Jesus Honored as King in Jerusalem

1When they approached Jerusalem, near Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, “Y’all go to the village ahead. Immediately as y’all enter, y’all will find a colt tied there, on which no human has sat. Y’all untie him and bring him. 3If anyone asks y’all, ‘Why are y’all doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it, and he will send it back here soon.’”

4They went and found a colt tied at the door outside in the open street, and they untied him. 5Some bystanders there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6They said to them just as Jesus had said, and the bystanders let them go.

7They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8Many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread branches they had cut down from the fields. 9Those who went in front and those who followed cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord [YHWH]!+Psa 118:25-26 10Blessed is the coming empire of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

11Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Cursing the Fig Tree

12The next day, as they were leaving Bethany, he became hungry. 13Seeing a fig tree in the distance with leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” and his disciples heard it.

Driving the Money Changers from the Temple

15They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered the temple and began to throw out those who were buying and selling in the temple. He over turned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. 16He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. 17He taught them, saying, “Isn’t it written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the ethnic groups?’+Isa 56:7 But y’all have made it a den of robbers!”+Jer 7:11

18The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and began considering how they might kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

19When evening came, they left the city. 20In the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21Peter, remembering, said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away.”

22Jesus answered them, “Y’all have faith in God. 23For I tell y’all, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in their heart, but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24Therefore I tell y’all, all things y’all pray and ask for, y’all believe that y’all have received them, and they will be granted to y’all. 25Whenever y’all stand praying, if y’all have anything against anyone, y’all are to tell them so that your* Father who is in heaven may also forgive y’all of your* transgressions. +11:25 Some manuscripts include verse 26 “But if y’all do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.”

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

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

29Jesus said to them, “I will ask y’all one question. Answer me, and I will tell y’all by what authority I do these things. 30Was the baptism of John from heaven, or of human origin? Answer me.”

31They discussed among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven;’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32But if we say, ‘Of human origin’”—they feared the crowd, for everyone considered John to be a true prophet. 33They answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell y’all by what authority I do these things.”