The Triumphal Entry

(Zechariah 9:9-13; Matthew 21:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19)

1When they were getting near Jerusalem and had arrived at Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples on in front, with these instructions. 2"Go," He said, "to the village facing you, and immediately on entering it you will find an ass's foal tied up which no one has ever yet ridden: untie him and bring him here. 3And if any one asks you, 'Why are you doing that?' say, 'The Master needs it, and will send it back here without delay.'" 4So they went and found a young ass tied up at the front door of a house. They were untying it, 5when some of the bystanders called out, "What are you doing, untying the foal?" 6But on their giving the answer that Jesus had bidden them give, they let them take it. 7So they brought the foal to Jesus, and threw their outer garments over him; and Jesus mounted. 8Then many spread their outer garments to carpet the road, and others leafy branches which they had cut down in the fields;

9while those who led the way and those who followed kept shouting "God save Him!" Blessed be He who comes in the Lord's name.

10Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our forefather David! God in the highest Heavens save Him!"

11So He came into Jerusalem and into the Temple; and after looking round upon everything there, the hour being now late He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

(Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:20-26)

12The next day, after they had left Bethany, He was hungry. 13But in the distance He saw a fig-tree in full leaf, and went to see whether perhaps He could find some figs on it. When however He came to it, He found nothing but leaves (for it was not fig time) 14and He said to the tree, "Let no one ever again eat fruit from thee!" And His disciples heard this.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

(Matthew 21:12-17; Luke 19:45-48; John 2:12-25)

15They reached Jerusalem, and entering the Temple He began to drive out the buyers and sellers, and upset the money-changers' tables and the stools of the pigeon-dealers, 16and would not allow any one to carry anything through the Temple. 17And He remonstrated with them. "Is it not written," He said, "'My House shall be called The House of Prayer for all the nations?' But you have made it what it now is—a robbers' cave." 18This the High Priests and Scribes heard, and they began to devise means to destroy Him. For they were afraid of Him, because of the deep impression produced on all the people by His teaching.

19When evening came on, Jesus and His disciples used to leave the city.

The Withered Fig Tree

(Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14)

20In the early morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig-tree withered to the roots; 21and Peter, recollecting, said to Him, "Look, Rabbi, the fig-tree which you cursed is withered up." 22Jesus said to them, "Have faith in God. 23In solemn truth I tell you that if any one shall say to this mountain, 'Remove, and hurl thyself into the sea,' and has no doubt about it in his heart, but stedfastly believes that what he says will happen, it shall be granted him. 24That is why I tell you, as to whatever you pray and make request for, if you believe that you have received it it shall be yours. 25But whenever you stand praying, if you have a grievance against any one, forgive it, so that your Father in Heaven may also forgive you your offences." 26

Jesus' Authority Challenged

(Matthew 21:23-27; Luke 20:1-8)

27They came again to Jerusalem; and as He was walking in the Temple, the High Priests, Scribes and Elders came to Him 28and asked, "By what authority are you doing these things? and who gave you authority to do them?" 29"And I will put a question to you," replied Jesus; "answer me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30John's Baptism—was it of Heavenly or of human origin? Answer me." 31So they debated the matter with one another. "Suppose we say, 'Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will ask, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 32Or should we say, 'human?'" They were afraid of the people; for all agreed in holding John to have been really a Prophet. 33So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." "Nor do I tell you," said Jesus, "by what authority I do these things."