Mark 11:12–33

Let’s look at the following 2 passages as a pair of prophetic couplets. 

Couplet 1

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

• Typically, this text is taught as if it is about a literal fig tree.  It probably isn’t.  Rather, in all likelihood this is semi-poetic language about the temple & its leadership in particular & the fruit of their labor. 

• On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance the holy temple in leaf (at Passover) he went to see if he could find anything on & init. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 
• In other words, His lawsuit arrives the same way that the flood in Genesis arrived — unexpectedly, in the midst of marrying & (being) given in marriage. 
• 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
• As a whole, the text is telling us what Yeshua is about to do —- pass judgment on the temple & the activities of the Sanhedrin & others in relation to it, its purpose, & its meaning/significance in the life of God’s people, all in the light of God’s Law & Gospel. 

15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city.

• This is the court stenographer’s summary of that day’s activity.  He judges the activity in & around the temple — its gluttony, its hypocrisy, & works righteousness everywhere. 

Couplet 2

20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

• As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 
• The good news is that the roots of the temple are still intact.  All is not lost. 
• 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 
• This work was done in the presence of many witnesses.  Peter represents himself & those witnesses.   There are still discerning people in the land. 
• 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 
• The mountain is the Temple Mount itself.  It represents itself, the religious systems it represents (both the good & the bad) & the systems of repression & oppression as well as the need for reformation in the land & the presence of a community and reform minded people (not just the Villians in the story).
• “Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for . 
• These words are a charge & a promise to Peter, those there gathered, & to the authors’ readers.   

• 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 
• These words communicate faith & certainty, especially in view of suffering & oppression. 
• 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
• Don’t be a hypocrite.  Remember, Yeshua’s main foils in Mark & the other Gospels is generally the Sanhedrin & their analogous.  

27 And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, 28 and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” 29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” 31 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

• This text presents us with the antithesis of Mark 11:20 - 24.
• Yeshua is a major league prophet, & the Sanhedrin knows it. 
• Instead of welcoming Him & taking His words to heart like they should have done, they challenge His authority as if they didn’t know the answer to their question. 
• Instead of answering Him with wisdom, certainty, & discernment, they give in to their fear of the people & feign ignorance. 
• Considered as a species of prayer (after all Yeshua is theandric), the LORD hears their words & renders His judgment.  They reap what they sowed.