1Now as they came to Jerusalem, they were close to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, and Jesus sent out two of his disciples

2and said to them, “Go into the village opposite us. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it to me.

3If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' you should say, 'The Lord has need of it and will immediately send it back here.'”

4They went away and found a colt tied at a door outside on the open street, and they untied it.

5Some people were standing there and said to them, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”

6They spoke to them as Jesus told them, and the people let them go their way.

7The two disciples brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it so Jesus could ride it.

8Many people spread their garments on the road, and others spread branches they had cut from the fields.

9Those who went before him and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!
Hosanna in the highest!”

11Then Jesus entered into Jerusalem and went into the temple and looked around at everything. Now, the time being late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

12The next day, when they returned from Bethany, he was hungry.

13Seeing from far away a fig tree that had leaves, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it, and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

14He spoke to it, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

15They came to Jerusalem, and he entered the temple and began to cast out the sellers and the buyers in the temple. He turned over the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.

16He did not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple that could be sold.

17He taught them and said, “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.”

18The chief priests and the scribes heard what he had said, and they looked for a way to kill him. For they feared him because the entire crowd was amazed at his teaching.

19When evening came, they left the city.

20As they walked by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.

21Peter remembered and said, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered away.”

22Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.

23Truly I say to you that whoever says to this mountain, 'Get up and cast yourself into the sea,' and if he does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he said will happen, that is what God will do.

24Therefore I say to you: Everything you pray and ask for, believe that you received it, and it will be yours.

25When you stand and pray, you must forgive whatever you have against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your trespasses.”

26⁴

27They came to Jerusalem again. As Jesus was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him.

28They said to him, “By what authority do you do these things, and who gave you the authority to do them?”

29Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question. Tell me and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

30The baptism of John, was it from heaven or from men? Answer me.”

31They discussed between themselves and argued and said, “If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

32But if we say, 'From men,' ... .” They were afraid of the people, for everyone was convinced that John was a prophet.

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