20 And in the morning, passing by, they saw the fig-tree having been dried up from the roots, 21 and Peter having remembered saith to him, 'Rabbi, lo, the fig-tree that thou didst curse is dried up.' 22 And Jesus answering saith to them, 'Have faith of God; 23 for verily I say to you, that whoever may say to this mount, Be taken up, and be cast into the sea, and may not doubt in his heart, but may believe that the things that he saith do come to pass, it shall be to him whatever he may say. 24 Because of this I say to you, all whatever—praying—ye do ask, believe that ye receive, and it shall be to you. 25 'And whenever ye may stand praying, forgive, if ye have anything against any one, that your Father also who is in the heavens may forgive you your trespasses; 26 and, if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in the heavens forgive your trespasses.'
27 And they come again to Jerusalem, and in the temple, as he is walking, there come unto him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, 28 and they say to him, 'By what authority dost thou these things? and who gave thee this authority that these things thou mayest do?' 29 And Jesus answering said to them, 'I will question you—I also—one word; and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things; 30 the baptism of John—from heaven was it? or from men? answer me.' 31 And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, 'If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him? 32 But if we may say, From men,'—they were fearing the people, for all were holding John that he was indeed a prophet; 33 and answering they say to Jesus, 'We have not known;' and Jesus answering saith to them, 'Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 11:20-33
Commentary on Mark 11:19-26
(Read Mark 11:19-26)
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.
Commentary on Mark 11:27-33
(Read Mark 11:27-33)
Our Saviour shows how near akin his doctrine and baptism were to those of John; they had the same design and tendency, to bring in the gospel kingdom. These elders did not deserve to be taught; for it was plain that they contended not for truth, but victory: nor did he need to tell them; for the works he did, told them plainly he had authority from God; since no man could do the miracles which he did, unless God were with him.