Mark 11:20

And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. AND IN THE MORNING - of Tuesday, the third day of the week: He had slept, as during all this week, at Bethany. AS THEY PASSED BY (GOING INTO JERUSALEM AGAIN), THEY SAW THE FIG TREE DRIED UP FROM THE ROOTS - no partial blight, leaving life in the root; but it was now dead, root and branch. In , it is said it withered away as soon as it was cursed. But the full blight had not appeared probably at once; and in the dusk perhaps, as they returned to Bethany, they had not observed it. The precision with which Mark distinguishes the days is not observed by Matthew, intent only on holding up the truths which the incident was designed to teach. In Matthew the whole is represented as taking place at once, just as the two stages of Jairus' daughter-dyi...

19-26 The disciples could not think why that fig-tree should so soon wither away; but all wither who reject Christ; it represented the state of the Jewish church. We should rest in no religion that does not make us fruitful in good works. Christ taught them from hence to pray in faith. It may be applied to that mighty faith with which all true Christians are endued, and which does wonders in spiritual things. It justifies us, and so removes mountains of guilt, never to rise up in judgment against us. It purifies the heart, and so removes mountains of corruption, and makes them plain before the grace of God. One great errand to the throne of grace is to pray for the pardon of our sins; and care about this ought to be our daily concern....

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 21:18. Mark 11:11 INTO THE TEMPLE - Not into the edifice properly called “the temple,” but into the “courts” which surrounded the principal edifice. Our Saviour, not being of the tribe of Levi, was not permitted to enter into the holy or most holy place; and when, therefore, it is said that he went into the “temple,” it is always to be understood of the “courts” surrounding the temple. See the notes at Matthew 21:12. AND WHEN HE HAD LOOKED ROUND ABOUT UPON ALL THINGS - Having seen or examined everything. He saw the abominations and abuses which he afterw

EXPOSITION MARK 11:1 AND WHEN THEY DREW NIGH UNTO JERUSALEM, UNTO BETHPHAGE AND BETHANY, AT THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. St. Matthew (Matthew 21:1) says, "When they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage." St. Mark mentions the three places together, because Bethphage and Bethany, being near together, were also both of them close to Jerusalem. The distance from Jericho to Jerusalem (about seventeen miles) would involve a journey of about seven hours. The country between Jerusalem and Jericho is hilly, rugged, and desolate. It is from the height overhanging Bethany that the finest view of Jerusalem is gained. It appears from St. John (John 12:1)

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 of it, but the trunk and body of the tree, and even the roots of it, were all dried up; so that it was entirely dead, and there was no room ever to expect it would revive, and bear any more fruit....

PART III. THE SERVANT IN JERUSALEM PRESENTED AS KING AND REJECTED -- Chapter s 11-13 Chapter 11 __ 1. The Servant enters into Jerusalem. (Mark 11:1 .Matthew 21:1; Luke 19:28; John 12:12) 2. The fig tree cursed. (Mark 11:12. Compare with Matthew 21:19) 3. The Cleansing of the Temple. (Mark 11:15....

THE POWER OF FAITH. On the third day of the week, Peter draws attention to the withered fig-tree, and Jesus uses it to illustrate the great power of faith. The teaching does not seem to spring very directly out of the incident. The reference to removing mountains is rightly interpreted metaphorically. In effect, the mountains are the obstacles which prevent the easy access of man to the holy city of God. To faith these obstacles must yield (see Swete). Mk. himself seems to have felt that the power of faith is dangerously illustrated by the withering of the fig-tree, for he adds a sentence (Mark 11:25) about the necessity of possessing the spirit of forgiveness. Faith will not work capricious miracles. Our desires are not to be the measure of our prayers, unless reason and religion be the rule of our desires (Jeremy Taylor). The phrase your Father which is in heaven occurs here only in Mk...

THE COMING OF THE KING (Mark 11:1-6)...

AND IN THE MORNING, &c. Verses 20-26 are. Divine supplement of details, here. FROM. out of. Greek _ek._ App-104. Not the same word as in Mark 11:12....

The Withered Fig-Tree 20. _And in the morning_ The early morning of Tuesday in Holy Week. _as they passed by_ On their return to the Holy City. _dried up from the roots_ From St Matthew (Matthew 21:19) it would appear that "some beginnings of the threatened withering began to shew themselves, almost as soon as the word of the Lord was spoken; a shuddering fear may have run through all the leaves of the tree, which was thus stricken at its heart." Trench....