1As they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethsphage526 and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, Jesus527 sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, “Go your way into the village that is facing you. Immediately as you enter into it, you will find a young donkey tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie him and bring him [to me]. 3If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs him and will send him back right away.’”
4They went away and found a young donkey tied by a door outside, in the open street. As they untied him, 5some of the bystanders asked them, “What are you doing, untying the young donkey?” 6The two disciples replied just as Jesus had commanded, and the people let them go.
7They brought the young donkey to Jesus, threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it. 8Many spread their garments on the way, while others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9Those who went in front as well as those who followed cried out,
Hosanna528! Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord!529
10Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
that is coming in the Name of the Lord!530
Hosanna in the highest!
11Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. After looking around at everything, since it was now evening, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
The cursing of the fig tree—The cleansing of the temple
12The next day, as they were coming out from Bethany, Jesus531 was hungry. 13Seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find something on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14He then said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” and his disciples heard it.
15They arrived again in Jerusalem and Jesus entered into the temple. He began to drive out those who did business532 in the temple and he overthrew the tables of the money changers, as well as the seats of those who sold doves. 16He would not allow anyone to carry a container through the temple. 17He taught them, saying, “Is it not written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’533 But you have made it a ‘den of thieves!’”534
18When the chief priests and scribes and Pharisees heard this, they considered how they might destroy him. For they feared Jesus,535 because the crowd was astonished at his teaching.
19When evening came, he left the city. 20As they passed by in the morning, the disciples saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21Remembering [what had happened], Peter said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away!”
22Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God! 23For amen, I tell you that if anyone tells this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ without doubt in his heart but believing that what he says is happening, he shall have whatever he says. 24Therefore, I tell you, whatever things you ask for and pray for, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 25Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive, so that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive your transgressions. 26But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father536 forgive your transgressions.”537
By what authority
27They returned to Jerusalem, and as Jesus was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the presbyters came to him. 28And they said to him, “By what authority do you do these things, or who gave you the authority to do such things?”
29Jesus replied, “I also will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30The baptism of John—was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me.”
31They debated among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven’ he will reply, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32But dare we say, ‘From men?’” They feared the people, for all considered that John was a prophet. 33They answered Jesus, “We do not know!”
Jesus answered and said to them, “Then neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
The parable of the tenant farmers of the vineyard
- TR & CT read “Bethphage” instead of “Bethsphage”
- Greek “he”
- “Hosanna” means “save us” or “help us, we pray.”
- Psalm 118:25-26/117 LXX
- Some manuscripts do not have the clause “in the name of the Lord”
- Greek “he”
- Greek “those who sold and those who bought”
- Isaias 56:7
- Jeremiah 7:11
- Greek “him”
- MT and TR add “in heaven”
- CT omits this verse
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
