Mark 11
Summary. In this chapter, many verses show that the Lord Jesus, the disciples, and some people are traveling. We continue summarizing the events surrounding the Lord’s travels. 1) Mark 11:1 tells that the Lord Jesus came near Jerusalem to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives. Here, the Lord sends two of His disciples ahead into the village to bring a colt so that the Lord Jesus would enter Jerusalem riding on a colt to fulfill the prophecy about His entry into Jerusalem. Mark 11:7 shows that the Lord Jesus mounts the colt and begins riding it as He enters Jerusalem. Now, here we see the work of the Holy Spirit, which stirred people’s hearts to rejoice at the Lord’s coming to Jerusalem. At this time, clearly, the Holy Spirit stirred people’s hearts as they shouted out, “Hosanna! Blessed is the One coming in the name of the Lord!” 2) In Mark 11:11a and Mark 11:15, we see that the Lord Jesus enters Jerusalem and goes into the temple. While in the temple, He begins cleansing it by driving out all those who did not come for worship but used the temple as a marketplace. Those who came to worship, the Lord teaches them and heals those who were sick among them. 3) Mark 11:19 and Mark 11:11b show that at the end of the day, the Lord Jesus and His twelve disciples go out of the city to Bethany. Mark 11:12 shows that the Lord Jesus and the disciples return from Bethany, and that the Lord is hungry. At this time, the Lord Jesus curses the fig tree, which withers immediately, and He uses this event to teach the disciples a lesson about faith. This teaching happens the following day when they pass by the fig tree again, as shown in Mark 11:20. 4) Mark 11:27 recounts that the Lord Jesus and His disciples have returned to Jerusalem. They have entered the temple, where the chief priests, scribes, and elders have confronted the Lord Jesus to challenge His authority.
[1]
And when they draw near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sends two of His disciples,
[2]
and says to them, Go into the village over against you, and straightaway entering into it, you will find a colt tied, which no man ever yet sat; loose it, and bring it.
[3]
And if anyone says to you, Why do you do this? Say, Because the Lord has need of it; and at once he will send it back here.
[4]
And they went away, and found a colt tied at the door outside in the open street; and they loose it.
[5]
And certain of them standing there said to them, What do you do, loosing the colt?
[6]
And they spoke to them as Jesus had said; and they allowed them.
[8]
And many spread their cloaks on the way; and others branches, having been cut down from the fields.
[9]
And those going before, and those following, cried out, Hosanna ! Blessed is the One coming in the name of the Lord !
[10]
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest.
Comments Mark 11:1-10
For Mark 11:1-10, see Comments Matthew 21:1-9, and Comments Luke 19:29-38.
Comparison Analysis
Mark 11:1-3, Matthew 21:1-3, Luke 19:29-31. See Comments Matthew 21:1-2. The key point of these verses is that the Lord Jesus directs the two disciples to bring the colt to Him to fulfill the prophecy that He would enter Jerusalem riding on a colt. The Lord Jesus always fulfills what has been written about Him; if the prophecy says He will sit on a colt, He will do it.
Q: In Matthew 21:2, the Lord Jesus speaks of a donkey and a colt, whereas in Mark and Luke he speaks only of a colt. How do we explain the difference? A: As we have explained in Matthew, the Lord Jesus will never separate the mother from the colt. If you bring the colt, the mother will follow; just bring one, and another will follow; both come in the same meaning in this place. In this place, the Holy Spirit wants us to know that Matthew and Mark have described it differently, but look at what joins them: the same thing, the colt; bring them to the Lord. The Lord tells the disciples to bring them to the Lord; that is the actual word to say. Matthew and Mark describe the event differently, but the main point is the same: bring the mother and the colt to the Lord. In this place, we don’t use that way of saying that is a direct quote from the Lord Jesus. Both Matthew and Mark have written down what the Holy Spirit told them about the same situation; two-way directions, as the Lord Jesus has told them: Matthew considers what it takes to be fulfilled prophecy-wise; Mark writes down what the Lord tells, but both have one joint meaning: “bring them to the Lord”.
Matthew 21:4-5. Here it shows why, in Matthew 21:2, the Holy Spirit gave the complete account of the donkey and the colt to show that all this was done “to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet” (see Comments Matthew 21. 5).
Mark 11:4-7, Matthew 21:6-7, Luke 19:32-35. See Comments Matthew 21:7.
Mark 11:8, Matthew 21:8, Luke 19:36. See Comments Matthew 21:8.
Mark 11:9-10, Matthew 21:9, Luke 19:37-38. See Comments Matthew 21:9. The difference in words spoken by the multitude can be explained by the way the multitude expresses their feelings towards the Lord Jesus. As time goes by, we will hear more; the multitude will be affected as well and will say things differently. This is the beginning of seeing how the multitude reacts.
Comparison Analysis
Mark 11:1-3, Matthew 21:1-3, Luke 19:29-31. See Comments Matthew 21:1-2. The key point of these verses is that the Lord Jesus directs the two disciples to bring the colt to Him to fulfill the prophecy that He would enter Jerusalem riding on a colt. The Lord Jesus always fulfills what has been written about Him; if the prophecy says He will sit on a colt, He will do it.
Q: In Matthew 21:2, the Lord Jesus speaks of a donkey and a colt, whereas in Mark and Luke he speaks only of a colt. How do we explain the difference? A: As we have explained in Matthew, the Lord Jesus will never separate the mother from the colt. If you bring the colt, the mother will follow; just bring one, and another will follow; both come in the same meaning in this place. In this place, the Holy Spirit wants us to know that Matthew and Mark have described it differently, but look at what joins them: the same thing, the colt; bring them to the Lord. The Lord tells the disciples to bring them to the Lord; that is the actual word to say. Matthew and Mark describe the event differently, but the main point is the same: bring the mother and the colt to the Lord. In this place, we don’t use that way of saying that is a direct quote from the Lord Jesus. Both Matthew and Mark have written down what the Holy Spirit told them about the same situation; two-way directions, as the Lord Jesus has told them: Matthew considers what it takes to be fulfilled prophecy-wise; Mark writes down what the Lord tells, but both have one joint meaning: “bring them to the Lord”.
Matthew 21:4-5. Here it shows why, in Matthew 21:2, the Holy Spirit gave the complete account of the donkey and the colt to show that all this was done “to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet” (see Comments Matthew 21. 5).
Mark 11:4-7, Matthew 21:6-7, Luke 19:32-35. See Comments Matthew 21:7.
Mark 11:8, Matthew 21:8, Luke 19:36. See Comments Matthew 21:8.
Mark 11:9-10, Matthew 21:9, Luke 19:37-38. See Comments Matthew 21:9. The difference in words spoken by the multitude can be explained by the way the multitude expresses their feelings towards the Lord Jesus. As time goes by, we will hear more; the multitude will be affected as well and will say things differently. This is the beginning of seeing how the multitude reacts.
[11]
And He entered into Jerusalem, into the temple; and having looked around on all things, the hour being already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.
[12]
And on the following day, they having gone out from Bethany, He hungered.
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And seeing a fig tree from afar having leaves, He went, if perhaps He will find anything on it; and having come to it, He found nothing except leaves; for it was not the season of figs.
[14]
And answering He said to it, No one may eat fruit from you no more to the age. And His disciples heard it.
[15]
And they come to Jerusalem. And having entered into the temple, He began to cast out those selling and those buying in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the money changers, and the seats of those selling the doves.
[16]
And He would not allow that anyone should carry a vessel through the temple.
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And He taught, and said to them, 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]
And 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.
[19]
And when evening came, they were going forth out of the city.
[20]
And passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
[21]
And having remembered, Peter says to Him , Rabbi , behold, the fig tree which Thou cursed is dried up.
[23]
Truly I say to you, That whoever shall say to this mountain, Be you taken away and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he says becomes, it will be done for him.
[24]
Because of this, I say to you, All things, whatever you pray and ask, believe that you receive, and it will be to you.
[25]
And whenever you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone, so that also your Father who is in the heavens may forgive you your trespasses.
[26]
But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Comments Mark 11:11-26 For this comments section, we provide a comparative analysis and a timeline of the Lord Jesus’ time in Jerusalem and at the temple.
The Lord Jesus Cleanses the Temple Mark 11:11a, Matthew 21:10-11. See Comments Matthew 21:10-11. Mark 11:11 summarizes that the Lord Jesus entered Jerusalem and the temple. At the end of the day, He and His disciples left for Bethany. Between the first part of Mark 11:11 (referred to as 11:11a) and the second part (11:11b), various events take place, which are detailed later in Mark Chapter 11 and in the other Gospels. It’s important to note that these events are not necessarily presented in chronological order.
Mark 11:15-17, Matthew 21:12-13, Luke 19:45. See Comments Matthew 21:12-13. As the Lord Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a colt, He went straight to the temple. He entered the temple and cleansed it, showing His authority and His disappointment with what people were doing there. This is the spot called the “triumphal entry” of the Lord Jesus into Jerusalem. His authority has been shown in telling the people what they had done wrong (pointing out their wrongdoings), and in making the hearts of all realize that He is the One who comes to point the way and lead them out of their wrongdoings in the temple of God. People learn now that they have been misusing the place of God. Pointing out wrongdoings straight to people’s hearts shows the authority of the Lord Jesus. People’s hearts have seen and heard what the Lord has said. What people have done to the temple of the Lord is a long day for all, a long day for the Lord Himself, and humans. The day is long for humans to do bad to the Lord, because the Lord has been watching them, generation after generation doing bad; the Lord has seen them all. Also, remember that many followed the Lord Jesus in each place, and they followed and saw how the Lord reacted when he entered the temple. The way the Lord Jesus had put it, humans have turned the temple into a marketplace, not a worship place anymore. When the Lord chased all of them out, it impacted people’s hearts, making them start to think about what they had done to the temple of God. And that is why they are shouting and praising God; it is reflecting what happened. But the day is not over for humans yet. The sun goes down, but the day for them to continue doing bad has not yet ended. For humans to do bad, it is not counting with the sun; when they open their eyes in the morning, the bad they still do never ends.
“And He would not allow that anyone should carry a vessel through the temple.” In those times, they used the temple not for worship but as a shortcut in their travels, because the temple grounds were softer; it was not like walking through the bush. They used the benefit of the temple grounds for walking through, like nowadays we would call it: they made the temple grounds as a highway for walking to make short cuts for their travels. The Lord Jesus stopped only those who did not come for worship; the worshipers, He welcomed them all into the house of the Lord, as He always did.br> “My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” There is a slight difference between Matthew and Mark that not everyone notices. Here, in this place, Mark’s statement is complete with the addition of the words “for all the nations.” Think on those words alone; the salvation is not just for the Jews alone now, the Word has told clearly: from everywhere in the world if they call upon the Lord He hears all from the left to the right of His hand, no place can be hidden. It tells clearly that those who call upon His name to come to Him, no hidden cause for anyone and for anything, He hears them all. His calling is free; just follow the small, little voice in your heart to search for the One who created all things on this earth. No nation can say the Lord is not for them.
Matthew 21:14. After the Lord Jesus chased the merchants out of the temple, the people who stayed for worship saw the work of the Lord. When He did not allow them to walk through, those were not commoners whom He stopped from walking through; those were the merchants whom He stopped from walking through. But the commoners came in to worship, and that was when they brought all the sick to Him; and the people who stayed for worship have seen the work of the Lord, not the merchants who have seen.
Mark 11:18, Matthew 21:15. See Comments Matthew 21:15. The verse in Mark shows that the chief priests and the scribes seek a way to destroy the Lord Jesus because of their jealousy and fear of losing power in controlling the people.
Matthew 21:16. See Comments Matthew 21:16
Mark 11:19, Mark 11:11b, Matthew 21:17. These verses show that the Lord Jesus goes to Bethany in the evening after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and after cleaning the temple.
The Lord Jesus and the Fig Tree
Mark 11:12, Matthew 21:18. Hunger is a human feeling. Remember, as well, that the Lord Jesus is human and He knows what it means to be hungry; it is His human nature showing here. People cannot think that He is not human; the stomach is of flesh, and the Lord has human flesh. His humanity has shown here as well.
Mark 11:13-14, Matthew 21:19. See Comments Matthew 21:18-19.
Mark 11:20-21, Matthew 21:20. Mathew 21:20 and Mark 11:20-21 do not refer to the same moment in time. In Matthew 21:18-19 and Mark 11:12-14, we learn that one morning, the Lord Jesus cursed a fig tree. When the Lord Jesus cursed the fig tree, the disciples saw that the fig tree withered away immediately; they were all amazed at what happened, discussing it among themselves (Matthew 21:20). The following morning, the disciples saw the fig tree dried up from the roots (Mark 11:20). And Peter approached the Lord Jesus and reported that the fig tree had dried up. We can see from these passages of Scripture that there are distinct parts to what happens. Specifically, the Lord curses the fig tree, the disciples see it, and the disciples talk about it. From the time the disciples saw the fig tree wither away until the time Peter spoke about it here in Mark 11:21, there is a time gap. Peter had come and asked later, not at the spot when the Lord had cursed the tree; the tree withered right away, but Peter did not say anything at that time. The next day, as the Bible has told, Peter spoke.
Mark 11:22-24, Matthew 21:21-22. See Comments Matthew 21:21, 22. However, there are things we should not ask the Lord in prayer. An example of what we should not ask the Lord in prayer is not to feel hungry; this is against human nature. The Lord feels hungry as well; it is human nature to be hungry. Humans have argued that the Lord shouldn’t be hungry enough to curse the tree. This is because humans cannot expect the Lord Jesus to have human feelings, but the Bible tells us that the Lord was born as a baby, so human nature is in the Lord Jesus.
Mark 11:25. This verse stands by itself. The meaning is clear in its own: whatever you want the Lord to do for you, you should also do it for someone else. The logic of humans is that if you give one, you get one. But with the Lord, if you give one in the name of the Lord, the overflow will come; not what you give is what you get.
“Forgive if you have anything against anyone ...” If you give more in the name of the Lord, the overflow will come to you, and this principle applies to forgiving. To do more than just forgive, you must also forget them all, big or small, from your heart. After you forgive, you must forget them as well, as the Lord does. He forgives and forgets all our trespasses in the name of our Lord Jesus.
Mark 11:26. This verse is in the original as well, but not all Bible versions include it; humans tend to cut it out. The verse is clear already in its own. Even if you have small trespasses as a tip of a needle, but when it comes to the Lord’s eyes, it is clear, as the Bible tells us, nothing is secret for the Lord. You say you forgive, but inside you do not. Not the Lord hears only, but He sees in the heart as well. There is no secret for the Lord; if the forgiveness did not come from the heart, it is not a complete forgiveness. If you want forgiveness from the Lord, better forgive first.
The Lord Jesus Cleanses the Temple Mark 11:11a, Matthew 21:10-11. See Comments Matthew 21:10-11. Mark 11:11 summarizes that the Lord Jesus entered Jerusalem and the temple. At the end of the day, He and His disciples left for Bethany. Between the first part of Mark 11:11 (referred to as 11:11a) and the second part (11:11b), various events take place, which are detailed later in Mark Chapter 11 and in the other Gospels. It’s important to note that these events are not necessarily presented in chronological order.
Mark 11:15-17, Matthew 21:12-13, Luke 19:45. See Comments Matthew 21:12-13. As the Lord Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a colt, He went straight to the temple. He entered the temple and cleansed it, showing His authority and His disappointment with what people were doing there. This is the spot called the “triumphal entry” of the Lord Jesus into Jerusalem. His authority has been shown in telling the people what they had done wrong (pointing out their wrongdoings), and in making the hearts of all realize that He is the One who comes to point the way and lead them out of their wrongdoings in the temple of God. People learn now that they have been misusing the place of God. Pointing out wrongdoings straight to people’s hearts shows the authority of the Lord Jesus. People’s hearts have seen and heard what the Lord has said. What people have done to the temple of the Lord is a long day for all, a long day for the Lord Himself, and humans. The day is long for humans to do bad to the Lord, because the Lord has been watching them, generation after generation doing bad; the Lord has seen them all. Also, remember that many followed the Lord Jesus in each place, and they followed and saw how the Lord reacted when he entered the temple. The way the Lord Jesus had put it, humans have turned the temple into a marketplace, not a worship place anymore. When the Lord chased all of them out, it impacted people’s hearts, making them start to think about what they had done to the temple of God. And that is why they are shouting and praising God; it is reflecting what happened. But the day is not over for humans yet. The sun goes down, but the day for them to continue doing bad has not yet ended. For humans to do bad, it is not counting with the sun; when they open their eyes in the morning, the bad they still do never ends.
“And He would not allow that anyone should carry a vessel through the temple.” In those times, they used the temple not for worship but as a shortcut in their travels, because the temple grounds were softer; it was not like walking through the bush. They used the benefit of the temple grounds for walking through, like nowadays we would call it: they made the temple grounds as a highway for walking to make short cuts for their travels. The Lord Jesus stopped only those who did not come for worship; the worshipers, He welcomed them all into the house of the Lord, as He always did.br> “My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” There is a slight difference between Matthew and Mark that not everyone notices. Here, in this place, Mark’s statement is complete with the addition of the words “for all the nations.” Think on those words alone; the salvation is not just for the Jews alone now, the Word has told clearly: from everywhere in the world if they call upon the Lord He hears all from the left to the right of His hand, no place can be hidden. It tells clearly that those who call upon His name to come to Him, no hidden cause for anyone and for anything, He hears them all. His calling is free; just follow the small, little voice in your heart to search for the One who created all things on this earth. No nation can say the Lord is not for them.
Matthew 21:14. After the Lord Jesus chased the merchants out of the temple, the people who stayed for worship saw the work of the Lord. When He did not allow them to walk through, those were not commoners whom He stopped from walking through; those were the merchants whom He stopped from walking through. But the commoners came in to worship, and that was when they brought all the sick to Him; and the people who stayed for worship have seen the work of the Lord, not the merchants who have seen.
Mark 11:18, Matthew 21:15. See Comments Matthew 21:15. The verse in Mark shows that the chief priests and the scribes seek a way to destroy the Lord Jesus because of their jealousy and fear of losing power in controlling the people.
Matthew 21:16. See Comments Matthew 21:16
Mark 11:19, Mark 11:11b, Matthew 21:17. These verses show that the Lord Jesus goes to Bethany in the evening after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and after cleaning the temple.
The Lord Jesus and the Fig Tree
Mark 11:12, Matthew 21:18. Hunger is a human feeling. Remember, as well, that the Lord Jesus is human and He knows what it means to be hungry; it is His human nature showing here. People cannot think that He is not human; the stomach is of flesh, and the Lord has human flesh. His humanity has shown here as well.
Mark 11:13-14, Matthew 21:19. See Comments Matthew 21:18-19.
Mark 11:20-21, Matthew 21:20. Mathew 21:20 and Mark 11:20-21 do not refer to the same moment in time. In Matthew 21:18-19 and Mark 11:12-14, we learn that one morning, the Lord Jesus cursed a fig tree. When the Lord Jesus cursed the fig tree, the disciples saw that the fig tree withered away immediately; they were all amazed at what happened, discussing it among themselves (Matthew 21:20). The following morning, the disciples saw the fig tree dried up from the roots (Mark 11:20). And Peter approached the Lord Jesus and reported that the fig tree had dried up. We can see from these passages of Scripture that there are distinct parts to what happens. Specifically, the Lord curses the fig tree, the disciples see it, and the disciples talk about it. From the time the disciples saw the fig tree wither away until the time Peter spoke about it here in Mark 11:21, there is a time gap. Peter had come and asked later, not at the spot when the Lord had cursed the tree; the tree withered right away, but Peter did not say anything at that time. The next day, as the Bible has told, Peter spoke.
Mark 11:22-24, Matthew 21:21-22. See Comments Matthew 21:21, 22. However, there are things we should not ask the Lord in prayer. An example of what we should not ask the Lord in prayer is not to feel hungry; this is against human nature. The Lord feels hungry as well; it is human nature to be hungry. Humans have argued that the Lord shouldn’t be hungry enough to curse the tree. This is because humans cannot expect the Lord Jesus to have human feelings, but the Bible tells us that the Lord was born as a baby, so human nature is in the Lord Jesus.
Mark 11:25. This verse stands by itself. The meaning is clear in its own: whatever you want the Lord to do for you, you should also do it for someone else. The logic of humans is that if you give one, you get one. But with the Lord, if you give one in the name of the Lord, the overflow will come; not what you give is what you get.
“Forgive if you have anything against anyone ...” If you give more in the name of the Lord, the overflow will come to you, and this principle applies to forgiving. To do more than just forgive, you must also forget them all, big or small, from your heart. After you forgive, you must forget them as well, as the Lord does. He forgives and forgets all our trespasses in the name of our Lord Jesus.
Mark 11:26. This verse is in the original as well, but not all Bible versions include it; humans tend to cut it out. The verse is clear already in its own. Even if you have small trespasses as a tip of a needle, but when it comes to the Lord’s eyes, it is clear, as the Bible tells us, nothing is secret for the Lord. You say you forgive, but inside you do not. Not the Lord hears only, but He sees in the heart as well. There is no secret for the Lord; if the forgiveness did not come from the heart, it is not a complete forgiveness. If you want forgiveness from the Lord, better forgive first.
[27]
And they come again to Jerusalem; and as He is walking in the temple, there come to Him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders;
[28]
and they say to Him , By what authority are Thou doing these things? Or who gave Thee this authority to do these things?
[29]
And Jesus said to them, I will ask of you one question, and you answer Me , and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
[30]
The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? Answer Me .
[31]
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did you not believe him?
[32]
But should we say, From men —they feared the people; for all truly held John to be a prophet.
[33]
And they answered Jesus and say, We do not know. And Jesus says to them, Neither I tell you by what authority I do these things.
Comments Mark 11:27-33
For Mark 11:27-33, see Comments Matthew 21:23-27 and Luke 20:1-8.
Mark 11:27-28, Matthew 21:23, Luke 20:1-2. See Comments Matthew 21:23.
Mark 11:29, Matthew 21:24, Luke 20:3. See Comments Matthew 21:24.
Mark 11:30-32, Matthew 21:25-26, Luke 20:4-6. See Comments Matthew 21:25-26.
Mark 11:33, Matthew 21:27, Luke 20:7-8. See Comments Matthew 21:27. God cannot lie; that is the key to all things, and it shows in this verse. Here it is clear that the Lord Jesus does not lie. He does not lie, so He does not tell. It is not in the Lord to lie; rather not tell, than lie. He kept the promise made in verse 29.
Mark 11:27-28, Matthew 21:23, Luke 20:1-2. See Comments Matthew 21:23.
Mark 11:29, Matthew 21:24, Luke 20:3. See Comments Matthew 21:24.
Mark 11:30-32, Matthew 21:25-26, Luke 20:4-6. See Comments Matthew 21:25-26.
Mark 11:33, Matthew 21:27, Luke 20:7-8. See Comments Matthew 21:27. God cannot lie; that is the key to all things, and it shows in this verse. Here it is clear that the Lord Jesus does not lie. He does not lie, so He does not tell. It is not in the Lord to lie; rather not tell, than lie. He kept the promise made in verse 29.
Life and Faith Applications. 1) Do not use the place of worship as a place for business; the Lord does not join with it. So, if you call that place a place of worship, treat it as the Lord did; stop if you can those that do not worship; if you cannot stop them, do not join to do business with them; if you join, you are one of them. 2) When we stand praying, we need to do more than forgive the wrongs people do to us; we need to forget them all from our hearts, big or small, as the Lord does; He forgives and forgets all our trespasses. 3) Keep in mind that God cannot lie; this is the nature of God; He cannot lie. Therefore, we should follow Him in our lives and not lie. 4) Do not doubt when you ask something from the Lord; have faith and ask in faith, but do not ask things against God’s will and the nature of man.