1 When they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 2 and said to them, "Go your way into the village that is opposite you. Immediately as you enter into it, you will find a young donkey tied, on which no one has sat. Untie him, and bring him. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs him;’ and immediately he will send him back here."

4 They went away, and found a young donkey tied at the door outside in the open street, and they untied him. 5 Some of those who stood there asked them, "What are you doing, untying the young donkey?" 6 They said to them just as Yeshua had said, and they let them go.

7 They brought the young donkey to Yeshua, and threw their garments on it, and Yeshua sat on it. 8 Many spread their garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from the trees, and spreading them on the road. 9 Those who went in front, and those who followed, cried out, "Hoshia'na! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hoshia'na in the highest!"

11 Yeshua entered into the temple in Jerusalem. When he had looked around at everything, it being now evening, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

12 The next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 Seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 Yeshua told it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" and his disciples heard it.

15 They came to Jerusalem, and Yeshua entered into the temple, and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables, and the seats of those who sold the doves. 16 He would not allow anyone to carry a container through the temple. 17 He taught, saying to them, "Isn’t it written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ But you have made it a den of robbers!"

18 The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.

19 When evening came, he went out of the city. 20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. 21 Peter, remembering, said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away."

22 Yeshua answered them, "Have faith in God. 23 For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. 25 Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions."

27 They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him, 28 and they began saying to him, "By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?"

29 Yeshua said to them, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 The immersion of Yochanan—was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me."

31 They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we should say, ‘From heaven;’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 If we should say, ‘From men’"—they feared the people, for all held Yochanan to really be a prophet. 33 They answered Yeshua, "We don’t know."

Yeshua said to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things."

1 Quando estavam já perto de Betfagé e Betânia, nos arredores de Jerusalém, e chegaram ao Monte das Oliveiras, Jesus mandou dois dos discípulos à frente2 Vão até àquela aldeia além, e assim que entrarem verão ali presa uma cria de jumento que ninguém montou ainda. Soltem-na e tragam-na cá. Se alguém vos perguntar o que fazem, digam apenas: 'O Senhor precisa dela e tornará a entregá-la dentro de pouco tempo'.4 Os dois homens lá foram e de facto viram ali a cria de jumento na rua, amarrada do lado de fora de uma casa. Quando a estavam a soltar, alguns que ali se encontravam perguntaram: Que fazem vocês a desamarrar o jumentinho? Responderam conforme Jesus tinha mandado, e os homens consentiram.7 Levaram, pois, o jumentinho, e os discípulos puseram os mantos em cima do lombo do animal para que Jesus o montasse.8 Muitas pessoas de entre a multidão espalharam as roupas ao longo da estrada à sua frente, enquanto outras estendiam-lhe ramos de folhas apanhados nos campos10 Bendito seja o reino que vem estabelecer, o reino do nosso pai David! Glória a Deus nos altos céus!11 Entrou, pois, em Jerusalém e dirigiu-se para o templo. Reparou atentamente em tudo à sua volta e foi-se embora, pois a hora já ia adiantada naquela tarde, retirando-se para Betânia com os dozes discípulos.12 No outro dia de manhã, quando saíam de Betânia, Jesus sentiu fome. A pouca distância reparou numa figueira toda coberta de folhas e foi ver se tinha figos; mas não, só havia folhas. Aliás era ainda muito cedo para a figueira dar fruto. Então Jesus disse à árvore: Nunca mais darás fruto! Palavras estas que os discípulos ouviram.15 De novo em Jerusalém, foi ao templo, onde começou a mandar embora os negociantes que ali havia e os seus fregueses, e a afastar as bancas dos que trocavam dinheiro e as dos vendedores de pombas, não deixando também que entrassem mais mercadorias. E dizia-lhes: Está nas Escrituras: 'O meu templo deve ser um lugar de oração para todas as nações18 Quando os principais sacerdotes e mestres da lei souberam do que tinha feito, começaram a estudar a melhor maneira de acabarem com ele. Todavia, tinham medo dele, e que houvesse algum tumulto, porque o ensino de Jesus entusiasmara o povo.19 Naquela tarde, Jesus e os discípulos deixaram a cidade.20 Na manhã seguinte, indo a passar pela figueira que ele tinha amaldiçoado, viram os discípulos que estava seca desde as raízes! E Pedro, lembrando-se do que Jesus dissera à árvore na véspera, exclamou: Olha, Mestre, a figueira que amaldiçoaste secou!22 Jesus explicou aos discípulos: Se tiverem fé em Deus, e isto é uma profunda verdade, poderão dizer a este Monte das Oliveiras: 'Levanta-te e cai no mar24 Ouçam, pois: podem pedir seja o que for em oração que, se crerem, hão-de alcançá-lo25 Mas, quando estiverem a orar, perdoem primeiro a toda e qualquer pessoa contra a qual sintam ressentimento, para que o vosso Pai que está no céu vos perdoe os pecados também.27 Entretanto, chegaram de novo a Jerusalém e, enquanto passava no recinto do templo, os principais sacerdotes, os mestres da lei religiosa e os outros chefes foram ter com ele e perguntaram-lhe: Com que autoridade expulsaste os mercadores do templo? Quem te deu tal autoridade?29 Eu vos direi se responderem a uma pergunta: Que pensam de João Baptista? Foi mandado por Deus ou não?31 Eles puseram-se a trocar impressões entre si: Se respondermos que foi Deus que o mandou, logo perguntará: 'Então porque não o aceitaram?' Mas se dissermos que não foi Deus que o mandou, o povo revoltar-se-á logo. Porque o povo estava convencido de que João era profeta. Assim, disseram: Não sabemos Jesus respondeu: Também eu não respondo à vossa pergunta.