Mark 11, Jesus' Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem, Jesus' Cursing of the Fig Tree, Jesus' Cleansing Of The Temple, Jesus' Lesson Of The Fig Tree, Jesus' Authority Challenged, Doubting, doubt, forgive, Bethphage and Bethany, Time Is Not Yet, Zechariah 9, Literal Split Fulfillment, Jesus Condemned Jerusalem, the time of your visitation, lone fig tree, Jesus drove out sellers, Psalm 69 applied to Jesus, thinking testing examining is good in the Bible, God Is Able

1. Mark 11
Mar 11:1 Jesus' Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem
Mar 11:12 Jesus' Cursing of the Fig Tree
Mar 11:15 Jesus' Cleansing Of The Temple
Mar 11:20 Jesus' Lesson Of The Fig Tree
Mar 11:27 Jesus' Authority Challenged
A mobile home shines amid eerie rock formations in Alberta, Canada,
October 1970.PHOTOGRAPH BY W.E. GARRETT, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Doubting, doubt, forgive, Bethphage and
Bethany, Time Is Not Yet, Zechariah
9, Literal Split Fulfillment, Jesus
Condemned Jerusalem, the time of your
visitation, lone fig tree, Jesus drove out
sellers, Psalm 69 applied to Jesus, thinking
testing examining is good in the Bible, God
Is Able,

2. Let’s Open Our Bibles To Mark 11:1-11
• Jesus' Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem, Mark
11:1-11
• Jesus' Cursing of the Fig Tree, Mark 11:12-14
• Jesus' Cleansing Of The Temple, Mark 11:15-19
• Jesus' Lesson Of The Fig Tree, Mark 11:20-26
• Jesus' Authority Challenged, Mark 11:27-33

3. Mark 11:1,
Jesus' Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem
• Mark 11:1 As they approached Jerusalem, at
Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of
Olives, He sent two of His disciples,
• Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a
borrowed donkey’s colt!

4. One Of The Most Significant Events
• The Archaeological Study Bible says, "Jesus entrance into
Jerusalem on Palm Sunday represents one of the most
significant public events of his ministry. Each of the four
Gospels records this incident, though with distinctive
details... Central to each report is Jesus' deliberate choice
to enter the city riding up on a donkey. Scholars have noted
three significant points regarding this chosen mount. These
aspects are not mutually exclusive, and each contributes to
a more complete appreciation of the meaning of Jesus'
symbolic action and it's decisive consequences:
• The donkey was a traditional mount for kings and rulers in
the ancient near East...; Jesus was therefore making an
implicit claim to be the king of his people.
• The act of riding into Jerusalem on a donkey near the

5. One Of The Most Significant Events
• time of the Passover celebration invoked a central image of
Messianic expectation, linked to key Biblical texts... Two of
the four Evangelists explained the significance of Jesus
entrance explicitly as the fulfillment of Scripture.... In
Jewish literature and teaching, moreover, the image of a
king on a donkey approaching Jerusalem was consistently
understood to signify the arrival of the Messianic King.
Thus, Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah and proclaiming
that the age of restoration was dawning through his own
person.
• In light of the frequent Old Testament association of horses
with war and human pride, the donkey may have presented
an image of peaceful humility. Jesus, in this
interpretation, was making a statement regarding the
nature of his kingship.…"

6. I’ll Summarize This Significant Event
• The donkey =kings and rulers, Jesus was claiming to be the
king of his people.
• Riding a donkey into Jerusalem at Passover= Messianic King
and the age of restoration
• Horses = war and human pride, the donkey=peaceful
humility
• This was the nature of His 1st. Coming
• Isaiah 42:1 "Behold, My Servant …. 3"A bruised reed He
will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not
extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.
• Matthew 12:20 "A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK
OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT
OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY.
• 21 "AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE.“ [Have You]

7. Mark 11:1, Bethphage and Bethany
• Mark 11:1 As they approached Jerusalem, at
Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of
Olives, He sent two of His disciples, [Luke 19:29]
• Bethphage is close to Bethany
• Matthew 21:1 When they had approached
Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the
Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2
saying to them, "Go into the village opposite
you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied
there and a colt with her; untie them and bring
them to Me.

9. Matthew 21:1, Bethphage
• Matthew 21:1 When they had approached
Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the
Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
• Bethphage is close to Bethany
• Mark 11:1 As they approached Jerusalem, at
Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of
Olives, He sent two of His disciples, [Luke 19:29]

10. Jerusalem From The Mount Of
Olives, Looking West Across The
Kidron Valley

11. Mark 11:2, A Colt Tied There
• Mark 11:2 and said to them, "Go into the village opposite
you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied
there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it
here.
• Genesis 49:8 Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand
will be on the neck of your enemies, your father's sons will
bow down before you. 9 You are a lion's cub, Judah, from the
prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches and lies down
like a lion; like a lioness– who will rouse him? 10 The scepter
will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between
his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs; the nations will
obey him. 11 Binding his foal to the vine, and his colt to the
choicest vine, he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in
the blood of grapes.

12. Mark 11:3, Fetch A Donkey
• Mark 11:3 "If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?'
you say, 'The Lord has need of it'; and immediately he will
send it back here."
• Jesus said “he will send it” = “Here’s my keys”
• How’d He know?
• #1, Pre-arranged, #2, owners recognized them, #3, H. Spirit
• Luke 19:33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to
them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
• Mark 11:2 …a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever
sat; untie it and bring it here.
• Riding an unbroken colt is supernatural (we tried it), and
“its owners” wouldn’t have asked if it was prearranged.
• 520 years earlier Zechariah wrote 9:9

13. This Is Prophecy Fulfilled
• Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of
Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of
Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you;
He is just and endowed with
salvation, Humble, and mounted on a
donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
• Matthew 21:4 This took place to fulfill what
was spoken through the prophet:

14. John 2:4, My Time Is Not Yet
• Jesus was intentionally fulfilling Zechariah 9:9
• Jesus did this during His 1st. Coming, on Palm
Sunday, by His Triumphal Entry, literally
• No longer John 7:6…"My time is not yet…”,
• John 2:4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what
does that have to do with us? My hour has not
yet come."
• In all 4 gospels; Luke 19:28, Mk 11, & John 12:12-
16
• Yet, Zechariah 9:9 has a context;

15. Zechariah 9:8-16, Split Fulfillment
• Zechariah 9:8-16 But I will camp around My house because
of an army, Because of him who passes by and returns; And
no oppressor will pass over them anymore, For now I have
seen with My eyes. 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your
king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with
salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a
colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will cut off the chariot from
Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; And the bow of
war will be cut off. And He will speak peace to the
nations; And His dominion will be from sea to sea, And
from the River to the ends of the earth. 11 As for you
also, because of the blood of My covenant with you, I have
set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. 12 Return to
the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope;

16. Zechariah 9:8-16, Split Fulfillment
• This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to
you. 13 For I will bend Judah as My bow, I will fill the bow
with Ephraim. And I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against
your sons, O Greece; And I will make you like a warrior's
sword.
• 14 Then the LORD will appear over them, And His arrow will
go forth like lightning [Luke 17:24]; And the Lord GOD will
blow the trumpet, And will march in the storm winds of
the south. 15 The LORD of hosts will defend them. And they
will devour and trample on the sling stones; And they will
drink and be boisterous as with wine; And they will be filled
like a sacrificial basin, Drenched like the corners of the altar.
• 16 And the LORD their God will save them in that day As
the flock of His people; For they are as the stones of a
crown, Sparkling in His land.

17. Zechariah 9:9-10, Literal Fulfillment
• If Jesus literally fulfilled, historically, Zech 9:9;
• Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and
endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a
donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
• Then Jesus will literally fulfill Zech 9:10, yet future;
• Zechariah 9:10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
And the horse from Jerusalem; And the bow of war
will be cut off. And He will speak peace to the nations;
And His dominion will be from sea to sea, And from
the River to the ends of the earth.

18. Mat 21:5/Zech 9:9, “daughter of Zion”
• Zechariah 9:9…O daughter of Zion! Shout in
triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!...
• NET Matthew 21:5 "Tell the people of
Zion, 'Look, your king is coming to
you, unassuming and seated on a donkey…
• NET Notes (Mat 21:5) = “The idiom "daughter of
Zion" has been translated as "people of Zion"
because the original idiom, while firmly
embedded in the Christian tradition, is not
understandable to most modern English readers.”

19. Mark 11:8
Archaeological Study Bible, Coats
Archaeological Study Bible on 21:8
says, “Spreading their cloaks on the roads was
an act of royal homage. The word "branches"
means "leaves" or "leafy branches," which
were readily available in nearby fields. Only
John mentioned palm branches (see Jn
12:13), which may have come from
Jericho, since they are not native to Jerusalem
...

20. Mark 11:11, Luke Records That Jesus
Condemned Jerusalem
• Luke 19:42 saying, "If you had known in this
day, even you, the things which make for peace!
But now they have been hidden from your eyes.
43 "For the days shall come upon you when your
enemies will throw up a bank before you, and
surround you, and hem you in on every side,
• 44 and will level you to the ground and your
children within you, and they will not leave in
you one stone upon another, because you did
not recognize the time of your visitation.”

21. Mark 11:11, Daniel Records The “the
time of your visitation”
• Daniel 9:24 "Seventy weeks have been decreed for
your people and your holy city, to finish the
transgression, to make an end of sin, to make
atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting
righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and
to anoint the most holy place.
• Daniel 9:26 "Then after the sixty-two weeks the
Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the
people of the prince who is to come will destroy the
city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a
flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations
are determined.

22. Israel Was Destroyed In AD 70
• “will level you to the ground”
• will not leave in you one stone upon another
• Why? “because you did not recognize the time
of your visitation.”
• You mean Jesus held them accountable to
know and understand Bible prophecy?
• Absolutely!

23. Let’s Read Mark 11:12-14
• Jesus' Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem, Mark 11:1-11
• Jesus' Cursing of the Fig Tree, Mark 11:12-14
• Jesus' Cleansing Of The Temple, Mark 11:15-19
• Jesus' Lesson Of The Fig Tree, Mark 11:20-26
• Jesus' Authority Challenged, Mark 11:27-33

24. Mark 11:12, Lone Fig Tree
• Mark 11:12 And on the next day, when they had
departed from Bethany, He became hungry. 13 And
seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if
perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He
came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not
the season for figs. 14 And He answered and said to
it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" And His
disciples were listening.
• Matthew 21:19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road…
• God set Israel alone, unique among nations

25. Matthew 21:19, Lone Fig Tree
• Isaiah 5:7 For the vineyard of the LORD of
hosts is the house of Israel And the men of
Judah His delightful plant. Thus He looked for
justice, but behold, bloodshed; For
righteousness, but behold, a cry of distress.
• Holladay 3927
• …: vineyard …kerem, land suitable for
planting a vineyard …; kerem zayit, olive
orchard Ju 155 …

26. Matthew 21:19, Lone Fig Tree
• Proverbs 27:18 He who tends the fig tree will eat
its fruit, And he who cares for his master will be
honored.
• Have they been tending “the fig tree”
• Isaiah 34:4 And all the host of heaven will wear
away, And the sky will be rolled up like a scroll; All
their hosts will also wither away As a leaf withers
from the vine, Or as one withers from the fig
tree….their land will be soaked with blood… 8 For
the LORD has a day of vengeance, A year of
recompense for the cause of Zion.

27. Matthew 21:19, 1st Mention; Fig Tree
• Judges 9:8 "Once the trees went forth to
anoint a king over them, and they said to the
olive tree, 'Reign over us!' 9 "But the olive tree
said to them, 'Shall I leave my fatness with
which God and men are honored, and go to
wave over the trees?' 10 "Then the trees said
to the fig tree, 'You come, reign over us!' 11
"But the fig tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my
sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave
over the trees?'

28. Jeremiah 8:5, The Fig Tree Judged
• Jeremiah 8:5-14 "Why then has this
people, Jerusalem, Turned away in continual apostasy?... they
have rejected the word of the LORD, And what kind of
wisdom do they have? 10 "Therefore I will give their wives to
others, Their fields to new owners…From the prophet even to
the priest Everyone practices deceit….At the time of their
punishment they shall be brought down," Says the LORD. 13 "I
will surely snatch them away," declares the LORD; "There will
be no grapes on the vine And no figs on the fig tree, And the
leaf will wither; And what I have given them will pass away."'“
14 …the LORD our God has doomed us And given us poisoned
water to drink, For we have sinned against the LORD…

29. Mark 11:12, Jesus Entered The Temple
• Matthew 21:12…Jesus entered the temple…
• Mark 11:12 On the next day, when they had
left Bethany…
• Luke 19:41 When He approached
Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it,
• Why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem?
• Film at 11 PM
• Just kidding, just wait…

30. Let’s Read Mark 11:15-19
• Jesus' Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem, Mark 11:1-11
• Jesus' Cursing of the Fig Tree, Mark 11:12-14
• Jesus' Cleansing Of The Temple, Mark 11:15-19
• Jesus' Lesson Of The Fig Tree, Mark 11:20-26
• Jesus' Authority Challenged, Mark 11:27-33

31. Mark 11:15, He Drove Out Sellers
• Mark 11:15, Luke 19:45, Matthew 21:12, John 2:14 And He
found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep
and doves, and the moneychangers seated.
• 15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out
of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured
out the coins of the moneychangers, and overturned their
tables;
• 16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, "Take
these things away; stop making My Father's house a house
of merchandise."
• 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for
Thy house will consume me."

32. In Mark 11:15
Psalm 69:6 Is Applied To Jesus
• Psalm 69:6 May those who wait for Thee not be
ashamed through me, O Lord God of hosts; May
those who seek Thee not be dishonored through
me, O God of Israel, 7 Because for Thy sake I have
borne reproach; Dishonor has covered my face.
• 8 I have become estranged from my
brothers, And an alien to my mother's sons.
• 9 For zeal for Thy house has consumed me, And
the reproaches of those who reproach Thee have
fallen on me. 10 When I wept [Luke 19:41] in my soul
with fasting, It became my reproach.

33. Let’s Read Mark 11:20-26
• Jesus' Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem, Mark 11:1-11
• Jesus' Cursing of the Fig Tree, Mark 11:12-14
• Jesus' Cleansing Of The Temple, Mark 11:15-19
• Jesus' Lesson Of The Fig Tree, Mark 11:20-26
• Jesus' Authority Challenged, Mark 11:27-33

34. Mark 11:23, Doubt Is Not Considered
Good In The Bible
• Mark 11:23 "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this
mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does
not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says
is going to happen, it will be granted him.
• Romans 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he
eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever
is not from faith is sin.
• Matthew 14:31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His
hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of
little faith, why did you doubt?“
• James 1:6 But he must ask in faith without any
doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the
sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

35. Mark
11:23, Thinking, Testing, Examining Is
Good In The Bible, blogos.org
• “In his book, Hard Questions, Real Answers, Dr. William
Lane Craig makes this distinction between doubt and
thoughtful examination of belief: When I was an
undergraduate at Wheaton College, an attitude was
prevalent among the students that doubt was actually a
virtue and that a Christian who did not doubt his faith was
somehow intellectually deficient or naïve. But such an
attitude is unbiblical and confused. It is unbiblical to think
of doubt as a virtue; to the contrary, doubt is always
portrayed in the Scriptures as something detrimental to
spiritual life. Doubt never builds up; it always destroys. How
could the students I knew at Wheaton College have got
things so totally reversed? It is probably because they had
confused thinking about their faith with doubting their
faith. We need to keep the distinction clear." [2]I agree.”

36. Mark 11:25, Forgive
• Mark 11:25 "Whenever you stand
praying, forgive, if you have anything against
anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven
will also forgive you your transgressions.
• Luke 6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be
judged; and do not condemn, and you will not
be condemned; pardon, and you will be
pardoned.

37. Mark 11:25
Forgive
• Forgiving brings
peace
• Just not this kind
of peace

38. Mark 11:26, God Won’t Forgive?
• Mark 11:26 "But if you do not forgive, neither will
your Father who is in heaven forgive your
transgressions.“
• Is God going to “unborn again” us, un-adopt
us, erase the blood we trusted in, remove our
right to be His children, cancel all the
unilateral, one sided promises He made
us, cancel our citizenship in heaven, and our
ambassadorship for Him, and cast us into hell?
• Is He not able to conform us?...

39. God Is Able To….
• Rom 14:4…the Lord is able to make him [us]
stand.
• Rom 8:1, and Rom 8:1-39
• Ro 16:25…is able to establish you…
• 2 Co 9:8…God is able to make all grace abound
to you, so that in all things at all times, having
all that you need, you will abound in every
good work
• 2 Ti 1:12…he is able to guard what I have
entrusted to him for that day.

40. God Is Able To….
• Heb 2:18…he is able to help those who are being
tempted.
• Heb 7:25…he is able to save completely those who
come to God through him, because he always lives to
intercede for them.
• Jude 24…him who is able to keep you from falling and
to present you
• So, what is Jesus saying?
• Unforgiveness impacts our communion with God, but
nothing can separate our union with God
• Our prayers, blessings, ministry, and rewards, can all be
hindered, cut off, chastised, or stopped, even including
sin unto death. But He is in us/we are in Him always.

41. Mark 11:26, Unforgiveness Impacts Our
Communion With God, Not Our Union With God
• gracethrufaith.com adds, “…Since God has forgiven us
for everything, He expects believers to forgive each
other for the little things that come between
us. Failure to do so is a sin that puts a strain on our
relationship with God. It can’t cost us our
salvation, but it can deprive us of blessings we may
have otherwise received. As soon as we forgive the
person who wronged us we’ll be restored.
• It’s important to note that the other person’s reaction
is irrelevant. We’re expected to forgive them
regardless of whether they’ve asked us to or even
admit any wrongdoing. All that’s between them and
the Lord…”

42. Let’s Read Mark 11:27-33
• Jesus' Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem, Mark 11:1-11
• Jesus' Cursing of the Fig Tree, Mark 11:12-14
• Jesus' Cleansing Of The Temple, Mark 11:15-19
• Jesus' Lesson Of The Fig Tree, Mark 11:20-26
• Jesus' Authority Challenged, Mark 11:27-33

43. Mark 11:28, What/Whose Authority
• Mark 11:28 and began saying to Him, "By what
authority are You doing these things, or who gave
You this authority to do these things?“
• Great question!
• But they’re not seeking info…
• Luke 20:1 …the chief priests and the scribes with
the elders confronted Him,
• This is another attack to gain grounds to execute
Him

44. Mark 11:28, What/Whose Authority
• Mark 11:28…who gave You this authority …?”
• <1849> ἐξουσία exousia
• Meaning: power to act, authority
• Origin: from 1832
• Usage:
authorities(7), authority(65), charge(1), control(1), do
main(2), dominion(1), jurisdiction(1), liberty(1), powe
r(11), powers(1), right(11).
• John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He
gave the right [exousia] to become children of God, even
to those who believe in His name,

45. So, In Closing

46. THE END
• Take courage, stand up and keep your eyes open for the
soon return of Jesus!

47. Matthew 21:2+5, Mounted On A Colt
• John 12:14 Jesus, finding a young donkey [neuter
singular], sat on it; as it is written,
• Zechariah 9:9…Even on a colt [masculine singular], the
foal of a donkey [neuter singular].

48. Jude 22 Matthew 21:21 Luke 24:38
Mark 11:23, Doubt in the
Bible, blogos.org• The Best Christians Are Thinking Christians, Not Doubting Christians
•
By Robin Schumacher
One page/printer friendly
The title of Dr. Paul de Vries' recent article — "The Best Christians are Doubting Christians" (Part 1 and Part 2) — initially struck me like lemon juice in the eye. Judging by the comments
the article generated, I wasn't alone in my first impression of the writing.
Having read the article a couple of times now, I understand what Dr. de Vries is trying to say and fully appreciate the message he's attempting to convey. While I don't want to come
across as some pedantic, uptight guy who's ready to make mountains out of molehills, there are times when terms do indeed matter. The point I'd like to make is this:
Doubt is not something valued in the Bible.
Now, I don't want to put words in Dr. de Vries mouth, but what I think he was trying to say is that the best Christians are thinking Christians vs. doubting Christians. On that point I
couldn't agree more and would argue that such a thing is what we're commanded to be in Scripture.Doubt in the Bible
• Sometimes exploring the Hebrew/Greek behind our English translations of God's Word provides a rich window into a deeper meaning of the term than our own language can provide.
However, not in this case:
Distazō — 1. to have doubts concerning something, doubt, waver 2. to be uncertain about taking a particular course of action, hesitate in doubt. [1]
The word 'doubt', when found in the Bible, means exactly what you'd expect.
While Dr. de Vries says in his article, "I know of no Biblical passage where we are even warned against doubt," I would instead argue that 'doubt' is never used favorably in its context
within Scripture (especially Romans 14:23, which explicitly links doubt and sin together):
"Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, 'You of little faith, why did you doubt?'" (Matthew 14:31).
"And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, "Be
taken up and cast into the sea," it will happen'" (Matthew 21:21; Mark 11:23).
"When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful" (Matthew 28:17).
"And He said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?'" (Luke 24:38).
"But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23).
"But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind" (James 1:6).
"And have mercy on some, who are doubting" (Jude 22).
Dr. de Vries may try to label such verses as exhibitions of "unbelief" vs. doubt, but there's no getting around the term used, with the above verses in their context conveying a sense of
uncertainty, a wavering, and the like in a negative sense.
In other words, doubt isn't a good thing.Thinking vs. Doubting
• Now as I mentioned upfront, I believe that the idea Dr. de Vries is aiming at is that thinking about spiritual matters is a very important thing, and in that regard, he is spot on. But there is a
difference in careful and mindful scrutiny of truth claims and doubt.
In his book, Hard Questions, Real Answers, Dr. William Lane Craig makes this distinction between doubt and thoughtful examination of belief:When I was an undergraduate at Wheaton
College, an attitude was prevalent among the students that doubt was actually a virtue and that a Christian who did not doubt his faith was somehow intellectually deficient or naïve. But
such an attitude is unbiblical and confused. It is unbiblical to think of doubt as a virtue; to the contrary, doubt is always portrayed in the Scriptures as something detrimental to spiritual

49. Matthew 6:14-15, 18:35 Mark
11:26, Forgiveness
• A Forgiveness Question
• Friday, February 21st, 2014Forgiveness
• Q. I read your articles online constantly. I’ve seen a number on forgiveness, and thought I had a good grasp of what the Bible teaches about it. I’m
confused with what I’m hearing lately on television. It’s more than one source saying the same thing: “If you don’t forgive, then God won’t forgive
you.” I ignored it at first, thinking it was a tie-in to a Prosperity Gospel marketing ploy, but now it has me wondering if I’ve missed something in my
studies. Is there any scriptural basis to this statement? I can’t believe there is as I believe in OSAS, so my sins (including not forgiving someone) are
forgiven, as I pray constantly that God would give me the ability to forgive the one who wronged me. Please let me know if I’ve missed something.
• A. In Matt. 6:14-15 Jesus said, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not
forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
• This statement was made in the context of His teaching on the Lord’s prayer (Matt. 6:9-13) which only believers can pray , so this is not a salvation
issue. In the parable of the unmerciful servant He made the same point (Matt. 18:23-35) and again is was a matter between believers.
• Here’s the point. Since God has forgiven us for everything, He expects believers to forgive each other for the little things that come between
us. Failure to do so is a sin that puts a strain on our relationship with God. It can’t cost us our salvation, but it can deprive us of blessings we may
have otherwise received. As soon as we forgive the person who wronged us we’ll be restored.
• It’s important to note that the other person’s reaction is irrelevant. We’re expected to forgive them regardless of whether they’ve asked us to or
even admit any wrongdoing. All that’s between them and the Lord.
• http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/a-forgiveness-
question/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gracethrufaith+%28GraceThruFaith%29
• Mark 11:26 "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.“
• Matthew 18:35 "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."