This chapter marks the beginning of Christ's final week, leading up to His crucifixion. It also displays His authority as King. v1-11 describes events that happened on the Sunday.

v1: Bethphage (House of figs), Bethany (House of dates), Mount of Olives; three places referring to fruitfulness; in contrast the place that should have become fruitful was now dry ground (Is 5.4; 53.2).

These small towns were celebrated for their hospitality towards pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem for the feasts.

v2: A colt had been prepared for Jesus, specifically set aside for His use. It is possible that an arrangement had already been made. We do not need to insert any miracle into he narrative.

v3: If any question was asked about Jesus taking the colt, the answer was provided, "the Lord needs it"; in any case, since all things belong to Christ, it was already His! The colt, being the offspring of a donkey, had been redeemed; it was suitable transport for the Messiah.

v4-6: The disciples found everything just as Jesus had said; He demonstrated His omniscience, and that He was faithful to His word.

It was right that everything was subject to Him; disciples, people, colt, temple, fig tree, even creation itself.

v7-8: During the Feast of Tabernacles, "branches of palm trees" (Lev 23.40) were cut down. Here was the king coming to reign. What the people failed to realise that His reign would demand that first He suffer and die.

v9-10: The king was riding a donkey; a sign of peace; Zech 9.9 was fulfilled. The king was lowly and humble, but He was still King. The people reacted with joyful praise, "Hosanna", ' Save us now!', see Ps 118.25.

v11: Jesus went into His city, Jerusalem the city of God; and into His house, the temple, the house of God. He looked around at what was going on; compare Neh 2.11-15, where Nehemiah looked at the ruined city of Jerusalem. Here was preparation and thoughtfulness; His reaction was carefully considered; the drastic action in v15-16 was not the sudden unthinking actions of a fanatic, or an unprepared outburst of uncontrolled anger. It was by now late, and few worshippers would be in the temple, and few buying and selling. How different when He returns in the morning, to find crowds of people there.

v12-14: On the Monday, the Lord dealt severely with the fig tree; this pictured Israel, and prefigured the events which would shortly happen in the temple.

The fig tree would have had leaves in June, which would be preceded by fruit; this tree should have had fruit; the Jewish people had the show of leaves, but not the reality of fruit. This generation of Jews had become accursed (see v21), since they had rejected their Messiah.

v15-19: This incident happened within the temple area; Gentile proselytes could go in this far, as it was a place for "all nations" (Is 56.6-8).

v15: Instead of prayer, Jesus found money changers; He insisted that there was no room for devotion and trade in this area.

v16: It seems that some simply used the courtyard as a short cut, carrying their merchandise to market.

v17: Jesus was Lord of the temple, and was appalled at what had been happening. Such things were tolerated, presumably approved by the religious leaders. The Scriptures quoted here illustrate the gulf between the intention, a house of prayer, and the reality, a den of robbers.

v18: Jesus used the opportunity to teach as well, "as He taught them"; this indicates that He stayed in the area for some time. Doubtless the crowd gathered to hear this visitor who had driven out the thieves and robbers from the temple area. One can imagine a mixture of teaching, and answering of questions, with material being repeated through the day, as people came and went.

v19: Jesus returned, probably to Bethany, each night, and then came back into the city. On the next day, He is found walking in the temple courts, v27.

It was during this time that the chief priests and teachers of the law heard what had happened, and began their plot to kill Him.

v20-21: On the Tuesday, Jesus arrived back in Jerusalem with the Twelve. They saw the fig tree withered from its roots. Here was the nation rotten throughout.

v22-24: The second lesson was about faith; "Have faith in God", or, ' Be faithful to God"; this involved total confidence in a powerful God, and acting accordingly. Faith is not something totally passive. Faith is something without limitation and its fruit without explanation.

"This mountain" may be a reference to Zion, Ps 125.1, which, according to the O.T., could not be moved.

v25-26: A deeper problem; not so much believing that things would happen, but rather dealing properly with personal issues and disagreements; "if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him"; such things must be sorted out; effective prayer depends on it.

v27: Jesus returned later that day to the temple area. The religious leaders, the chief priests, teachers of the law, and the elders, had gathered together to destroy Him. This deputation was evidently from the Sanhedrin, since the main religious and political leaders had by now become involved.

v28: The question was about authority; possibly from the Sanhedrin as a whole. A 'Rabbi' had to have been properly 'ordained' by other Rabbis.

v29-30: The Lord's response indicated that He was above all human authority, and answerable to no man; He was able to demand answers to His questions. His words are no riddle, but a clear rabbinical answer to their question.

v31-32: The religious people debated the only two possible answers. John's public testimony was compelling proof of his integrity.

v33: "We don't know"; Jesus showed them their ignorance, and their unwillingness to believe. Although no explicit answer was given, the truth was that both John and Jesus had received authority "from heaven".