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11:10
The people welcome Jesus with loud cries of “hosanna,” a Hebrew word which means “save” or “help.” It is an acclamation of praise which is still used in the liturgy today, in the Sanctus or Holy Holy Holy, which is sung immediately before
the Eucharistic Prayer: “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of hosts. / Heaven and earth are full of your glory. / Hosanna in the highest. / Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. / Hosanna in the highest” (Roman Missal).
11:12
The parallel incidents of
the cursed g tree and the cleansing of the temple show the tension Jesus encountered in bringing his message to his own people. In cursing the g tree, and symbolically purifying the Temple, Jesus recalls the prophets of old, who did not mince words in condemning the hypocrisy and lack of fervor among the people. The prophet Malachi envisioned such a time of puri cation: “The lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple.. He will
sit re ning and purifying silver, / and he will purify the Levites, / Re ning them like gold or silver” (3:1, 3).
11:33
Jesus refuses to be drawn into a debate with the religious authorities.
Instead, he asks them a simple question: was John’s teaching from God, or was
it merely of human origin?
In so doing, he forces the elders to recognize their
own motivations and the sel shness, fear, and political calculations that distort their judgment.
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* [11:26] This verse, which reads, “But if you do not forgive, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your transgressions,” is omitted in the best manuscripts. It was probably added by copyists under the in uence of Mt 6:15.
* [11:27–33] The mounting hostility toward Jesus came from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders (Mk 11:27); the Herodians and the Pharisees (Mk 12:13); and the Sadducees (Mk 12:18). By their rejection of God’s messengers, John the Baptist and Jesus, they incurred the divine judgment implied in Mk 11:27–33 and con rmed in the parable of the vineyard tenants (Mk 12:1–12).
g. [11:19] Lk 21:37.
h. [11:20–24] Mt 21:20–22.
i. [11:23] Mt 17:20–21; Lk 17:6.
j. [11:24] Mt 7:7; Jn 11:22; 14:13.
k. [11:25] Mt 6:14; 18:35.
l. [11:27–33] Mt 21:23–27; Lk 20:1–8.
MARK 
18The 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 19
was astonished at his teaching. When evening came, they went out of the city.g
The Withered Fig Tree. 20h Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. 21Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God. 23Amen, 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.i 24Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.j 25When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.k [26]*”
The Authority of Jesus Questioned.* 27They returned once more to Jerusalem.l As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him 28and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” 29Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.” 31They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘[Then] why did you not believe him?’ 32But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”—they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. 33So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”