Marcos 11
William Barclay · Citado em PreceptAustin
Marcos 11
Barclay says Hosanna "is a simple transliteration of the Hebrew for Save now! It occurs in exactly the same form in 2 Samuel 14:4 and 2 Kings 6:26, where it is used by people seeking for help and protection at the hands of the king. When the people shouted Hosanna it was not a cry of praise to Jesus, which it often sounds like when we quote it. It was a cry to God to break in and save his people now that the Messiah had come." (Mark 11 Commentary) Alan Carr - Imagine this procession. Jesus is on a donkey and He is surrounded by throngs of common people. It was, as one writer said, a “procession of paupers”. The people are waving palm branches and not swords. He is sitting on old coats and not a saddle. He is riding a little donkey and not a mighty stallion. He is surrounded by a ragtag rabble and not by strong soldiers. The Roman soldiers who saw this parade must have laughed at this Man Who would be King of the Jews. The soldiers might have seen a Roman Triumphus. In those great celebrations, victorious Roman generals would return from the battlefields with the spoils of war. Defeated kings and soldiers would be paraded through town. The victorious army would walk past cheering crowds. Elephants, tigers and lions would parade past. The victorious general would be riding in the finest of chariots pulled along by handsome horses. Thousands would cheer and Rome would vibrate with the shouts of people praising Caesar and the Roman gods. But, this, this must have appeared to be a joke to all who saw it. Hiebert explains that "Those who went before would indicate the contingent that came out from Jerusalem to meet Jesus (John 12:12–13); upon meeting the group that was with Jesus, they turned around and led the procession. Luke noted that the cries began “at the descent of the mount of Olives” (Lk 19:37), perhaps at a turn in the road where the city of Jerusalem burst into view. " "Hosanna! - As noted above this is in effect is a one word prayer - Hebrew hoshi`ah na = "Hosanna" "Save now" equals "Hosanna," the word cried by the common people to Jesus when He entered Jerusalem for His final week (Mk 11:9-10) at His triumphal entry -- initially Jesus received the praises of the people, who shouted these verses as being prophetic of the Messiah (Mt 21:9 23:39 Mk 11:9-10 Lu 13:35 19:38 Jn 12:13). BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD - They are quoting the Messianic Psalm Psalm 118:26 which says "Blessed is the One." Luke 19:38 alters this quote with the people "shouting: “BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Passover celebrated the Hebrew people’s liberation and deliverance out of Egypt and Psalm 118 was one of the Egyptian Hallels (Ps 113-119). And so the nation of Israel mistakenly anticipates another deliverance like God had brought about from Egypt. They saw Jesus as the Messianic Liberator Who would deliver them from Roman oppression, but they misinterpreted Psalm 118 because they had missed the crucial context that the Messiah would be a Suffering Servant before He would be a conquering King. Note also that this blessing was voiced by the people on Palm Sunday when Christ entered Jerusalem (Mt 21:9). And when the leaders rebuked the people's praises (Lu19:37-39), Jesus then said (Mt 23:38,39) to the Jews as a nation . Brian Bell - Now with the whole city is in view & the Savior begins to weep. Not with quiet tears as were described when Lazarus was risen from his grave, but with loud deep sorrow. They ceased their Hosannas & heard the Lord of the Universe wail over Jerusalem. This was a new king. in Luke 19:41-44+ His wailing turns into lamentation - "When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. 43 “For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, 44 and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” By prophetic vision(seeing 4 decades into the future), the Lord saw the proud, unrepentant Holy City reduced to a pile of rubble wet with the blood of His people. They missed the things that makes for peace! - What? What did they miss? Well, repentance toward God & faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. As your life stands right now, what does Jesus Christ see in your future? Judgment? Your towers pulled down? Desolation? The tears of Christ measure the infinite value of your soul. In the comparison below note that all four Gospels quote from Psalm 118:26 part of the Hallel sung during the Passover. Luke changes "He" to "King" which would emphasize the royal character of the One coming. Note that "He who comes" is more literally "the coming One," which is a concept that had definite Messianic overtones among the Jews (see Mt. 11:3; Lk 7:19; Jn 3:31; 6:14; 11:27; Heb. 10:37). Hiebert explains that "While not naming the Messiah, the designation gave expression to the ardent yearning among the Jews for the assured coming of the promised one upon whom all their expectations for the future centered. This coming one they now welcomed in the name of the Lord, the name of Jehovah. He came in the authority denoted by that supreme name." COMPARISON OF THE ACCLAIM OF THE CROWDS AT JESUS' TRIUMPHAL ENTRY Matthew 21:9, 15+ Mark 11:9, 10+ Luke 19:38+ John 12:13+ Multitudes (were) going before Him, and those who followed after (Matthew 21:9+) Those who went before, and those who followed after (Mk 11:9+) Hosanna (Mt 21:9, 15+) Hosanna (Mk 11:9,10+) Hosanna Son of David (Mt 21:9,15+) Branches of the palm trees Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord (Mt 21:9+) Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord (Mk 11:9+) Blessed is the King Who comes in the Name of the Lord Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord the King the King of Israel Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David (Mk 11:9+) Peace in heaven Hosanna in the highest (Mt 21:9+) Hosanna in the highest (Mk 11:10+) Glory in the highest! Children were crying out in the temple (Mt 21:15+) HOSANNA (Read Jn 12:12-19, Mt 21:9) - It's Sunday morning, time for the electronic church in America. Thousands lounge in their living rooms watching television. Almost every channel carries a religious program. Some preachers proclaim a clear-cut gospel message. Others, however, pace before an enraptured audience, telling them that Jesus will heal all their diseases and make them rich. "He wants you well! Poverty is of the devil!" shouts the preacher. And the swelling of applause picks up where he leaves off. People love the "gospel" of prosperity and deliverance from sickness. Now turn back the calendar to a Sunday morning around 33 A.D. The city is Jerusalem. There's no TV, but there is a preacher who stirs the hopes of an excited crowd. For three years He's been going about Judea and Galilee, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and even raising the dead. Now He rides into Jerusalem on a colt, gladly receiving the acclaim of the crowd. But those who shout "Hosanna!" are accepting Him for what they think He will give them, not for who He is and what He came to do. They want an earthly Messiah who will provide for their material welfare, not a suffering Messiah whose death on the cross will expose their sin, provide forgiveness, and call for a life commitment. The word easy appears only once in the New Testament, and then in connection with yoke. The Problem Within Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven! Matthew 21:9 Today's Scripture & Insight: Matthew 21:1–9 A few years ago, a woodpecker began tapping on the siding of our home. We thought the problem was only external. Then one day, my son and I climbed up a ladder into the attic only to have a bird fly past our startled faces. The problem was worse than we’d suspected: it was inside our house. When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, the crowd was hoping He would be the one to fix their external problem—their oppression by the Romans. They went wild, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:9). This was the moment they’d been waiting for; God’s appointed King had come. If God’s chosen Deliverer was going to begin reforming things, wouldn’t He start with all the wrong out there? But in most gospel accounts, the “triumphal entry” is followed by Jesus driving out exploitative moneychangers . . . from the temple (vv. 12–13). He was cleaning house, and from the inside out. What does it mean for Jesus to be your King? Why is it vital for you to surrender your all to Him? Dear Jesus, You’re the true King. Forgive me for wanting You to only fix the problems in the world around me and not to confront the sin in my heart. Show me where I’m prone to wander and expose the ways I want to run my own life. The King Has Come Read: Luke 19:28-44 Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!—Luke 19:38 An American philosopher once asked, “If Jesus and Plato should return to earth and were to lecture on the same campus at the same time, which would I go to hear?” He concluded, “Who would choose to go and hear even so great a one as Plato talk about truth, when he might listen to the One who is the Truth?” The cheering crowd that surged around Jesus on that first Palm Sunday responded much like that philosopher. They recognized that He had no equal, yet there was something unsettling about Him. Jesus rode calmly into Jerusalem on a donkey, although a stately war horse might have better suited the occasion. He visited the temple and then returned to Bethany (Mk. 11:11). The crowd had expected much more. They sought deliverance from Roman rule, but He came to deliver from Satan’s rule. They recognized that Jesus had come from God, but they completely misunderstood His spiritual mission. Do we pay tribute to Jesus because of who He is or just for what He can do for us? To honor Him means to obey Him and to die to our self-centered nature. The philosopher recognized Him as the Truth and the crowd saw Him as their deliverer, but we are called to submit to Him as King, the One who has come to rule in our hearts. To be a Christian is to be a loyal subject of the King of kings. The Way To Praise Him Read: Luke 19:28-38 Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! —Luke 19:38 The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem a few days before His death focused attention on Him as Lord. When Jesus sent His disciples to get the colt He was to ride, He instructed them to tell its owners, “The Lord has need of it” (Luke 19:31). And when the crowds shouted their praise, they quoted Psalm 118:26, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38). Jesus is Lord. His name is “above every name” (Philippians 2:9). As part of His title, the word Lord refers to His sovereignty. He is the King, and every believer in Him is a member of His kingdom. We acknowledge Jesus as Lord of our lives by bowing to His authority as King. This means that we live in obedience to Him. We can’t be like the man who claimed to be a Christian and yet chose to use illegal drugs and live in an immoral relationship. When his minister confronted him, he glibly replied, “Don’t worry, pastor. It’s okay. I’m just a bad Christian.” It’s not okay. Not at all! Not for a person who claims to be a follower of Christ (Luke 6:43-49). Today, make sure you are honoring Him with your deeds as well as with your words. Then you can join with others in proclaiming, “Jesus is Lord!” Take me as I am, Lord, And make me all Your own; Make my heart Your palace And Your royal throne. —Pope If you adore Christ as Savior, you can't ignore Christ as Lord. The King's Offer The multitudes . . . cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'" —Matthew 21:9 Today's Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11 I have often wondered how many of those people who enthusiastically cried, “Hosanna!” on Palm Sunday shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” a few days later. Some may have been keenly disappointed, even angry, that Christ didn’t use His miraculous power to establish an earthly kingdom. Hadn’t He created a golden opportunity to rally popular support by parading into Jerusalem and offering Himself as King? Many Jews failed to recognize that before Jesus would openly assert His sovereignty He had to rule in their hearts. Their greatest need was not to be freed from Caesar’s rule but to be released from the chains of pride, self-righteousness, and rebellion against God. They wanted the visible kingdom prophesied in the Old Testament with all its material benefits. But the Messiah first had to die for the sins of mankind and rise again to establish the basis for a spiritual rule. There's no disappointment in Jesus, He's all that He promised to be; His love and His care comfort me everywhere; He is no disappointment to me. —Hallett Putting Christ first brings satisfaction that lasts. ISAIAH 9:6 - When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowds cried out, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" (Mt 21:9). Later that same week, however, a mob called for His crucifixion (Mt 27:22). Few people recognized Him as the one Isaiah described as Wonderful (Isa 9:6). If there is anyone who deserves that name, it is Jesus. He is wonderful in His deity and in His selfless love that led Him from the shining glories of heaven into the darkness of this sin-cursed world. He is wonderful in His virgin birth, wonderful in His overcoming, sinless life of service, wonderful in His teachings, wonderful in His vicarious death, wonderful in His astounding resurrection, and wonderful in His ascended glory. THE VICTIM OF CALVARY BECAME THE VICTOR OF EASTER. Man Of Contrasts Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! — Matthew 21:9 Today's Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11 On that first Palm Sunday, one might have expected Jesus the King to enter Jerusalem on a mighty steed. But He chose instead a lowly donkey. Before He could come as a King to reign, He had to come as a Savior to die. Throughout His life on earth, Jesus was a man of striking contrasts—reflecting both His genuine humanity and His full deity. Someone once wrote this about Jesus: “He who is the Bread of Life began His ministry hungering. He who is the Water of Life ended His ministry thirsting. Christ hungered as a man, yet fed the hungry as God. He was weary, yet He is our rest. He paid tribute, yet He is the King. He was called a devil, but He cast out demons. He prayed, yet He hears prayer. He wept, and He dries our tears. He was sold for 30 pieces of silver, yet He redeems sinners. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd. He gave His life, and by dying He destroyed death.” We would expect to find such contrasts in the life of One who was fully God and fully man. Jesus, who is the sovereign Lord of the universe, became a man to provide for our redemption. But one day He will return as King of kings. From Hosanna to Crucify - (John 12:12-13). Sometimes I wonder how many of those who enthusiastically cried, "Hosanna!" on Palm Sunday were shouting, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" a few days later. People must have been disappointed, even resentful, that Christ didn't overthrow the Romans and set up an earthly kingdom. He had had a golden opportunity to rally support as He rode into Jerusalem. In contrast to His earlier actions, He didn't try to dampen this jubilant demonstration. Yet neither did he capitalize on the fervor of the crowd and issue a call to arms. Those who longed only for release from foreign domination were disillusioned. The Messiah had not fulfilled their expectations. Jesus' contemporaries failed to recognize that before He could assert His outward sovereignty, He had to rule the inner citadel of their hearts. The Jews' greatest need was not freedom from Caesar's legions but release from the chains of their own sin. Jesus would rule in power and glory one day, but first He had to pay sin's penalty on the cross. The key to His kingdom was not revolution but repentance. Putting Christ first brings satisfaction that lasts. Who Is This? Read: Luke 19:28-40 Blessed is [He] who comes in the name of the Lord! —Luke 19:38 Imagine standing shoulder to shoulder with onlookers by a dirt road. The woman behind you is on her tiptoes, trying to see who is coming. In the distance, you glimpse a man riding a donkey. As He approaches, people toss their coats onto the road. Suddenly, you hear a tree crack behind you. A man is cutting down palm branches, and people are spreading them out ahead of the donkey. Jesus’ followers zealously honored Him as He entered Jerusalem a few days before His crucifixion. The multitude rejoiced and praised God for “all the mighty works they had seen” (Luke 19:37). Jesus’ devotees surrounded Him, calling out, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (v.38). Their enthusiastic honor affected the people of Jerusalem. When Jesus finally arrived, “all the city was moved, saying, ‘Who is this?’” (Matt. 21:10). Today, people are still curious about Jesus. Although we can’t pave His way with palm branches or shout praises to Him in person, we can still honor Him. We can discuss His remarkable works, assist people in need (Gal. 6:2), patiently bear insults (1 Peter 4:14-16), and love each other deeply (v.8). Then we must be ready to answer the onlookers who ask, “Who is Jesus?” So let our lips and lives express The holy gospel we profess; So let our works and virtues shine, To prove the doctrine all divine. —Watts We honor God’s name when we call Him our Father and live like His Son. Mark 11:10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!" the kingdom: Isa 9:6,7 Jer 33:15-17,26 Eze 34:23,24 37:24,25 Ho 3:5 Am 9:11,12 Lu 1:31-33 in the: Ps 148:1 Lu 2:14 19:38-40 Mark 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 21:9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!” 10 When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” Luke 19:37+ As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, 38 shouting: “BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” (Related Topic - What does it mean that “the rocks will cry out”) John 12:13 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. Psalm 118:25; 26 O LORD, do save (Imperative - Hebrew = hoshi`ah nna = "Hosanna"), we beseech You; O LORD, we beseech You, do send prosperity! 26 Blessed is the one (ESV, NIV = "he") who comes in the name of the LORD; We have blessed you from the house of the LORD. HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David - As noted in the chart above, although Matthew has the Messianic title the Son of David; only Mark records this phrase Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David. What coming kingdom? The Jews are speaking of the Messianic Kingdom but do not realize that first comes the cross and then comes the crown of the King of that future kingdom. Hiebert adds that the cry recorded by Mark is "not an Old Testament quotation but their own acknowledgment of Jesus as the fulfiller of prophecy. It was a strictly messianic tribute." Further, the phrase coming kingdom is "the present tense participle which represents the coming kingdom as already on its way and drawing nearer. It is no longer in a postponed and indefinite future, but in sight." (Hiebert) Hosanna in the highest - Mark alone repeats these great words. Hiebert says "not in the highest degree but in the highest places, the very heavens themselves. Matthew recorded the impression made on the city (Mt 21:10–11); John noted that the scene evoked a feeling of despair among the Pharisees (12:19), while Luke spoke of their vain attempt to have Jesus silence the crowd (Lk 19:39–40+). Luke completed the picture by preserving the startling lament of Jesus over Jerusalem as He approached the city (Lk 19:41–44+). Mark omitted all this to fasten his attention on Jesus entering the temple." Danny Akin writes that "2 Samuel 7:12-16 is being fulfilled! And it was! − Isaiah 9:1-7 is being fulfilled! And it was! − Isaiah 11:1-10 is being fulfilled! And it was! − Jeremiah 23:5-8 is being fulfilled! And it was! − Ezekiel 34:23-24 is being fulfilled! And it was! − Micah 5:2-4 is being fulfilled! And it was! − Oh, but it was not being fulfilled in the way they thought, hoped, and believed it would be. They are right, He is their King. But He is not here to purge Israel of foreign domination. No, he is here to purge His people of their sin! They are looking and longing for a temporal, political and military Savior. He, however, is bringing what only He can bring, a complete and eternal salvation of body and soul! They want and expect a Savior only for Jews, but He is a Savior for the whole world, for any and all who will believe on His Name. John 1:12 says it so well, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God …” John 3:16 says it so well, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should 10 not perish but have eternal life.” John 14:6 says it so well, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, No one comes to the Father except through me.” Acts 4:12 says it so well, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 1 Timothy 2:5 says it so well, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus …” Christ’s salvation and triumph would be the victory of life over death, salvation over sin, truth over error, love over hate, forgiveness over condemnation. They cried out for salvation that day. Have you cried to Him to save you? He is the only one who can. Hosanna (5164)(Hosanna - this is a lengthy discussion of "Hosanna") is a transliteration not a translation of a Hebrew phrase composed of two Hebrew words (hoshiya + na' - spelling varies depending on resource consulted) used only once in Ps 118:25 See below). The meaning of the original Hebrew phrase is something like "Please save!," "Help, I pray," "Save now," or "Save now, I pray!" (the exact wording depends on source consulted). As John
Marcos 11
Barclay - we know from the Jewish law that Bethphage was one of the circle of villages which marked the limit of a Sabbath day’s journey, that is, less than a mile, while Bethany was one of the recognized lodging places for pilgrims to the Passover when Jerusalem was full. Alan Carr: Historians tell us that the population of Jerusalem was around 80,000 at this time. During the Passover, between two and three million people would crowd into the city for the celebration. The people came in anticipation; they were looking for God to do something while they were there. God would do His greatest work of all during this Passover, but most people would miss it altogether.
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Barclay - The prophets of Israel had always had a very distinctive method of getting their message across. When words failed to move people they did something dramatic, as if to say, ‘If you will not hear, you must be compelled to see’ (cf. specially 1 Kings 11:30–2). These dramatic actions were what we might call acted warnings or dramatic sermons. That method was what Jesus was employing here. His action was a deliberate dramatic claim to be the Messiah. (Mark 11 Commentary) And immediately (euthus) as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat - Immediately...you will find means they will not need to search but will know that this colt is the colt. Literally "a colt tied there on which no one of men has ever sat." How did Jesus know there would be a colt tied? This is clearly a reflection of the exercise of His omniscience. As an aside, have you ever ridden a horse? I have been thrown off one horse into a patch of prickly pears! Not fun! Here Jesus directs the disciples to an unridden (and unbroken) colt. The Creator of the colt would have no difficulty riding on it even though it had never been ridden! The creature would obey its Creator.
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Barclay - The whole picture is of a people who misunderstood. It shows us a crowd of people thinking of kingship in the terms of conquest in which they had thought of it for so long. It is oddly reminiscent of how Simon Maccabaeus entered Jerusalem 150 years before, after he had blasted Israel’s enemies in battle. ‘On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the one hundred and seventy-first year, the Jews entered it with praise and palm branches, and with harps, and cymbals, and stringed instruments, and with hymns and songs, because a great enemy had been crushed and removed from Israel’ (1 Maccabees 13:51). It was a conqueror’s welcome they sought to give to Jesus, but they never dreamed of the kind of conqueror he wished to be. (Mark 11 Commentary) And many spread their coats (himation) in the road - See the OT parallel above in 2 Ki 9:13. Hiebert says they spread their coats because they recognized that "the entry as messianic. They spread their outer robes in the dusty road to carpet the way for Him." Ponder their actions for a moment -- these were not rich people casting their coates in the road and in fact undoubtedly for many this was their only coat. For such a garment to be trodden under foot by a hoofed animal would undoubtedly produce significant damage so that it might be unwearable. Their willingness to risk such a great loss reflected the honor they were seeking to bestow on Jesus Who they thought was their coming King. Brian Bell - He rode up the ridge to where the road starts down the Mount of Olives. Fresh pilgrims from Bethany & Bethphage have joined Him & the procession grows. When they reached that spot they caught a glimpse of the southeastern corner of the city. With its magnificent terraces & imposing towers, they broke into loud Eastern praise. These were Hebrews on Holiday!
Marcos 11
Barclay notes that "The Temple area covered the top of Mount Zion and was about thirty acres in extent. It was surrounded by great walls which varied on each side, 1,300 to 1,000 feet in length. There was a wide outer space called the Court of the Gentiles. Into it anyone, Jew or Gentile, might come. At the inner edge of the Court of the Gentiles was a low wall with tablets set into it which said that if a Gentile passed that point the penalty was death. The next court was called the Court of the Women. It was so called because unless women had come actually to offer sacrifice they might not proceed further. Next was the Court of the Israelites. In it the congregation gathered on great occasions, and from it the offerings were handed by the worshippers to the priests. The inmost court was the Court of the Priests. The other important word is naos, which means the Temple proper, and it was in the Court of the Priests that the Temple stood. The whole area, including all the different Courts, was the sacred precincts (hieron). The special building within the Court of the Priests was the Temple (naos). This incident took place in the Court of the Gentiles. Bit by bit the Court of the Gentiles had become almost entirely secularized. It had been meant to be a place of prayer and preparation, but there was in the time of Jesus a commercialized atmosphere of buying and selling which made prayer and meditation impossible. What made it worse was that the business which went on there was sheer exploitation of the pilgrims." (Mark 11 Commentary) Jesus entering the Temple is fascinating. Here is the King of Glory entered into the very place from which His Glory had departed over 500 years earlier, just prior to the destruction of the First (Solomon's) Temple in 586 BC by the Babylonians and King Nebuchadnezzar (See Table depicting His progressive departure from the Temple; See Scriptural explanation of this stepwise departure). Recall that John described Jesus as "the Word" (John 1:1+ - His Divinity) Who "became flesh (His Humanity), and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14+) So for a brief moment in time, the Glory of the LORD had returned to His Holy Habitation, the Temple! But just as in Ezekiel's day when there was corruption and idolatry and failure to recognize Jehovah which led to His departure, so too again religious corruption and rejection will lead to His departure. But praise God, His departure from the Temple is not permanent for He promised He would return (Hebrews 9:27-28+) Matthew says that at Messiah's Second Advent "then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory." (Mt 24:30+). In the meantime, the King is delaying His return Peter recording that "The Lord is not slow about His promise (TO RETURN), as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9+) and as the New Living Translation puts it "And remember, the Lord's patience gives people time to be saved. Th (2Pe 3:15NLT+) Eastern Gate Sealed Shut Remember on His entry into the city the crowds have (in effect) crowned Jesus as King of the Jews, so His entrance into the Temple grounds will constitute His first "official act" as it were as their King. In truth from Mark 11:11-12 this event actually occurs the say after the Triumphal Entry. You can imagine the anticipation of the Jews as they watched Him enter the Temple, undoubtedly expecting their conquering King to head straight for the Antonia Fortress (depicted in the right upper corner of the diagram above) which housed the Roman soldiers. Instead, to their shock and dismay, He directly confronts the religious corruption taking place in the Court of the Gentiles! This reminds me of Peter's warning that "it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17). Where would Jesus go first if He came to America? To Washington? To Wall Street? No, He would go directly to the churches that claim His Name!
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Barclay - In point of fact the Temple court provided a short cut from the eastern part of the city to the Mount of Olives. The Mishnah itself lays down, ‘A man may not enter into the Temple mount with his staff or his sandal or his wallet, or with the dust upon his feet, nor may he make of it a short by-path.’ Jesus was reminding the Jews of their own laws. In his time, Jews thought so little of the sanctity of the outer court of the Temple that they used it as a thoroughfare on their business errands. (Mark 11 Commentary)
Marcos 11
Barclay - Jesus used a vivid metaphor to describe the Temple court. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was notorious for its robbers. It was a narrow winding road, passing between rocky gorges. Among the rocks were caves where the brigands lay in wait, and Jesus said, ‘There are worse brigands in the Temple courts than ever there are in the caves of the Jericho road.’ (Mark 11 Commentary) Brian Bell on robber's den - A place where thieves hide after they’ve committed their crimes. The Jews were using the temple ceremonies to cover up their secret sins. The Temple can only give sanctuary AS a Sanctuary.” (Derek Kidner) When man takes over…God leaves. Note the Digression: Mt 21:13 (My house) My house shall be called a house of prayer, Mt 23:38 (your house) See! Your house is left to you desolate. Mt 24:2 (No house) Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down. My house, Your house, No house. Robbers (3027)(lestes) from lizoma = to plunder, seize) means one who steals openly and by violence in contrast to kleptes which denotes one who steals by stealth. A robber, highwayman, bandit (Mt 27:38; Mk 11:17; 15:27; Lk 10:30, 36; J 10:1, 8; 2 Cor 11:26). A revolutionary, insurrectionist, one who favors the use of force (Jn 18:40). Figuratively lestes speaks of unscrupulous, greedy, or overambitious leaders (Jn 10.8) Zodhiates - Judas was a thief (kleptes [John 12:6]) doing no violence to anyone. He stole secretly. Barabbas was a robber (lēstés [Jn 18:40 {cf. Mk 15:7}]). Palestine was infested by robbers to whom its walks and caves afforded a great deal of cover and shelter (cf. Jdg. 9:25; Hos. 6:9; 7:1), hence, the expression "den of robbers" (Jer. 7:11; Mt. 21:13). The temple became a haunt of robbers. The dealers in the temple market were notorious for their extortion, but it gave them fancied security in their evildoing. It is probable that some of these robbers were really zealots in rebellion against the authority of Rome, so that there was an element of misplaced patriotism and even religion in their proceedings. Josephus identified robbers with zealots. (The Complete Word Study Dictionary – New Testament) Den (4693)(spelaion from speos = a cave; Eng - speleology, spelunker) means a cave (Jn 11:38 - demon possessed man's haunt), a den as used by robbers for hiding away from justice and for storing their loot. Figuratively spelaion is used here of the misuse and abuse of the Temple privileges by the dishonest priesthood - a den of robbers (Mt 21:13 Mk 11:17 Lk 19:46). They were hiding out as it were in full view of God and man! But the God-man soon remedied that ruse! Describes the place Lot took refuge from God's wrath on Sodom and where the daughters committed incest with him (Ge 19:30). The cave of Machpelah was the Abraham's burial site of his wife Sarah (Ge 23:19), later the place of Abraham's burial (Ge 25:9-10) and Jacob (Ge 49:29-30, 50:13). At the time of the Seal Judgments in Revelation 6 we read "Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains." (Rev 6:15+) Spelaion - 6x in 6v - cave(1), caves(2), den(3). Matt. 21:13; Mk. 11:17; Lk. 19:46; Jn. 11:38; Heb. 11:38; Rev. 6:15 John Blanchard applies Jesus' actions to our life today asking "Do you have a genuine concern for the glory of God and courage in facing opposition and countering evil in today’s society?" Kistemaker - The lessons taught by this cleansing of the temple can be summarized as follows: a. Jesus punished degradation of religion and insisted on reverence. b. He rebuked fraud, in the present connection especially "religious" (?) racketeering, and demanded honesty. c. By declaring that the temple must be a house of prayer for all the nations, he gave his endorsement to the wonderful cause of Christian missions. Cf. I Kings 8:41-43; Matt. 28:19. d. By means of all this he glorified his heavenly Father. Was not the temple his Father's house? (Ibid) ILLUSTRATION - Jesse James killed a fellow in a bank robbery and shortly thereafter was baptized in the Kearney Baptist Church. Then he killed another man, a bank cashier, and joined the church choir and taught hymn-singing. He liked Sundays, Jesse did, but he couldn't always show up at church…on 2 Sundays, he robbed trains. Do we as church members flee to church on Sundays in an attempt to cover up our sins? Do we “go to church” in order to maintain our reputation, or to worship & glorify God? If Jesus showed up today in our church what changes would he make? If Jesus showed up today in our personal temple(body) what changes would he make? The House of Prayer Thy mansion is the Christian’s heart, O Lord, Thy dwelling-place secure! Bid the unruly throng depart, And leave the consecrated door. Devoted as it is to Thee, A thievish swarm frequents the place; They steal away my joys from me, And rob my Saviour of His praise. There, too, a sharp designing trade Sin, Satan, and the World maintain; Nor cease to press me, and persuade To part with ease, and purchase pain. I know them, and I hate their din; Am weary of the bustling crowd; But while their voice is heard within, I cannot serve Thee as I would. Oh! for the joy Thy presence gives, What peace shall reign when Thou art there; Thy presence makes this den of thieves A calm delightful house of prayer. And if Thou make Thy temple shine, Yet, self-abased, will I adore: The gold and silver are not mine; I give Thee what was Thine before. Olney Hymns, by William Cowper Related Resource: How many times did Jesus cleanse the temple? Why did He cleanse the temple? Mark 11:17 My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. The Lord wants us to pray for all nations, and for kings and for all in authority. We can exercise knee-based influence over leaders whom we may never meet. Here's an example: Prince Edward VII of England was well known for his drinking and immorality. When his mother, Queen Victoria, died in 1901, Edward assumed the throne at age fifty-nine and reigned for nine years. In 1910, a prayer warrior named Joe Evans was vacationing in the New York mountains, away from newspapers and interruptions. One morning he felt a burden to intercede for Edward, and the burden became so intense he anguished in prayer for the king's conversion. The following day came the news, "Edward is dead." Years later, Joe shared dinner with Dr. J. Gregory Mantle of England. Dr. Mantle said, "Joe, did you know that Edward VII was saved on his deathbed?" He went on to explain: "The king was in France when he was taken ill. He was brought to England and there was hope that he might recover. However, there came a turn for the worse. At that time, His Majesty called one of his lords-in-waiting and ordered him to go to Paternoster Row and secure for him a copy of a tract that his mother, Queen Victoria, had given to him when he was a lad. It was entitled "The Sinner's Friend." After much searching, the lord-in-waiting found the tract, brought it to His Majesty, and upon reading it, King Edward VII made earnest repentance and received the Lord Jesus as his Savior." (My All in All - Robert J Morgan) A TEMPLE FIT FOR A KING - Joseph Stowell FLEE FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY. . . . DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? . . . THEREFORE HONOR GOD WITH YOUR BODY. —1 Corinthians 6:18–20 Living in a sensual culture places the follower of Christ in tension with an increasingly seductive environment. From the subtle erosion of moral sensitivities by a constant dose of the “soaps,” to advertisements that push the edges of what is acceptable to sell their products, to the blatant availability of pornography, our generation faces a continual barrage that threatens the very definitions of what is right and wrong. For this we are paying dearly in changed attitudes and the destruction of safe and sane moral boundaries. Even more important, God’s Word notes that when our desires are fulfilled through illegitimate means, we defile the temple of God. That’s a heavy charge. When the moneychangers defiled the temple in Christ’s day, He turned over their tables and, with a whip, expelled them from the temple. God does not take lightly the defilement of His home. In explaining His actions, Jesus said that His house was intended to be a place of prayer, not a place of sordid gain (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46). Think of the offense to our Lord when our bodies—His home—are used for sinful pleasure. What, then, shall we do? We must stand as priests at the gates of our temples to guard against the intrusion of moral defilement. It is our responsibility as royal priests to guard the threshold of our eyes, our ears, our minds, our hands, and our total bodies. Our motive for refusing the defiling input of our world is not simply because someone told us it was bad. We remain pure because we love God enough to guard against anything that would desecrate His dwelling place. My guess is that if we all wore signs that said, “God Lives Here,” we would behave differently and would allow far less impurity to seep into His temple. Is there a guard who is off duty at one of the entrances to the temple of your life? Preparation of the Father's House - Henry Morris "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" (Mark 11:17). As we compare the corresponding days of creation week and redemption week, we must note that the chronology of the latter has been the subject of much disagreement among authorities. Although some details are uncertain, we can at least consider this possible additional dimension to the understanding and harmony of the two weeks. Having created and activated the earth on the first day, God next provided for it a marvelous atmosphere and hydrosphere in which, later, would live the birds and fishes. No other planet is equipped with air and water in such abundance; the earth was uniquely planned for life! The hydrosphere, on the second day, was further divided into waters below and waters above "the firmament" (Hebrew raqia, "stretched-out space"). The waters above the firmament probably consisted of a vast blanket of transparent water vapor, maintaining a perfect climate worldwide, with ideal conditions for longevity. Paralleling the primeval provision of life-sustaining air and water, on day two of redemption week, the Lord entered again into the city (having spent the night in Bethany) and into the temple, which He had called His Father's house (John 2:16). As He approached the city, He cursed the barren fig tree (Mark 11:12-14) and then, in the temple, overthrew the tables of the moneychangers (Mark 11:15-19). Both actions—the cursing of the fig tree and the cleansing of the temple—symbolize the purging of that which is barren or corrupt in the Creator's kingdom. He had created a world prepared for life (air for the breath of life and water as the matrix of life), but mankind, even the very teachers of His chosen people, had made it unfruitful and impure. As physical life must first have a world of pure air and water, so the preparations for a world of true spiritual life require the purifying breath of the Spirit and the cleansing water of the Word, preparing for the true fruit of the Spirit and the true temple of God's presence, in the age to come. (Days to Remember) Pure Worship My house will be called a house of prayer. Mark 11:17 Today's Scripture & Insight: Mark 11:15–18 Jose pastored a church known for its programs and theatrical productions. They were well done, yet he worried the church’s busyness had slipped into a business. Was the church growing for the right reasons or because of its activities? Jose wanted to find out, so he canceled all extra church events for one year. His congregation would focus on being a living temple where people worshiped God. Jose’s decision seems extreme, until you notice what Jesus did when He entered the temple’s outer courts. The holy space that should have been full of simple prayers had become a flurry of worship business. “Get your doves here! Lily white, as God requires!” Jesus overturned the merchant’s tables and stopped those who bought their merchandise. Furious at what they were doing, He quoted Isaiah 56 and Jeremiah 7: “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.’ But you have made it ‘a den of robbers’” (Mark 11:17). The court of the gentiles, the place for outsiders to worship God, had been turned into a mundane marketplace for making money. There’s nothing wrong with business or staying busy. But that’s not the point of church. We’re the living temple of God, and our main task is to worship Jesus. We likely won’t need to flip over any tables as Jesus did, but He may be calling us to do something equally drastic. By: Mike Wittmer Why do you attend church and meet with believers? What expectations of yours might you need to let the Spirit change? Father, show us where our expectations of worship fail to please You. Help us see that it’s all about You. Mark 11:18 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. and: Mk 3:6 12:12 14:1,2 Isa 49:7 Mt 21:15,38,39,45,46 26:3,4 Lu 19:47 Joh 11:53-57 feared: Mk 11:32 6:20 1Ki 18:17,18 21:20 22:8,18 Mt 21:46 Ac 24:25 Rev 11:5-10 astonished: Mk 1:22 Mt 7:28 Lu 4:22 Joh 7:46 Mark 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JESUS' SCATHING TEACHING SEALS HIS FATE Jesus' teaching may have been scathing, but it was faithful to the Word and without a hint of compromise of the Truth! Ours should be the same. The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him - Luke adds they "were trying to destroy Him." Daily they sought to destroy Him even as he daily taught. What an example of focus - only a few days to live and even be attacked in the interim, all the while staying focused on the most important thing in all eternity - teaching and preaching the Way of God in truth (Mt 22:16)! The actual cleansing had not been the catalyst for their hatred but now His teaching set them off. What bitter irony -- Jesus is giving out the Word of Life and the "religious" folks are seeking to take His life! Beware, dear faithful follower of Christ that often the most pointed, painful attack at Christ in you will come from those WITHIN the established church! Do not be surprised (cf "there will also be false teachers AMONG you" = 2 Pe 2:1+ and "savage wolves will come in AMONG you" = Acts 20:28-30+, cf Jude 1:4+) Akin - It was popularly believed that when the Messiah came He would cleanse and purge the temple of Gentiles. Instead, Jesus comes and clears and cleanses the temple for Gentiles. Israel‘s religious show with all its glitz, glitter and fan-fare was an empty embarrassment. Instead of bringing people into God‘s presence they hid and obscured it to such a degree that no one could find Him. Jesus said enough! Your charade is over. Jesus‘ protest caught the ear and attention of the Sanhedrin (see also Mk 11:27!) He had called them out and they did not appreciate it one bit. Little wonder that the religious elites wanted to destroy Him. And the stakes are now much higher. It was one thing for Jesus to tick off the country lay preachers called the Pharisees. It is something else to take on the chief priest and the powerful Sanhedrin. Galilee was like the minors. Jerusalem is the major leagues! A showdown is on the horizon. However, fear paralyzed them on this day. As for the crowds they were ―astonished‖, astounded, struck out of their senses, and not sure what to make of all this teaching. Jesus would, with sadness and grief, leave and go home to Bethany (Mk 11:19). Tomorrow would bring another day of teaching. He would press on. Paul Apple - Why did the religious leaders want to destroy Jesus? He exposed their Hypocrisy - Threat to their Popularity o More Powerful – look at his miracles o More Profound – look at his teaching – taught with authority Afraid – saw Jesus as a prophet of God – Matt. 22:46 - Threat to their Pocketbook – they had quite a nice racket going in the temple courts This event signed death warrant for Jesus. How fired up does Jesus get when confronted with hypocrisy? Just check out Matt. 23:1-39 and his indictment of the religious leaders of his day. Religious Hypocrisy takes many forms. But in all instances, Hypocrisy puts on an external mask to try to look like something it is not. It dresses itself up in the activities of religion – lots of prayers; lots of donating money; lots of quoting of bible verses; lots of acts of worship – like baptisms and observance of the Lord’s Supper; singing and listening to sermons – but no heart reality of genuine faith and no submission to the authority of the Lord. Instead, there is an exchanging of the commandments of God for the traditions of the hypocritical religious leaders.