The challenge to Jerusalem
1THEY were now approaching Jerusalem, and when they reached Bethphage and Bethany, close by the mount of Olives, he sent off two of his disciples.
2“Go into the village opposite,” he told them, “and just as you enter you will find tethered there a colt which no one has yet ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
3If anyone asks why you are doing this, say, ‘The Master needs it, and will send it back here without delay.’”
4So they went off, and found the colt outside in the street, tethered beside a door. As they were untying it,
5some of the bystanders asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”
6They answered as Jesus had told them, and were then allowed to take it.
7So they brought the colt to Jesus, and when they had spread their cloaks on it he mounted it.
8Many people carpeted the road with their cloaks, while others spread greenery which they had cut in the fields;
9and those in front and those behind shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
10Blessed is the kingdom of our father David which is coming! Hosanna in the heavens!”
11He entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. He looked round at everything; then, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
12On the following day, as they left Bethany, he felt hungry,
13and, noticing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. But when he reached it he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season for figs.
14He said to the tree, “May no one ever again eat fruit from you!” And his disciples were listening.
15So they came to Jerusalem, and he went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold there. He upset the tables of the money-changers and the seats of the dealers in pigeons;
16and he would not allow anyone to carry goods through the temple court.
17Then he began to teach them, and said, “Does not scripture say, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a robbers” cave.'
18The chief priests and the scribes heard of this and looked for a way to bring about his death; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching.
19And when evening came they went out of the city.
20Early next morning, as they passed by, they saw that the fig tree had withered from the roots up;
21and Peter, recalling what had happened, said to him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which you cursed has withered.”
22Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.
23Truly I tell you: if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted from your place and hurled into the sea,’ and has no inward doubts, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
24I tell you, then, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.
25“And when you stand praying, if you have a grievance against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you the wrongs you have done.”
26[[EMPTY]]
27THEY came once more to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple court the chief priests, scribes, and elders came to him
28and said, “By what authority are you acting like this? Who gave you authority to act in this way?”
29Jesus said to them, “I also have a question for you, and if you give me an answer, I will tell you by what authority I act.
30The baptism of John: was it from God, or from men? Answer me.”
31This set them arguing among themselves: “What shall we say? If we say, ‘From God,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’
32Shall we say, ‘From men’?” -- but they were afraid of the people, for all held that John was in fact a prophet.
33So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Then I will not tell you either by what authority I act.”