The Barren Fig Tree Is Cursed

12 The(A) next day when they went out from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig(B) tree with leaves, he went to find out if there was anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit(C) from you again!”(D) And his disciples(E) heard it.

Cleansing the Temple

15 They came to Jerusalem,(F) and he went into the temple(G) and began to throw out those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers(H) and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. 17 He was teaching them: “Is it not written,(I) My house(J) will be called a house of prayer(K) for all nations?[a] But you have made it a den of thieves!”[b](L)

18 The chief priests and the scribes(M) heard it and started looking for a way to kill him. For they were afraid(N) of him, because the whole crowd was astonished by his teaching.

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Footnotes

  1. 11:17 Is 56:7
  2. 11:17 Jr 7:11

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.

Jesus Clears the Temple

15 When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace.[a] 17 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”[b]

18 When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.

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Footnotes

  1. 11:16 Or from carrying merchandise through the Temple.
  2. 11:17 Isa 56:7; Jer 7:11.