Mark 11 with Metaphysical Footnotes (ASV)

^11:1And when they draw nigh unto Jerusalem1, unto Bethphage and Bethany2, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples, ^11:2and saith unto them, Go your way into the village that is over against you: and straightway as ye enter into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat3; loose him, and bring him. ^11:3And if any one say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye, The Lord hath need of him4; and straightway he will send him back hither. ^11:4And they went away, and found a colt tied at the door without in the open street; and they loose him. ^11:5And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? ^11:6And they said unto them even as Jesus had said: and they let them go. ^11:7And they bring the colt unto Jesus, and cast on him their garments; and he sat upon him. ^11:8And many spread their garments upon the way5; and others branches, which they had cut from the fields. ^11:9And they that went before, and they that followed, cried,

Hosanna;

Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord6:

^11:10Blessed is the kingdom that cometh, the kingdom of our father David:

Hosanna in the highest.

^11:11And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple; and when he had looked round about upon all things, it being now eventide, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

Cf. Matt. 21:1-10; Luke 19:28-38; John 12:12-19

1. In his journey towards peace, the follower of the Christ reaches a stage where he must assert his powers of mastery and dominion.
2. Bethphage and Bethany. Both names mean “house of figs,” the former meaning also “house of unripe figs.” Bethany means also “wailing, lamentation, affliction,” from the sound of the wind in the foliage of the fig trees and from the “tears” (drops of gum that exude from the fruit). The significance of these meanings is that man, when he lacks self-dominion, is powerless to cope with life unaided. In this state his powers are not mature, but are as unripe fruit, without usefulness.
3. Colt whereon no man ever yet sat. We first train our faculties (disciples) to do our bidding. Next we transform the forces of our sense or animal nature (the “colt whereon no man ever yet sat”).
4. The animal nature is meant to be brought into the service of the ideal self and to express their share of his self-realized destiny as a son of God.
5. Spread their garments. Praise and appreciation for the animal nature. The natural forces are not evil in themselves. They are evil only when they are misdirected.
6. Who “cometh in the name of the Lord” He who expresses the Christ Spirit through his right use of the I AM comes in the name of the Lord or divine law.

^11:12And on the morrow, when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered. ^11:13And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season of figs. ^11:14And he answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And his disciples heard it.

^11:15And they come to Jerusalem: and he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and them that bought in the temple1, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves;^11:16and he would not suffer that any man should carry a vessel through the temple. ^11:17And he taught, and said unto them,

Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations?

but ye have made it a den of robbers.

^11:18And the chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, for all the multitude was astonished at his teaching. ^11:19And every evening he went forth out of the city.

1. Casting out of the temple those that sold and bought. In the regeneration one's mind is changed in regard to commercial transactions. The old thoughts of greed and gain must be cast out; even the very foundation (tables) must be overturned. “For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

^11:20And as they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. ^11:21And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. ^11:22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. ^11:23Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. ^11:24Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

^11:25And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. ^11:26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

^11:27And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders1; ^11:28and they said unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? or who gave thee this authority to do these things?2 ^11:29And Jesus said unto them, I will ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ^11:30The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? answer me. ^11:31And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did ye not believe him? ^11:32But should we say, From men—they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet. ^11:33And they answered Jesus and say, We know not. And Jesus saith unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.3

1. The religious thoughts that follow strictly the forms and ceremonies of religion, but do not recognize that the authority of Spirit that underlies them is greater than the outward forms and ceremonies.
2. The teacher of Truth must know Truth, be able to distinguish it from error, and be conscious of its essence within him. The authority of man's inner conviction and knowledge is pre-eminent.
3. The Christ, having divine authority, cannot be fettered or bound by the reasonings of the intellect.