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Begin Section 1: Mark 11 Text & Questions

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Verses 1-11  Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

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1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples,

2saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

3If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

4They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it,

5some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”

6They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.

7When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.

8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.

9Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

 

“Hosanna!”

 

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

 

10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

 

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

 

11Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

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1)       What was Jesus destined to be, given that Jesus’ name that was given by God means ‘God saves’?

 

2)       What is the coming kingdom of David a reference to, given that the Jews were looking forward to the kingdom the Christ was going to restore to Israel?

 

3)       What was the honor accorded Jesus when the crowd shouted ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven’, given that the word ‘Hosanna’ means ‘save’ and conveys the notion of special honor to the one who saves?

 

4)       How was the crowd treating Jesus, given that the act of spreading cloaks and tree branches on the road was generally done for a king who was traveling?

 

5)       What did the crowd confirm concerning Jesus through the way they treated him, given that they thought Christ the king had come among them?

 

6)       What was the significance of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a colt that is a young donkey, given that a king would ride a horse to war?

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Verses 1-11  Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

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Verses 12-26  Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts

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12The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.

13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.

14Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

15On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,

16and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.

17And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

18The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

19When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

20In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.

21Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

22“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.

23“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.

24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

26

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7)       Did Jesus go to the fig tree for figs or something else, given that fig trees are common in Israel and that he knew it was not the season for figs?

 

8)       What did it mean for Jesus not to find any figs on the fig tree, given that a fig tree in the bible symbolizes Israel?

 

9)       What did it mean for the fig tree to be in leaf but bear no fruit, given that leaf is the appearance of religiosity?

 

10)   What was the ramification for Israel’s capacity to bless the world when Jesus pronounced his curse on the fig tree: ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again’?

 

11)   Why were people buying and selling in the temple area, given that people traveled long distances to Jerusalem to offer animal sacrifices?

 

12)   Why were there tables of money changers in the temple area, given that people who traveled to Jerusalem did not have the local currencies?

 

13)   Which temple area was occupied for these commercial activities, given that Jesus taught in verse 17 that the temple was meant to be a house of prayer for the Gentiles but they had made it ‘a den of robbers’?

 

14)   Why did Jesus say that they had made the temple a den of robbers, given that money changers charged for their service?

 

15)   In accordance with verses 15 and 16 what was the outcome of Jesus’ action in regard to the proper and sacred use of the temple?

 

16)   According to verse 18 who in the current chapter joined the rank of the Pharisees and the Herodians that wanted to kill Jesus?

 

17)   What was the cause of Jesus’ curse on Israel, given that corrupt temple practice is embedded within the incident of the curse on the fig tree and its withering?

 

18)   What did Jesus refer to when he mentioned ‘this mountain’ in verse 23, given that Jerusalem was built upon Mount Zion?

 

19)   What can a mountain symbolize in the bible?

 

20)   What did Jesus mean when he referred to Jerusalem as ‘this mountain’, given that the religious leaders had set themselves up in opposition to God with their corrupt temple practice?

 

21)   Is overcoming opposition to God intended when a person says to a mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea’?

 

22)   What is intended when a person says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ given that ‘this mountain’ refers to Jerusalem?

 

23)   In accordance with verses 23 and 24 what did Jesus advocate as the means to overcome Jerusalem’s opposition to God?

 

24)   In accordance with verses 23 and 24  how would prayer overcome Jerusalem’s opposition to God?

 

25)   Was prayer in verse 24 the means for getting what our heart desires or for overcoming Jerusalem’s opposition to God if we pay attention to continuity of context?

 

26)   Since he had already used the physical means to clear the temple, why did Jesus propose the spiritual means of prayer, given that the physical means only produced temporary result?

 

27)   In accordance with verse 25 what is the ramification for the granting of our prayer if we do not forgive others and therefore our Father in heaven does not forgive our sins?

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Verses 12-26  Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts

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Verses 27-33  The Authority of Jesus Questioned

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27They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him.

28“By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

29Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

30John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”

31They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’

32But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

33So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

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28)   Why did the religious leaders ask Jesus about the authority by which he cleared the temple and the party that gave him the authority, given that they controlled the operation of the temple?

 

29)   Did the religious leaders care whether John’s baptism was from heaven or of human origin if we judge from the way they formulated their reply to Jesus in verses 31 and 32?

 

30)   According to verse 33 did Jesus tell the religious leaders the authority by which he cleared the temple and why?

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Verses 27-33  The Authority of Jesus Questioned

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End Section 1: Mark 11 Text & Questions

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Begin Section 2: Mark 11 Questions & Answers

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Verses 1-11  Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

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Concerning Jesus coming to Jerusalem as king,

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1)       What was Jesus destined to be, given that Jesus’ name that was given by God means ‘God saves’?

o   Jesus was destined to be the savior.

o   Through whom

o   God saves his people.

 

2)       What is the coming kingdom of David a reference to, given that the Jews were looking forward to the kingdom the Christ was going to restore to Israel?

o   The coming kingdom of David is a reference to the kingdom.

o   That

o   The Christ was going to restore to Israel.

 

3)       What was the honor accorded Jesus when the crowd shouted ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven’, given that the word ‘Hosanna’ means ‘save’ and conveys the notion of special honor to the one who saves?

o   Jesus was accorded the highest honor of being the savior.

 

4)       How was the crowd treating Jesus, given that the act of spreading cloaks and tree branches on the road was generally done for a king who was traveling?

o   They were treating Jesus like a king.

 

5)       What did the crowd confirm concerning Jesus through the way they treated him, given that they thought Christ the king had come among them?

o   The crowd confirmed that Jesus is Christ the king.

 

6)       What was the significance of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a colt that is a young donkey, given that a king would ride a horse to war?

o   Jesus as Christ the king entered Jerusalem in peace.

o   When

o   He rode on

§  A donkey.

§  Instead of a horse.

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Verses 1-11  Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

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Verses 12-26  Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts

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Concerning Jesus cursing a fig tree,

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7)       Did Jesus go to the fig tree for figs or something else, given that fig trees are common in Israel and that he knew it was not the season for figs?

o   Jesus was using the fig tree to teach a lesson.

 

8)       What did it mean for Jesus not to find any figs on the fig tree, given that a fig tree in the bible symbolizes Israel?

o   It meant that Israel failed to bear fruit for God.

 

9)       What did it mean for the fig tree to be in leaf but bear no fruit, given that leaf is the appearance of religiosity?

o   It meant that Israel

§  Had the appearance of religiosity.

§  But came up empty before God.

 

10)   What was the ramification for Israel’s capacity to bless the world when Jesus pronounced his curse on the fig tree: ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again’?

o   Israel ceased having the capacity to bless the world.

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Concerning Jesus clearing the temple,

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11)   Why were people buying and selling in the temple area, given that people traveled long distances to Jerusalem to offer animal sacrifices?

o   People

§  Did not want to bring animals along.

§  And preferred to purchase animals in Jerusalem.

 

12)   Why were there tables of money changers in the temple area, given that people who traveled to Jerusalem did not have the local currencies?

o   Money changers offered the exchange service.

 

13)   Which temple area was occupied for these commercial activities, given that Jesus taught in verse 17 that the temple was meant to be a house of prayer for the Gentiles but they had made it ‘a den of robbers’?

o   The outermost temple area that was the court of the Gentiles was occupied.

 

14)   Why did Jesus say that they had made the temple a den of robbers, given that money changers charged for their service?

o   It was because money changers charged exorbitant rates for their service.

 

15)   In accordance with verses 15 and 16 what was the outcome of Jesus’ action in regard to the proper and sacred use of the temple?

o   Jesus returned the temple to its proper and sacred use.

 

16)   According to verse 18 who in the current chapter joined the rank of the Pharisees and the Herodians that wanted to kill Jesus?

o   The chief priests and the teachers of the law did.

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Concerning the withered fig tree,

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17)   What was the cause of Jesus’ curse on Israel, given that corrupt temple practice is embedded within the incident of the curse on the fig tree and its withering?

o   Corrupt temple practice was the cause of Jesus’ curse on Israel.

 

18)   What did Jesus refer to when he mentioned ‘this mountain’ in verse 23, given that Jerusalem was built upon Mount Zion?

o   Jesus was referring to Jerusalem.

 

19)   What can a mountain symbolize in the bible?

o   In the bible human opposition to God can be symbolically depicted as a mountain. 

o   For instance the Babylonian Empire that

§  Destroyed Jerusalem.

§  And sent Jerusalem into exile.

o   More than five hundred years before Jesus’ time.

o   Is called the destroying mountain.

o   Even though

o   Babylon was built on a plain (Jeremiah 51:24-25). 

 

20)   What did Jesus mean when he referred to Jerusalem as ‘this mountain’, given that the religious leaders had set themselves up in opposition to God with their corrupt temple practice?

o   Jerusalem was symbolically the mountain that was in opposition to God.

 

21)   Is overcoming opposition to God intended when a person says to a mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea’?

o   Yes.

 

22)   What is intended when a person says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ given that ‘this mountain’ refers to Jerusalem?

o   It is intended to overcome Jerusalem’s opposition to God.

 

23)   In accordance with verses 23 and 24 what did Jesus advocate as the means to overcome Jerusalem’s opposition to God?

o   Jesus advocated prayer as the means to overcome Jerusalem’s opposition to God.

 

24)   In accordance with verses 23 and 24  how would prayer overcome Jerusalem’s opposition to God?

o   Have faith that the prayer request to overcome Jerusalem’s opposition to God would become reality.

o   Then it will be done.

 

25)   Was prayer in verse 24 the means for getting what our heart desires or for overcoming Jerusalem’s opposition to God if we pay attention to continuity of context?

o   Prayer was the means for overcoming Jerusalem’s opposition to God.

 

26)   Since he had already used the physical means to clear the temple, why did Jesus propose the spiritual means of prayer, given that the physical means only produced temporary result?

o   Jesus proposed the spiritual means of prayer for result that lasts. 

 

27)   In accordance with verse 25 what is the ramification for the granting of our prayer if we do not forgive others and therefore our Father in heaven does not forgive our sins?

o   Our prayer would not be granted.

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Verses 12-26  Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts

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Verses 27-33  The Authority of Jesus Questioned

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Concerning the authority of Jesus questioned,

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28)   Why did the religious leaders ask Jesus about the authority by which he cleared the temple and the party that gave him the authority, given that they controlled the operation of the temple?

o   It is because Jesus was infringing upon their authority. 

 

29)   Did the religious leaders care whether John’s baptism was from heaven or of human origin if we judge from the way they formulated their reply to Jesus in verses 31 and 32?

o   No, they could care less.

o   Where

o   It was from.

 

30)   According to verse 33 did Jesus tell the religious leaders the authority by which he cleared the temple and why?

o   No, because they were unable to answer Jesus’ question of whether John’s baptism was

§  From heaven.

§  Or of human origin.

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Verses 27-33  The Authority of Jesus Questioned

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End Section 2: Mark 11 Questions & Answers

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