1 N ow when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples;

Jesus and His followers were near Jerusalem at the Mount of Olives. They were in the towns of Bethphage and Bethany. Jesus sent two of His followers on ahead.

2 a nd He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it.

He said to them, “Go into the town over there. As soon as you get there, you will find a young donkey tied. No man has ever sat on it. Let the donkey loose and bring it here.

3 A nd if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”

If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing that?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it. He will send it back again soon.’”

4 S o they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it.

The two followers went on their way. They found the young donkey tied by the door where two streets crossed. They took the rope off its neck.

5 B ut some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?”

Some men were standing there. They said to the two followers, “Why are you taking the rope off that young donkey?”

6 A nd they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go.

The two followers told them what Jesus had said and the men let them take the donkey.

7 T hen they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.

They brought it to Jesus and put their coats over it. Jesus sat on the donkey.

8 A nd many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

Many people put their clothes down on the road. Others cut branches off the trees and put them down on the road.

9 T hen those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the L ord!’

Those who went in front and those who followed spoke with loud voices, “Greatest One! Great and honored is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!

10 B lessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Great is the coming holy nation of our father David. It will come in the name of the Lord, Greatest One in the highest heaven.”

11 A nd Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. The Fig Tree Withered

Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the house of God. He looked around at everything. Then He went with the twelve followers to the town of Bethany because it was late. The Fig Tree with No Fruit

12 N ow the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.

They came from Bethany the next morning. Jesus was hungry.

13 A nd seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

Along the road He saw a fig tree with leaves on it. He went over to see if it had any fruit. He saw nothing but leaves. It was not the right time for figs.

14 I n response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it. Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Jesus said to the tree, “Let no one ever again eat fruit from you.” His followers heard Him say it. Jesus Stops the Buying and the Selling in the House of God

15 S o they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

Then they came to Jerusalem. Jesus went into the house of God. He began to make the people leave who were selling and buying in the house of God. He turned over the tables of the men who changed money. He turned over the seats of those who sold doves.

16 A nd He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.

He would not allow anyone to carry a pot or pan through the house of God.

17 T hen He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

He taught them saying, “Is it not written, ‘My house is to be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? You have made it a place of robbers.”

18 A nd the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.

The teachers of the Law and the religious leaders of the Jews heard it. They tried to find some way to put Jesus to death. But they were afraid of Him because all the people were surprised and wondered about His teaching.

19 W hen evening had come, He went out of the city. The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree

When evening came, Jesus and His followers went out of the city. The Fig Tree Dries Up

20 N ow in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

In the morning they passed by the fig tree. They saw it was dried up from the roots.

21 A nd Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

Peter remembered what had happened the day before and said to Jesus, “Teacher, see! The fig tree which You spoke to has dried up!”

22 S o Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.

Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God.

23 F or assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

For sure, I tell you, a person may say to this mountain, ‘Move from here into the sea.’ And if he does not doubt, but believes that what he says will be done, it will happen.

24 T herefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Forgiveness and Prayer

Because of this, I say to you, whatever you ask for when you pray, have faith that you will receive it. Then you will get it.

25 “ And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

When you stand to pray, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins also.

26 B ut if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Jesus’ Authority Questioned

If you do not forgive them their sins, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.”

27 T hen they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him.

They came again to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking around in the house of God. The religious leaders and the teachers of the Law and other leaders came to Him.

28 A nd they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”

They asked, “How do You have the right and the power to do these things? Who gave You the right and the power to do them?”

29 B ut Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things:

Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing also. If you tell Me, then I will tell you by what right and power I do these things.

30 T he baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”

Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Tell Me.”

31 A nd they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

They talked among themselves. They said, “If we say from heaven, He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’

32 B ut if we say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.

But how can we say, ‘From men’?” They were afraid of the people because everyone believed that John was one who spoke for God.

33 S o they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

So they said, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said, “Then I will not tell you by what right and power I do these things.”