Mark 11:11-26

Mark 11:11-26

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area.

He looked around at everything and, since it was already late,

went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry.

Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf,

he went over to see if he could find anything on it.

When he reached it he found nothing but leaves;

it was not the time for figs.

And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!”

And his disciples heard it.

They came to Jerusalem,

and on entering the temple area

he began to drive out those selling and buying there.

He overturned the tables of the money changers

and the seats of those who were selling doves.

He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.

Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written:

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?

But you have made it a den of thieves.”

The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it

and were seeking a way to put him to death,

yet they feared him

because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.

When evening came, they went out of the city.

Early in the morning, as they were walking along,

they saw the fig tree withered to its roots.

Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look!

The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”

Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God.

Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,

‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’

and does not doubt in his heart

but believes that what he says will happen,

it shall be done for him.

Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer,

believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.

When you stand to pray,

forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance,

so that your heavenly Father may in turn

forgive you your transgressions.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, cleanse the temple of my heart of all that is fruitless and unworthy of Your holiness. Grant me steadfast faith that I may bear good fruit, trust in your power, and forgive others from my heart.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Fulfillment of Malachi’s Prophecy: Mark began his Gospel speaking about “the way of the Lord” (Mark 1:2-3). And, in today’s Gospel, we see where the “way of Jesus” leads: to Jerusalem and its Temple. The fulfillment of God’s plan awaits Jesus in Jerusalem. The fulfillment of a prophecy from Malachi is also in the background: “Now I am sending my messenger – he will prepare the way before me; And the Lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple” (Malachi 3:1). Jesus entered suddenly into the Temple and looked around, and judged what he saw. Malachi asks, “But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand firm when he appears? … He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the Levites, refining them like gold or silver, that they may bring offerings to the Lord in righteousness” (Malachi 3:2-3).

2. The Real-Life Parable of the Fig Tree: Surrounding the story of the cleansing and purification of the Temple is the story of the fig tree. As Jesus walked to Jerusalem from Bethany on Monday morning, he was hungry and looked to a fig tree to satisfy his hunger, only to find it fruitless. It was April, and it was not the time for figs. Figs begin to appear in June in Palestine. Jesus cursed the fig tree because of its fruitlessness. Jesus’ parables usually contain a twist or something odd. And this is the case here. Jesus wasn’t giving in to anger, but doing something to help his disciples understand the Scriptures. In the prophets, Israel is often symbolized by figs or a fig tree (Jeremiah 24:1-8; 29:17; Hosea 9:10; Joel 1:7). “Jesus’ search for ripe figs recalls God’s desire to find in Israel the fruit of righteousness and covenant fidelity, and his grief at not finding it: ‘Alas! … There is no cluster to eat, no early fig that I crave’ (Micah 7:1). The withering of a fig tree is a symbol of God’s judgment against Israel and the temple for the idolatry and injustices perpetrated there (Joel 1:7-12; see Jeremiah 8:13; Hosea 2:14). Moreover, in Mark, fruitfulness is an image for responding to Jesus in faith (see Mark 4:1-20); 12:1-12). The tree’s lack of fruit thus signifies the absence of faith and prayer that Jesus finds in the temple (11:17-18). Now, at the time of visitation by her Messiah and Lord (Luke 19:14), the temple and its leadership are devoid of the spiritual fruit that God desires (Healy, The Gospel of Mark, 225). 

3. A New Tree and Temple: By prophetically cursing the fig tree, Jesus is signaling that Israel’s temple worship and sacrifices, with all their earthly splendor, are drawing to an end. Just as the fig tree came to an end, and was withered to its roots, so also the temple will come to an end, “There will not be one stone left upon another” (Mark 13:2). “Noticing the fig tree withered to its roots, Peter marvels at the effect of Jesus’ pronouncement the previous day (v. 14). The tree is not only fruitless, but completely dead. Another, more fruitful tree must take its place. Perhaps in the background is Ezekiel’s vision of the new temple, from which flowed a river with trees along its banks, bearing fruit all year round (Ezekiel 47:1-12; see Mark 11:13). In the new temple, established by Jesus, the Sacraments of the Church will provide nourishment and healing all year round (see Revelation 22:2).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you entered Jerusalem as the holy King and called your Father’s house a house of prayer. Teach me to remain united to you, fruitful in charity, unwavering in faith, and merciful toward all who have wronged me.

Living the Word of God: Is my life truly bearing spiritual fruit? Is my relationship with God rooted in prayer, faith, and forgiveness rather than outward appearances alone? How do I need to purify the temple of my heart this week of any bad, sinful habits?