A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS

Passage: Mark 11:11-19

Key verse: 17

NIV

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.(A)

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts(B)(C)(D)

12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.(E) 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’[a]?(F) But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’[b]”(G)

18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him,(H) because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.(I)

19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples[c] went out of the city.(J)

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 11:17 Isaiah 56:7
  2. Mark 11:17 Jer. 7:11
  3. Mark 11:19 Some early manuscripts came, Jesus
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

11 (A)And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, (B)he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

12 (C)On the following day, when they came from Bethany, (D)he was hungry. 13 (E)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 (F)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.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

15 (G)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 (H)the money-changers and the seats of those who sold (I)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, (J)‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But (K)you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and (L)were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because (M)all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 (N)And when evening came they[a] went out of the city.

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 11:19 Some manuscripts he
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The temple and fig tree (11-14)

Jesus entered the city like a king coming to be enthroned. But he did not go to the palace; he went to the temple. He looked around and left. He did not like what he saw. The next day, on his way back, he encountered a beautiful and promising fig tree. But when he inspected it closely, he found no fruit. He took away forever the tree's privilege of bearing fruit. The fruitless fig tree is a vivid parable of God's disappointment at the fruitlessness of a prayerless people.

2. A house of prayer or a den of robbers (15-19)

Jesus went back to the temple and cleared out all the business activities. When the place of prayer becomes a place of business, the soul of the nation is very sick. God is concerned about all nations, so his house must be a place of prayer for all nations.

Prayer: Lord, help me to pray with an uncluttered heart and mind. Help us to be a church that prays and works for the evangelization of all nations.

One Word: Be fruitful and stay alive