And when even was come, he went out of the city. Of Jerusalem, as he did the evening before, and for the same reasons: probably he went to Bethany, where he had lodged the last night, with Lazarus, Martha, and Mary; or to the Mount of Olives, where he sometimes spent the night in prayer: the Syriac version renders it, "they went out"; for Christ took his disciples with him, as is evident from the following verse. read more
And in the morning, as they passed by ,.... The fig tree; when they returned the next morning from Bethany, or the Mount of Olives, or the place, wherever it was, they had been that night: they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots ; they did not see it immediately wither as it did, nor could they see it, as they went from Jerusalem to this place, because it was then in the evening; but in the morning, as they came along, they observed it; not only that the tender branches and boughs... read more
And Peter, calling to remembrance ,.... Not so much the tree, and its spreading leaves, and the greatness of it, and the flourishing condition it was in, the other day, as the imprecation of Christ upon it: saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away ; which he observed, as matter of astonishment, and as an instance of Christ's surprising power and authority; See Gill on Matthew 21:20 . read more
And Jesus answering, saith unto them ,.... To all the disciples; for what Peter said, he said in the name of them all; and according to Matthew, the disciples said, "how soon is the fig tree withered away?" To which this is an answer; though the Arabic version renders it, "to him"; as if the words were directed particularly to Peter: have faith in God ; or "the faith of God", so the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions; that is, exercise, and make use of that faith which... read more
For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain ,.... The Mount of Olives, at, or near which they now were, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea ; that is, of Galilee, which was nearest, and yet many miles off: and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass ; not only as to removing a mountain, and casting it into the sea, but any thing equally difficult; he shall have whatsoever he saith :... read more
Therefore I say unto you ,.... For encouragement in prayer more particularly, without which nothing should be attempted, and especially which is above the power of nature, and is of a miraculous kind: whatsoever things ye desire when ye pray ; that is, according to the revealed will of God, is for the confirmation of his Gospel, and for the glory of his name: believe that ye receive them , and ye shall have them ; the petitions that are desired, and the things asked in them: that... read more
And when ye stand praying ,.... Are about to engage in that work, or are engaged in it, performing it in such a posture; for standing was an usual posture in praying; See Gill on Matthew 6:5 ; forgive, if ye have ought against any, that your Father also in heaven may forgive you your trespasses . The sense is, that if, while a man is praying, it comes into his mind that such an one has committed a trespass against him, has done him an injury, of which he has just reason to complain;... read more
But if ye do not forgive ,.... Freely and fully, such as have trespassed against you, remit the debts they owe, and pass by the offences and injuries done you, and put up with every affront and indignity: neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses ; that is, such persons do not appear to have any true, or right notions of forgiveness; nor is there any evidence that their hearts are duly affected, or truly impressed with a sense of it; nor can they, upon their own... read more
For the time of figs was not yet - Rather, For it was not the season of gathering figs yet. This I am fully persuaded is the true sense of this passage, ου γαρ ην καιρος συκων . For a proof that καιρος here signifies the time of gathering the figs, see the Lxx. in Psalm 1:3 . He bringeth forth his fruit, εν καιρω αυτου , in his season; i.e. in the time in which fruit should be ripe, and fit for gathering. See also Mark 12:2 ; : - And at the season, τῳ καιρῳ , the time of... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 11:18
And the Scribes and chief priests heard it ,.... The reproof he gave to the money changers, and buyers, and sellers in the temple; and his strict prohibition that none should carry any vessels through it; and the argument he used from the prophecy of Isaiah, and the sharp rebuke he gave for the profanation of the holy place: and sought how they might destroy him : they took counsel together to take away his life, for they hated reformation: for they feared him ; lest he should go on... read more