 10:4; Judges 12:14). When they acted as military leaders, they rode horses (cf Jesus' Second Coming in power = Rev 19:11+). Normally pilgrims to Jerusalem entered the city on foot. Placing one’s garment on the ground before someone was a sign of royal homage (cf. 2 Kings 9:12-13; 1 Maccabees 13:51). Jesus riding in on a donkey also is a declaration of His kingship and a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 as Matthew 21:4-5 and John 12:14-15 make clear. Notice that in the following prophecy in Zechariah 9 the two comings of Christ are here compressed as though they were one (compare Isa 61:1-3+ cf. Lk 4:16, 21+). Zechariah 9:9-17 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (FIRST COMING - Note - He is King, He is coming, He is just, He brings salvation, He is humble) 10 (SECOND COMING) I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; And the bow of war will be cut off . And He will speak peace to the nations; And His dominion will be from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth (His Messianic Earthly Kingdom). 11 As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you (aka THE NEW COVENANT IN HIS BLOOD foreshadowed in the blood used to cut the COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM), I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. 12 Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you. 13 For I will bend Judah as My bow, I will fill the bow with Ephraim (aka "Israel"). And I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece; And I will make you like a warrior’s sword. 14 Then the LORD will appear over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning; And the Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, And will march in the storm winds of the south. 15 The LORD of hosts will defend them. And they will devour and trample on the sling stones; And they will drink and be boisterous as with wine; And they will be filled like a sacrificial basin, Drenched like the corners of the altar. 16 And the LORD their God will save them in that day As the flock of His people; For they are as the stones of a crown, Sparkling in His land. 17 For what comeliness and beauty will be theirs! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins. Matthew 21:4-5 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, ‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.’” John 12:14-15 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 15“FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.” Jesus riding on a donkey invokes another OT passage in Genesis 49, because it was considered by many Jews as a Messianic text. Gen. 49:8-11 8 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s sons shall bow down to you. 9“Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him up? 10 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes (MESSIAH - "THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH" - Rev 5:5+), And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. 11 “He ties his foal to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine; He washes his garments in wine, And his robes in the blood of grapes. (See Note, See discussion of this Messianic Prophecy, What does it mean that the scepter will not depart from Judah?) Related Resources: Why would a king ride a donkey instead of a warhorse (Zechariah 9:9-10)? Mark 11:8 And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. cut: Lev 23:40 Mark 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 21:8 Most (THIS MEANS IT NOT ALL!) of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. Luke 19:36+ As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road. John 12:12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.” 14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 15 “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.” 16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. 2 Kings 9:12-13 They said, “It is a lie, tell us now.” And he said, “Thus and thus he said to me, ‘Thus says the LORD, “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’” 13 Then they hurried and each man took his garment and placed it under him on the bare steps, and blew the trumpet, saying, “Jehu is king!” THE RESPONSE OF THE PEOPLE William
Marcos 11
Constable - "The next day was Tuesday, which Hoehner dated as March 31, A.D. 33. Apparently the events of "Palm Sunday" took place on a Monday. The incident that Mark recorded next, beginning in verse 12, occurred as Jesus and His disciples walked from Bethany to Jerusalem on Tuesday morning (Matt. 21:18)." When they had left Bethany - This is the second day of His Passion Week and extends from Mk 11:12-25. Bethany was about 2 miles from Jerusalem and it was long enough to work up an appetite in Jesus as He was heading back to the Temple. He became hungry (peinao) - Jesus may have skipped breakfast for he became hungry. As the writer of Hebrews says "He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17+). Brian Bell - A living parable (a good parable sneaks up on u). Our Lord had just come from His triumphal entry, proclaimed as King by the multitude. Jesus knew their shallow adoration would soon turn into cries for His death. He will point out their hypocritical fruitlessness, their lack of faith, and unveil why their prayers were being hindered. Often OT prophets acted out their message when words no longer worked[c19 pottery over head;27 yoke] This whole episode was a sermon in action. Title: Count Your Figs Paul Apple on He became hungry - Humanity of Jesus – limited Himself in taking on human flesh; had normal need for food and water and nourishment; despite having existed from all eternity and having created all things; Breakfast the most important meal of the day! Expositors says that that was surprising, considering that He probably spent the night in the home of hospitable friends, and asks whether the sights in the Temple had killed sleep and appetite, so that He left Bethany without taking food. Mark 11:12ff The Barren Fig Tree Many detractors of our Lord have pointed with glee to what on the surface seems like a fit of petty anger on Christ’s part, spawned by His selfish appetite. In reality, it was probably unrealistic to expect figs at that time of year, a fact which He must have known quite well. Perhaps the key to the whole passage is in the fact that “His disciples heard it.” When we look at the surrounding passages, we see that Christ was using the barren fig tree to teach His disciples something they desperately needed to know. This might be called a living parable. Our Lord had just come from His triumphal entry into the city, having been proclaimed as King by the multitude (Mark 11:7-11), knowing their shallow adoration would soon turn into cries for His death. Leaving the fig tree, he drove the money changers from the temple grounds, having recognized that they were not only exploiting all the Jews who entered, but had taken over the court of the Gentiles, using it as a shortcut through town (Mark 11:16) and a place of business (Mark 11:15), thus denying the possibility of true worship to all, both Jews and Gentiles. The fig tree was an object lesson on barrenness, typifying the Jewish nation’s condition in spite of their privileged heritage. This type of hypocritical fruitlessness receives condemnation (Mark 11:20-21), exhibits a lack of faith (Mark 11: 24-26), and hinders our prayers (Mark 11:24-26). - Source unknown (Bible.org) Handfuls of Purpose - James Smith - THE BARREN FIG-TREE Mark 11:12–14, 20–22 “I remember, I remember, The fir trees dark and high; I used to think their slender spires Were close against the sky. It was a childish ignorance— But now ’tis little joy To know I’m farther off from Heaven Than when I was a boy.” —T. Hood. It is a sorrowful discovery to make that our years of privilege and opportunity, through sin and indifference, are only carrying us farther and farther from God. It was so with the Jewish nation, represented here by the fruitless fig-tree, of which Christ had to say, “I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat.” Is the Lord making this lament over your life? Or in answer to His “I thirst,” are you offering Him vinegar to drink? I. The Search. “He came if haply he might find any thing thereon” (Mark 11:13). 1. WHO IS THE SEEKER? The hungry, saving Son of God (Mark 11:12). Think of how much He had done for the tree; its very existence depended on His goodness. Think of all that had been done for Israel as a nation, and how little He had received at their hands, when “last of all God sent His Son, saying, They will reverence Him when they see Him” (Matt. 21:37). What is He receiving of your life? This same Jesus is seeking from you that which will satisfy His soul. 2. WHERE HE SEEKS. From “A fig-tree.” He does not seek figs from thistles; He does not look for that which would satisfy His hunger from the thorns and briars of infidels and unbelievers. This tree had the name of a fruit-bearer, but was a deception. If we bear the Name of Christ He looks for the fruits of Christian life. In the fig-tree the fruit appears before the leaves, so that where there are the leaves of profession there ought to be the satisfying fruit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace” (Gal. 5:22). II. The Discovery. “He found nothing but leaves” (Mark 11:13). There was— 1. ABUNDANT PROFESSION. It had the appearance of abundance of life. There was a great display of activity and attractiveness lent. “One thing thou lackest.” So with our lives, we may be full of vigour, and our character morally beautiful and attractive, but if there is no recognition of the claims of Christ we are only as painted Jezebels, clouds without water, barren fig-trees, whited sepulchres. A name to live, but art dead (Rev. 3:1). 2. PERFECT DESTITUTION. “Nothing but leaves.” Much for itself, but nothing for Christ. A picture of those who spend all their strength and time merely for their own selfish aggrandisement. Christ’s desires are unheeded (Rev. 3:17). But note, that show and profession will not deceive Him. He looks, and takes time to look carefully, beneath the leaves. God judgeth the heart. A show of leaves, fresh and green, may hide your nakedness from the eye of man, but not from the all-searching eye of the searching Son of God. “Search me, O God, and try me” (Psa. 139:23). Adam tried the covering of leaves, but God did not acknowledge such, looking upon him still as one naked. “Nothing but leaves—the Spirit grieves.” “By their fruit ye shall know them.” III. The Judgment. “The tree which thou cursedst is withered away” (Mark 11:21). “Woe unto you hypocrites, how shall ye escape the damnation of hell” (Matt. 23:33). It was cursed because it was useless. What is the value of a creed, a Church connection, a hope, or a life, if there is naught to satisfy the living, yearning soul of Jesus? Its day of grace is now passed, it was accursed at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 16:22). When He comes it is not to make us fruitful, but to seek fruit. We note that— 1. THE CURSE AFFECTED THE ROOTS. “It was dried up from the roots” (Mark 11:20). With His withering word went forth the power that kept back the sap of the earth from the roots of the tree. He that hath not (fruit), from him shall be taken away even that which he hath (sap). When He withdraws the means of grace immediately the withering process of death and destruction begins. It was so in the days of Noah and in the days of Lot, and will be so when the Church is caught up (2 Thess. 1:7–10). If the talent of privilege is not used it will be taken away. If the sap of God’s Word in your heart is not allowed to become fruitful in your life it will be dried up, and your barren life will become like the cursed fig-tree, only fit for the fire. 2. THE CURSE AFFECTED THE LEAVES. “It withered away.” The sin of the fig-tree was the sin of omission. Alas, for its beautiful appearance, its plentiful leaves of profession, what can they do for it now? All withered away. Scribes and Pharisees beware! Moral and religious professors take warning! That beautiful, honest, upright, man-pleasing, but Christ-grieving life of yours will one day, when you come face to face with Jesus, wither away, dried up from the root, and nothing on earth, in Heaven, or in Hell, will prevent it (see John 15:1–8). Cantrell's Snapshots - Fruitless Foliage (Mark 11:12-33) 1. The Tree That Was Cursed (Mark 11:12-14) • Christ Saw the Foliage • Christ Sought the Fruit • Christ Sentenced the Figs 2. The Tables That Were Cleared (Mark 11:15-16) • His Previous Investigation (Mark 11:11) • His Present Indignation 3. The Truth That Was Convicting (Mark 11:17) • His Scriptural Quote • His Specific Qualm 4. The Trouble That Was Coming (Mark 11:18) • The Forced That Was Needful • The Fear That Was Noted 5. The Thoughts That Were Compelling (Mark 11:19-26) • The Results of Faith (Mark 11:19-21) • The Requirements of Faith (Mark 11:22-24) • The Repellants of Faith (Mark 11:25-26) 6. The Trick That Was Countered (Mark 11:27-33) • The Authority of Jesus Questioned • The Authority of John Questioned Mark 11:13 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. seeing: Mt 21:19 Lu 13:6-9 haply: Ru 2:3 1Sa 6:9 Lu 10:31 12:6,7 he found: Isa 5:7 Mark 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Jeremiah 8:13 “I will surely snatch them away,” declares the LORD; “There will be no grapes on the vine And no figs on the fig tree, And the leaf will wither; And what I have given them will pass away.”’ Jesus Examines a Leafy Fig Tree THE PARABLE OF THE "HYPOCRITICAL" FIG TREE R C
Marcos 11
Constable: This event happened on Wednesday morning [Day 3]. "Withered from the roots" means that death was spreading through the tree, emanating from its sources of nourishment. The "roots" of the tree correspond to the religious leaders of the nation. The curse of spiritual death would spread from them to that whole generation of unbelieving Jews. Peter connected the judgment with Jesus' words. In parallel fashion, Jesus' pronouncement of judgment on that generation of Jews would have a similar effect. Rather than explaining the symbolic significance of the cursing of the fig tree, Jesus proceeded to focus on the means by which the miracle happened. Danny Akin has an insightful comment - The fig tree event brackets, serves as bookends to, the temple story and interprets it for us. It clearly reveals that Jesus did not just cleanse the temple. He cursed it. It had failed in the divine assignment given to it by God and it would be destroyed. With no fruit found, its use was at an end. God would remove it and do so in a dramatic fashion in less than a generation when the Romans invaded under the general Titus (A.D. 70) and destroyed Jerusalem and the temple....Sympathy for a soul-less tree in our day is badly misplaced and says much about our sloppy sentimental culture and its tragic perversion of real values. God had told Jonah to weep over lost people not a plant! Jesus says weep over a dead temple not a dead tree. Morning (4404)(proi from pro = before) is an adverb of time closely paralleling our English word early or the phrase in the morning. Proi means early, in the (early) morning; in Jewish time reckoning, the last watch of the night. Mark uses the term proi to refer to the fourth watch of the night, the hours from 3 to 6 a.m. All uses in Mark - Mk. 1:35; Mk. 11:20; Mk. 13:35; Mk. 15:1; Mk. 16:2; Mk. 16:9; Fig tree (4808)(suke from sukon = a fig) is the fig-tree the Latin word ficus (see Wikipedia). The LXX distinguishes between the early fig and the (unripe) late fig (olunthos), and also has sukon for the “fig orchard.” The fig tree is an ancient and important tree in Palestine and claims special dignity in Judges 9:7ff. Uses in Mark - Mk. 11:13; Mk. 11:20; Mk. 11:21; Mk. 13:28; Withered (dry) (3583) xeraino from xeros = dry) means to become dry, to dry up and figuratively to become stiff (Mk 9:18). Of plants that wither (Jas 1:11). In the passive voice means to be dried up (Mt 13:6; 21:19, 20; Mk 4:6; 11:20, 21; Lk 8:6; Jn 15:6; 1 Pe 1:24). All uses in NT - Matt. 13:6; Matt. 21:19; Matt. 21:20; Mk. 3:1; Mk. 4:6; Mk. 5:29; Mk. 9:18; Mk. 11:20; Mk. 11:21; Lk. 8:6; Jn. 15:6; Jas. 1:11; 1 Pet. 1:24; Rev. 14:15; Rev. 16:12 Mark 11:21 Being reminded, Peter said to Him, "Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered." Pr 3:33 Zec 5:3,4 Mt 25:41 1Co 16:22 Mark 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 21:20 Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, “How did the fig tree wither all at once?” PETER RECALLS JESUS CURSE Being reminded - "Only in Mark and due to Peter’s story. For his quick memory see also Mk 14:72." (Robertson) Peter said to Him - Peter clearly is the spokesman for Mt 21:20 says the disciples asked. "Peter’s thoughts had been elsewhere, but the sight of the dry fig tree in a flash recalled the events of yesterday. Only Mark noted that Peter acted as spokesman to express the surprise of the disciples (Matt. 21:20). Peter at once connected the condition of the tree with the word of Jesus. He recognized that its present condition was no ordinary event." (Hiebert) Rabbi, look (ide), the fig tree which You cursed has withered." - Peter cried, “behold,” or “look.” It is not the exclamation “lo,” but the aorist imperative singular, bidding Jesus to take a look at the withered tree. "It almost sounds as if Peter blamed Jesus for what he had done to the fig tree." (A T Robertson) Jesus had asserted that it would henceforth be fruitless, but now it was totally dead! Gotquestions.org helps us with somewhat confusing timing of the parallel passages in Matthew 21:18-22, and Mark 11:12-14, 21- Matthew records the cursing and the withering of the fig tree all in one account and includes it after the account of Jesus cleansing the Temple of the moneychangers. Mark explains that it actually took place over two days, with Jesus cursing the fig tree the first day on the way to cleanse the Temple, and the disciples seeing the tree withered on the second day when they were again going to Jerusalem from Bethany (Mark 11:12-14 and Mark 11:19-20). Of course, upon seeing the tree “withered from the roots up,” the disciples were amazed, as that would have normally taken several weeks. Paul Apple has an excellent comment - Peter sounds surprised here – how could this have happened so quickly and with such devastating results? Thing about Hypocrisy (SEE ARTICLE ON Hypocrisy-Hypocrites): it looks healthy, but it is rotten to the core – that tree that outwardly just the day before had professed such health and vitality with its leaves of promise had already been nothing more than a white-washed sepulcher (ED: "FULL OF DEAD MEN'S BONES" - Mt 23:27) -- So it should not have been surprising that Jesus reduced it to the withered up shell it was in reality... The exposure of Hypocrisy … not the extinguishing of life Abbott comments, “But both in nature and in grace fruitlessness always issues in death. It is only by and through fruit-bearing that life is ever perpetuated” Danny Akin - Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.It is dead. John 15:6 warns us, ―If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. Sinclair Ferguson is spot on ―the question of our spiritual fruitfulness is one of immense seriousness which we ignore at our peril….Jesus means what He says! (Let’s Study Mark, 185) Swete remarks that the connection between the withered tree and the Lord’s words on the previous morning, flashed through Peter’s mind. J C