1 When they were getting near Jerusalem, that is, were at Bethphage and Bethany in front of the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples on ahead,
2 and said to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and as soon as you get into it, you will find a colt tied which has never been ridden by a man. Untie it and bring it here.
3 And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing that?' answer, 'The Lord needs it, and will soon send it back here.'"
4 So off they went and found a colt tied outside a door at a street corner. They untied it,
5 but some bystanders said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?"
6 And they answered as Jesus had directed them, and so they let them bring it.
7 They brought the colt to Jesus, and they threw their coats over it, and Jesus mounted it.
8 And many of the people spread their coats in the road, while others scattered layers of leaves cut from the fields.
9 Then those in front and those behind Him shouted: "Welcome Him! Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord;
10 Blessed be the coming reign of our father David! Welcome Him from on high!"
11 And so He went into Jerusalem and into the temple. After He had looked everything over, as it was already late, He went out with the Twelve to Bethany.
12 Next day, while they were walking over from Bethany, He felt hungry.
13 Now in the distance He saw a fig tree covered with leaves, and He went up to it to see if He might find some figs on it, but when He got to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the time for figs.
14 So He spoke to it and said, "Never again may anyone eat a fig from you!" And His disciples were listening to it.
15 Then they reached Jerusalem, and He went into the temple and began to drive out of it those who were buying and selling things in it. Then He upset the money-changers' tables and the dove-dealers' counters,
16 and would not let anybody carry a vessel through the temple.
17 And He continued teaching them and saying, "Does not the Scripture say, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a cave for robbers."
18 Then the high priests and the scribes heard of this, and they kept looking for some way to destroy Him, for they were afraid of Him, for everybody was swept off his feet at what He said.
20 In the morning as they were passing along, they noticed that the fig tree was withered, clear down to its roots.
21 And Peter remembered about it, and said to Him, "Look, Teacher! The fig tree which you cursed has withered!"
22 Then Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God!
23 I solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Get up and throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt at all in his heart, but has faith that what he says will take place, shall have it.
24 So then I tell you, whenever you pray and ask for anything, have faith that it has been granted you, and you will get it.
25 And whenever you stand and pray, if you have anything against anybody, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven too may forgive you your shortcomings."
26 Omitted Text.
27 Then again they went into Jerusalem. And while Jesus was walking about in the temple, the high priests, scribes, and elders came up to Him
28 and said to Him, "What sort of authority have you for doing as you do? Or, who gave you the authority to do as you do?"
29 Jesus said to them, "Let me ask you just one question, and if you answer me, I will tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do.
30 Was John's baptism from heaven or from men? Answer me."
31 Then they argued with one another in this way, "If we say, 'It was from heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
32 On the other hand, can we say, 'It was from men'?" For they were afraid of the people, because everybody thought that John was really a prophet.
33 So they said to Jesus, "We do not know." Jesus also said to them, "Nor am I going to tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do."