The Triumphal Entry
1 Now Matt. 21:1–9; Luke 19:29; John 2:13when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and 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.3 And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here."
4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?"
6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 Matt. 21:8And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
"Hosanna!
Ps. 118:25, 26; Matt. 21:9‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord!
Ps. 148:1Hosanna in the highest!"
11 Matt. 21:12And 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
12 Matt. 21:18–22Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 Matt. 21:19And 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. 14 In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again."
And His disciples heard it.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
15 Mal. 3:1; Matt. 21:12–16; Luke 19:45–47; John 2:13–16So 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 Lev. 14:22doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. 17 Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, Is. 56:7‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a Jer. 7:11‘den of thieves.’"
18 And Ps. 2:2; Matt. 21:45, 46; Luke 19:47the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because Matt. 7:28; Mark 1:22; 6:2; Luke 4:32all the people were astonished at His teaching. 19 When evening had come, He went out of the city.
The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree
20 Matt. 21:19–22Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."
22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.23 For Matt. 17:20; 21:21; Luke 17:6assuredly, 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.24 Therefore I say to you, Matt. 7:7; Luke 11:9; (John 14:13; 15:7; 16:24; James 1:5, 6)whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Forgiveness and Prayer
25 "And whenever you stand praying, Matt. 6:14; 18:23–35; Eph. 4:32; (Col. 3:13)if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.26 But Matt. 6:15; 18:35if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."
Jesus’ Authority Questioned
27 Then they came again to Jerusalem. Matt. 21:23–27; Luke 20:1–8And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. 28 And they said to Him, "By what John 5:27authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?"
29 But 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:30 The (Mark 1:4, 5, 8); Luke 7:29, 30baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me."
31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘From men’ "—they feared the people, for Matt. 3:5; 14:5; Mark 6:20all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. 33 So 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."