And Jesus answered [and] said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will do not only [what was done to] the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea," it will happen!

And [after] he arrived at the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him [while he] was teaching, saying, "By what authority are you doing these [things]? And who gave you this authority?"

From where was the baptism of John--from heaven or from men?" And they began to discuss [this] among themselves, saying, "If we say 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

but if we say, it was merely human, we are obnoxious to the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

So the answer they gave Jesus was--"We do not know." "Then I," he said, "refuse to tell you what authority I have to do these things.

"But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons, He came to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in my vineyard today.'

"'I will not,' he replied. "But afterwards he was sorry, and went.

Then the father went to the second son, and said the same. 'I will not,' he answered; but afterwards he was sorry and went.

"Listen to another parable: There was a man--a master of a house--who planted a vineyard, and put a fence [around] it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower, and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey.

But when the time for gathering grapes was near, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his rent.

"He will put the wretches to a wretched death," was the reply, "and will entrust the vineyard to other vine-dressers who will render the produce to him at the vintage season."

Jesus says to them, Did you never see in the Writings, The stone which the builders put on one side, the same has been made the chief stone of the building: this was the Lord's doing, and it is a wonder in our eyes?

This was from the Lord, and it is wondrous in our eyes. For this reason, I say to you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation that will bring forth the fruits of it.

And when his stories came to the ears of the chief priests and the Pharisees, they saw that he was talking of them.

And though they had a desire to take him, they were in fear of the people, because in their eyes he was a prophet.

The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who made a feast when his son was married,

But the king was angry; and he sent his armies, and those who had put his servants to death he gave to destruction, burning down their town with fire.

Then said he to his servants, 'The wedding was prepared: but they which were bidden thereto, were not worthy.

And those servants went out into the streets, and got together all those whom they came across, bad and good: and the feast was full of guests.

But when the king came in to see those who were dining, he saw there a man who was not clothed with a wedding garment.

And he says to him, My friend, how camest thou in here not having on a wedding garment? But he was speechless.

Show me the coin used for paying taxes." And they brought to Him a coin [Note: This coin was equivalent to one day of a farm laborer's pay, or about $60-$84 in 1994].

Some Sadducees [Note: These were the Jewish party that denied there was a resurrection] came to Jesus that day and asked Him,

Now there were among us seven brothers; and the first was married and at his death, having no seed, gave his wife to his brother;

The reply of Jesus was, "You are in error, through ignorance of the Scriptures and of the power of God.

But about the dead coming back to life, have you no knowledge of what was said to you by God in the Writings:

and one of them, which was a doctor of law, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

His answer was: "'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.'

And no one was able to give him an answer, and so great was their fear of him, that from that day no one put any more questions to him.

He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who was living in it.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you pay a tenth of mint and dill and cumin, and neglect the more important [matters] of the law--justice and mercy and faithfulness! It was necessary to do these [things] {while not neglecting those}.

"It is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! For you [carefully] wash the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they [i.e., such evil people] are full of greed and uncontrolled desire.

You blind Pharisees! First wash the inside of the cup and dish, so [then] the outside will be clean also.

that upon you may come all the righteous blood that was shed upon the earth: from the blood of righteous Abel, unto the blood of Zachariah the son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar:

And [as] Jesus went out of the temple [courts] he was going along, and his disciples came up to point out to him the buildings of the temple.

"Do you see all these things?" was his answer. "I tell you, not a single stone will be left here upon another, which will not be throne down,"

And while he was seated on the Mountain of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, Make clear to us, when will these things be? and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?

When, then, you see in the holy place the unclean thing which makes destruction, of which word was given by Daniel the prophet (let this be clear to the reader),

[Also], the person who is on a housetop [Note: This was a flat area where people retired for rest, prayer, etc., with its stairway on the outside], is not to take any of the belongings from his house as he comes down [to flee].

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the world to this time, nor shall be.

for unless the time was to be short, very few could escape, but for the sake of the converts the time shall be short.

As the time of Noah was, so likewise shall the coming of the son of man be.

They were unaware of what was happening until the flood came and swept all of them away. That's how it will be when the Son of Man comes.

Two women will be grinding grain at a millstone [Note: This was a hand-operated device where two persons sat across from each other and rotated a circular stone over kernels of grain]; one will be taken, while the other one will be left.

But be certain of this, that if the master of the house had had knowledge of the time when the thief was coming, he would have been watching, and would not have let his house be broken into.

Now the husband was a long time in coming, and they all went to sleep.

But in the middle of the night there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

And while they went to get oil, the master came; and those who were ready went in with him to the feast: and the door was shut.

"For it is just like a man who was going on a long journey from his homeland, who called to him his slaves and turned his property over to them.

And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to everyone as he was able; and he went on his journey.

In the same way the one who was given two talents made two more.

But he who was given the one went away and put it in a hole in the earth, and kept his lord's money in a secret place.

The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, and said, "'Sir, it was five talents that you entrusted to me: see, I have gained five more.'

His lord said to him, Well, good and faithful bondman, thou wast faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter into the joy of thy lord.

And the one who was given two talents came and reported, 'Master, you entrusted me with two talents. Look, I have earned two more with them.'

His lord said to him, Well, good and faithful bondman, thou wast faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Then he which had received the one talent came also, and said, 'Master, I considered that thou wast a hard man, which reapest where thou sowedst not, and gatherest where thou strawedst not,

And I was in fear, and went away, and put your talent in the earth: here is what is yours.

'You lazy, worthless servant!' was his master's reply. 'You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather up where I have not winnowed?

Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and [when I] returned I would have gotten back [what was] mine with interest!

Then will the King say to those on his right, Come, you who have the blessing of my Father, into the kingdom made ready for you before the world was:

For I was in need of food, and you gave it to me: I was in need of drink, and you gave it to me: I was wandering, and you took me in;

I had no clothing, and you gave it to me: when I was ill, or in prison, you came to me.

Then those who had done what was right [i.e., the ones at His right side] replied, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you? Or thirsty, and give you [something] to drink?

Then will He say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, ye accursed! into the eternal fire which was prepared for the Devil and his angels;

For I was in need of food, and you gave it not to me; I was in need of drink, and you gave it not to me:

I was wandering, and you took me not in; without clothing, and you gave me no clothing; ill, and in prison, and you came not to me.

And these [i.e., the ones at His left side] will go away to never ending punishment, but those who did what was right will go to never ending life."

And it was when Jesus finished all the words, he said to his disciples

"You know that the Passover Festival will be celebrated in two more days [Note: This was the annual Jewish festival commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage under Moses' leadership], and the Son of man will be turned over to be crucified."

Then the chief priests and the rulers of the people came together in the house of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas.

Now [while] Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,

a woman came up to him holding an alabaster flask of very expensive perfumed oil, and poured [it] out on his head [while he] was reclining at table.

But the disciples seeing it became indignant, saying, To what end was this waste?

For this was able to be sold for much, and given to the poor.

But Jesus was aware [of what they were up to], so said, "Why are you bothering this woman? For she has done a kind deed to me.

For in the act of pouring this perfume on my body she was preparing it for my burial.

Then one of the twelve, he who was called Judas Iscariote, went to the chief priests

What will you give me, if I give him up to you? And the price was fixed at thirty bits of silver.

and from that time he was seeking a convenient season to deliver him up.

And [when it] was evening, he was reclining at table with the twelve disciples.

and the meal was proceeding, when Jesus said, "In solemn truth I tell you that one of you will betray me."

Indeed the Son of man goeth, as has been written concerning Him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It was good for him if that man had never been born.

And Judas, the one who was betraying him, answered [and] said, "{Surely I am not he, am I}, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You have said [it]."

And while they were eating, Jesus having taken the bread, and having blessed, did brake, and was giving to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat, this is my body;'

And after they had sung a hymn, they went up to the Mount of Olives. [Note: This was a small hill just east of Jerusalem]

Then Jesus came with His disciples to a place called Gethsemene. [Note: This was an olive orchard on a hillside just east of Jerusalem]. He said to them, "You sit here while I go over there and pray."

And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee [James and John], He began to be grieved and greatly distressed.

And he came to his disciples, and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter: Was it so, that you had not strength to watch with me one hour?

And [while] he was still speaking, behold, Judas--one of the twelve--arrived, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Now the one who was betraying him had given them a sign, saying, "[The one] whom I kiss--he is [the one]. Arrest him!"

And, behold, one of them who was with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

In that hour said Jesus to the multitudes, 'As against a robber ye did come forth, with swords and sticks, to take me! daily with you I was sitting teaching in the temple, and ye did not lay hold on me;

All this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.

But Peter was following him from a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest. And he went inside [and] was sitting with the officers to see the outcome.

but they found none: and though many false witnesses came, it was not found sufficient. at last there came two false witnesses, who charg'd him with saying,

But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, "I put you under oath by the living God, that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!"

saying, Prophesy to us, O Messiah! who it was that struck thee.

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a female slave came up to him [and] said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean."

But he said before them all that it was false, saying, I have no knowledge of what you say.