Mark 11:15-33 ▼

15 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.

16 And He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.

17 Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

18 When the scribes and chief priests heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.

19 And when evening came, Jesus went out of the city.

20 As they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots.

21 Peter remembered it and said, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree You cursed has withered.”

22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them.

23 “For truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, whatever he says will be done for him.

24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

25 And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.

26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

27 After their return to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking in the temple courts, and the chief priests, scribes, and elders came up to Him.

28 “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You the authority to do them?”

29 “I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

30 John’s baptism—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me!”

31 They deliberated among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

32 But if we say, ‘From men’...” they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet.

33 So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”