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21 Kur iu afruan Jeruzalemit dhe arritën në Betfage, afër malit të Ullinjve, Jezusi dërgoi dy dishepuj,

duke u thënë atyre: “Shkoni në fshatin që ndodhet përballë jush; aty do të gjeni menjëherë një gomare të lidhur dhe një pulishtë me të; zgjidhini dhe m’i sillni!

Dhe nëse dikush ju thotë gjë, i thoni se Zoti ka nevojë për to, por do t’i kthejë shpejt.”

Tani kjo ndodhi për të përmbushur ç’ishtë thënë nga profeti, që thotë:

“I thoni bijës së Sionit: Ja po të vjen mbreti yt, zemërbutë, hipur mbi një gomare, madje një pulishtë, pjellë e një kafshe barrë.”

Dishepujt shkuan dhe vepruan ashtu si i kishte urdhëruar Jezusi.

Sollën gomaren dhe pulishtin, shtruan mbi to mantelet e tyre, dhe ai u hipi.

Dhe një turmë shumë e madhe shtronte mantelet e veta gjatë rrugës, ndërsa të tjerë thyenin degë nga pemët dhe i shtronin mbi rrugë.

Turmat që vinin përpara dhe ato që e ndiqnin brohoritnin, duke thënë: “Hosana Birit të Davidit! Bekuar qoftë ai që vjen në emër të Zotit! Hosana në vendet shumë të larta!.”

10 Dhe kur hyri Jezusi në Jeruzalem, gjithë qyteti u ngrit në këmbë dhe tha: “Kush është ky?.”

11 Dhe turmat thonin: “Ky është Jezusi, profeti nga Nazareti i Galilesë.

12 Pastaj Jezusi hyri në tempullin e Perëndisë, i dëboi të gjithë ata që shisnin dhe blinin në tempull dhe përmbysi tryezat e këmbyesve të parave dhe ndenjëset e shitësve të pëllumbave.

13 Dhe u tha atyre: “Éshtë shkruar: "Shtëpia ime do të quhet shtëpi lutje," por ju e keni kthyer në një shpellë kusarësh.”

14 Atëherë iu paraqitën të verbër dhe të çalë, dhe ai i shëroi.

15 Por krerët e priftërinjve dhe skribët, kur panë mrekullitë që ai kishte bërë dhe fëmijët që brohoritnin në tempull duke thënë: “Hosana Birit të Davidit!,” u zemëruan,

16 dhe i thanë: “A po dëgjon ti çfarë thonë këta?.” Jezusi u tha atyre: “Po! A nuk keni lexuar kurrë: "Nga goja e të vegjëlve dhe të foshnjave në gji ti ke përgatitur lavdi"?.”

17 Dhe, mbasi i la ata, doli nga qyteti për në Betani, dhe atje kaloi natën.

18 Në mëngjes, kur po kthehej në qytet e mori uria.

19 Dhe gjatë rrugës pa një fik dhe iu afrua, por nuk gjeti asgjë përveç gjetheve; dhe i tha: “Mos u lidhtë më kurrë fryt prej teje përjetë!.” Dhe fiku u tha menjëherë.

20 Kur e panë këtë, dishepujt u çuditën dhe thanë: “Qysh u tha fiku në çast?.”

21 Dhe Jezusi duke u përgjigjur u tha atyre: “Në të vërtetë ju them që, po të keni besim dhe të mos dyshoni, do të bëni jo vetëm atë që unë i bëra fikut, por, edhe sikur t’i thoni këtij mali: "Hiqu andej dhe hidhu në det," kjo do të ndodhë.

22 Dhe gjithçka të kërkoni në lutje, duke patur besim, do të merrni.”

23 Kur hyri në tempull, krerët e priftërinjve dhe pleqtë e popullit iu afruan, ndërsa i mësonte, dhe i thanë: “Me ç’pushtet i bën ti këto gjëra? Dhe kush ta ka dhënë këtë pushtet?.”

24 Dhe Jezusi, duke u përgjigjur, u tha atyre: “Edhe unë do t’ju bëj një pyetje, dhe në qoftë se ju do të më përgjigjeshit, unë gjithashtu do t’ju them me ç’pushtet i kryej këto gjëra.

25 Pagëzimi i Gjonit nga erdhi? Nga qielli apo nga njerëzit?.” Dhe ata arsyetonin midis tyre duke thënë: “Po t’i themi nga qielli, do të na thotë: Përse atëhërë nuk i besuat??".

26 Në qoftë se i themi nga njerëzit, kemi frikë nga turma, sepse të gjithë e konsiderojnë Gjonin profet.”

27 Dhe iu përgjigjën Jezusit duke thënë: “Nuk e dimë.” Atëhërë ai u tha atyre: “As unë nuk do t’ju them me ç’pushtet i bëj këto gjëra".

28 “Ç’mendoni? Një njeri kishte dy bij dhe duke iu drejtuar të parit tha: Bir, shko sot të punosh në vreshtin timm";

29 por ai u përgjigj dhe tha: "Nuk dua"; por më vonë, i penduar, shkoi.

30 Pastaj iu kthye të dytit dhe i tha të njëjtën gjë. Dhe ai u përgjigj dhe tha: "Po, imzot, do ta bëj," por nuk shkoi.

31 Cili nga të dy e kreu vullnetin e të atit?.” Ata i thanë: “I pari.” Jezusi u tha atyre: “Në të vërtetë ju them se tagrambledhësit dhe prostitutat hyjnë para jush në mbretërinë e qiejve.

32 Sepse Gjoni erdhi tek ju në rrugën e drejtësisë, dhe iu nuk i besuat, ndërsa tagrambledhësit dhe prostitutat i besuan; as mbasi i keni parë këto gjëra, nuk u penduat për t’i besuar.”

33 “Dëgjoni një shëmbëlltyrë tjetër: Ishte një pronar shtëpie, i cili mbolli një vresht, e rrethoi me gardh, gërmoi një vend ku të shtrydhte rrushin, ndërtoi një kullë dhe, mbasi ua besoi disa vreshtarëve, u nis në një vend të huaj.

34 Dhe kur erdhi koha e të vjelave, ai dërgoi shërbëtorët e vet te vreshtarët, për të marrë frutat e tij,

35 por vreshtarët i kapën shërbëtorët e tij, njërin e rrahën, një tjetër e vranë dhe një tjetër e vranë me gurë.

36 Përsëri, ai dërgoi shërbëtorë të tjerë, më shumë se të parët, dhe këta vreshtarët i trajtuan në të njëjtën mënyrë.

37 Më në fund ai i dërgoi atyre birin e vet duke thënë: "Për djalin tim do të kenë respekt!".

38 Por vreshtarët, kur e panë të birin, i thanë njeri tjetrit: "Ky është trashëgimtari; ejani, ta vrasim dhe marrim si pronë trashëgiminë e tij".

39 Dhe e kapën, e nxorën jashtë nga vreshti dhe e vranë.

40 Tani, kur të vijë i zoti i vreshtit, çfarë do t’u bëjë këtyre vreshtarëve?.”

41 Ata i thanë: “Ai do t’i vrasë keqas ata faqezinj dhe do t’ua besojë vreshtin vreshtarëve të tjerë, të cilët do t’i japin prodhimet në kohën e vet.”

42 Jezusi u tha atyre: “A nuk keni lexuar kurrë në Shkrimet: "Guri, që ndërtuesit e nxorën të papërdorshëm, u bë guri i qoshes. Kjo është vepër e Zotit, dhe është e mrekullueshme në sytë tonë"?

43 Prandaj unë po ju them se juve do t’ju hiqet mbretëria e Perëndisë dhe do t’i jepet një kombi që do ta bëjë të japë fryt.

44 Dhe ai që do të bjerë mbi këtë gur do të bëhet copëcopë; dhe ai mbi të cilin do të bjerë ai do të jetë i thërrmuar.”

45 Dhe krerët e priftërinjve dhe farisenjtë, kur i dëgjuan shëmbëlltyrat e tij, e kuptuan se po fliste për ta.

46 Dhe kërkonin ta kapnin, por kishin frikë nga turmat, sepse ato e konsideronin profet.

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King(A)(B)

21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives,(C) Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

This took place to fulfill(D) what was spoken through the prophet:

“Say to Daughter Zion,
    ‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
    and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”[a](E)

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks(F) on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!”(G)

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[c](H)

“Hosanna[d] in the highest heaven!”(I)

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet(J) from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Jesus at the Temple(K)

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying(L) and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers(M) and the benches of those selling doves.(N) 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[e](O) but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’[f](P)

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.(Q) 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,”(R) they were indignant.(S)

16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants
    you, Lord, have called forth your praise’[g]?”(T)

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany,(U) where he spent the night.

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree(V)

18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.(W)

20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt,(X) not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for(Y) in prayer.”

The Authority of Jesus Questioned(Z)

23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority(AA) are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”(AB)

27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’(AC)

29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors(AD) and the prostitutes(AE) are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness,(AF) and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors(AG) and the prostitutes(AH) did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent(AI) and believe him.

The Parable of the Tenants(AJ)

33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted(AK) a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower.(AL) Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place.(AM) 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants(AN) to the tenants to collect his fruit.

35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.(AO) 36 Then he sent other servants(AP) to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.

38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir.(AQ) Come, let’s kill him(AR) and take his inheritance.’(AS) 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,”(AT) they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants,(AU) who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes’[h]?(AV)

43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you(AW) and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”[i](AX)

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.(AY)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 21:5 Zech. 9:9
  2. Matthew 21:9 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 15
  3. Matthew 21:9 Psalm 118:25,26
  4. Matthew 21:9 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 15
  5. Matthew 21:13 Isaiah 56:7
  6. Matthew 21:13 Jer. 7:11
  7. Matthew 21:16 Psalm 8:2 (see Septuagint)
  8. Matthew 21:42 Psalm 118:22,23
  9. Matthew 21:44 Some manuscripts do not have verse 44.

21 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased,

16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.

19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.