Mark 11:3

And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

And {G2532} if {G1437} any man {G5100} say {G2036} unto you {G5213}, Why {G5101} do ye {G4160} this {G5124}? say ye {G2036} that {G3754} the Lord {G2962} hath {G2192} need {G5532} of him {G846}; and {G2532} straightway {G2112} he will send {G649} him {G846} hither {G5602}.

If anyone asks you, `Why are you doing this?' tell him, `The Lord needs it,' and he will send it here right away."

If anyone asks, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it shortly.’”

And if any one say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye, The Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him back hither.

Mark 11:3 is a concise yet profound verse within the narrative of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, just days before His crucifixion. It highlights Jesus' divine foreknowledge and authority as He prepares for a symbolic and prophetic act.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' specific instructions to two of His disciples. In Mark 11:1-2, Jesus sends them to a nearby village to find a young donkey (a colt) tied, "whereon never man sat." This particular verse provides the exact response the disciples are to give if challenged by anyone for taking the animal: "the Lord hath need of him." This seemingly simple command reveals Jesus' intimate knowledge of the situation and His sovereign control over events, setting the stage for the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy concerning the Messiah.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Foreknowledge: Jesus demonstrates perfect knowledge of where the colt would be and what the owner's response would be. This points to His omniscience and His active orchestrating of events to fulfill His divine purpose.
  • Messianic Authority: The declaration "the Lord hath need of him" is a powerful assertion of Jesus' rightful claim. He is not merely borrowing but commanding, and the owner's immediate compliance underscores Jesus' inherent authority as the true Lord and Messiah. This echoes His identity as Lord and Master.
  • Obedience and Provision: The disciples' willingness to obey an unusual command, and the owner's readiness to release his property based solely on Jesus' word, illustrate faith and God's ability to provide exactly what is needed for His plans.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "Lord" used here is Kurios (Κύριος), a term that can denote master, owner, or sovereign ruler. When Jesus refers to Himself as "the Lord" in this context, it unequivocally points to His divine status and supreme authority. The phrase "hath need" (χρείαν ἔχει - chreian echei) implies a legitimate and necessary claim, not a mere request, highlighting the imperative nature of Jesus' purpose.

Practical Application

Mark 11:3 offers several insights for believers today:

  • Trusting God's Plan: Just as the disciples trusted Jesus' unconventional instructions, we are called to trust God's often unexpected ways of working in our lives and the world.
  • Yielding Resources to God: The owner's immediate and unquestioning release of his valuable colt serves as an example of readily offering our possessions, talents, and time to God's purposes when He "has need" of them.
  • Recognizing Christ's Authority: The verse reminds us that Christ is sovereign over all creation. His "needs" (His work, His kingdom, His will) take precedence, and our role is to respond with obedience and faith, knowing He is always working for His glory and our good.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Hebrews 2:7

    Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

  • Hebrews 2:9

    But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:12

    Both riches and honour [come] of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand [is] power and might; and in thine hand [it is] to make great, and to give strength unto all.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:18

    O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:

  • Psalms 110:3

    Thy people [shall be] willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

  • Acts 1:24

    And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all [men], shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

  • 2 Corinthians 8:9

    For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

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