What does Mark 11:26 mean?
This verse is not found in the more accurate ancient manuscripts. The New American Standard Version reads "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions," but the verse is in brackets, showing that the translators don't think it's original. The sentiment is consistent with Scripture and found in Matthew 6:14–15, at the end of the Lord's Prayer, and briefly in Luke 6:37. Nowhere else does Mark use the terms "heavenly Father" for God or "transgressions" for sin, so in the translations where it does occur, it's probably copied from Matthew.When Jesus says that if we do not forgive others we will not be forgiven by God, He does not mean we will lose or forfeit salvation if we do not fully forgive every single person who wronged us. In fact, the "forgiveness" mentioned here is not about eternal salvation, at all. Rather, this is relational forgiveness. The parallel for this would be offending or sinning against one's spouse, without asking for forgiveness. That would hurt a marriage relationship, and result in distance or separation, but not an utter end to that commitment.
Likewise, if we sin against God and do not ask for forgiveness, we do not lose our salvation. Our salvation is dependent on the work of Jesus, not our ability to remember every single sin and repent of them (Titus 3:5). However, sin does harm our relationship with God, interfering with our growth and His blessings. God designed us for community, honesty, and humility. If we sin against someone else without asking their forgiveness, we sin against God (Matthew 18:23–35). If we stubbornly refuse to forgive others, we're not reflecting appreciation for the forgiveness we, ourselves, have received (Mark 11:25).
Mark 11:20–26 is the conclusion of the story started in Mark 11:12–14. The fig tree Jesus cursed is found to be withered to its roots, truly dead, the next morning. The fig tree represents Jerusalem and, to an extent, Judaism, which has ceased to worship God and bless the people. In a few days, at the Last Supper, Jesus teaches the disciples that they cannot bear fruit unless they are dependent on Him, just as a vine is useless unless it is connected to the branch. Fruitless vines will wither, then be tossed into the fire, and burned (John 15:1–11). This half of the story of the fig tree is also found in Matthew 21:20–22. Verse 26 is not found in most modern translations.
Jesus and the disciples arrive in Jerusalem a week before the crucifixion, and Jesus begins the last days of His public ministry. They spend their nights on the Mount of Olives and their days in Jerusalem (Luke 21:37). Jesus accepts the accolades designed for a king (Mark 11:1–11), attacks materialistic tradition that keeps people from worshiping God (Mark 11:15–19), gives an object lesson about the fate of fruitless Jerusalem (Mark 11:12–14, 20–25), and reveals the Jewish religious leaders' hypocrisy (Mark 11:27–33). Despite the support of the crowd, Jesus is pushing the leaders toward the crucifixion.
