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The Triumphal Entry

21 When they approached Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples [ahead],(A) saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and at once you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you should say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and without delay the owner will send them [with you].” This happened so that what was spoken by the prophet would be fulfilled, saying:


Tell the daughter of Zion (the people of Jerusalem),
Behold, your King is coming to you,
Gentle and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”(B)

Then the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them, and they brought the donkey and [a]the colt, and [b]placed their coats on them; and Jesus sat on the coats. Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road [as before a king], while others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of Him, and those that followed Him, were shouting [in praise and adoration],

[c]Hosanna to the Son of David (Messiah);
Blessed [praised, glorified] is He who comes in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna in the highest [heaven]!”(C)

10 When He entered Jerusalem, all the city was trembling [with excitement], saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Cleansing the Temple

12 And Jesus entered the temple [grounds] and drove out [with force] all who were buying and selling [birds and animals for sacrifice] in the temple area, and He turned over the tables of the moneychangers [who made a profit exchanging foreign money for temple coinage] and the chairs of those who were selling doves [for sacrifice].(D) 13 Jesus said to them, “It is written [in Scripture], My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”(E)

14 And the blind and the lame came to Him in [the porticoes and courts of] the temple area, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful and miraculous things that Jesus had done, and heard the [d]boys who were shouting in [the porticoes and courts of] the temple [in praise and adoration], “Hosanna to the Son of David (the Messiah),” they became indignant 16 and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus replied to them, “Yes; have you never read [in the Scripture], Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared and provided praise for Yourself’?”(F) 17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

The Barren Fig Tree

18 Now early in the morning, as Jesus was coming back to the city, He was hungry.(G) 19 Seeing a lone fig tree at the roadside, He went to it and found nothing but leaves on it; and He said to it, “Never again will fruit come from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.

20 When the disciples saw it, they were astonished and asked, “How is it that the fig tree has withered away all at once?” 21 Jesus replied to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if you have faith [personal trust and confidence in Me] and do not doubt or allow yourself to be drawn in two directions, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen [if God wills it].(H) 22 And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Authority Challenged

23 When He entered the temple area, the [e]chief priests and elders of the people came to Him as He was teaching and said, “By what [kind of] authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority [to exercise this power]?”(I) 24 Jesus replied to them, “I will also ask you a question, and if you tell Me the answer, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John—from where did it come? From heaven [that is, ordained by God] or from men?” And they began debating among themselves [considering the implications of their answer], saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe John?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the [response of the] crowd; for they all regard John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what [kind of] authority I do these things.”

Parable of Two Sons

28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and changed his mind and went. 30 Then the man came to the second son and said the same thing; and he replied, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of the father?” The chief priests and elders replied, “The first one.” Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you [walking] in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even change your mind afterward and believe him [accepting what he proclaimed to you].

Parable of the Landowner

33 “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard and put a wall around it and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and rented it out to tenant farmers and went on a journey [to another country].(J) 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his [share of the] fruit. 35 But the tenants took his servants and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first time; and they treated them the same way. 37 Finally he sent his own son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son and have regard for him.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This [man] is the heir; come on, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 So they took the son and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes back, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to Him, “He will put those despicable men to a miserable end, and rent out the vineyard to other tenants [of good character] who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.”

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

The [very] [f]Stone which the builders rejected and threw away,
Has become the chief Cornerstone;
This is the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous and wonderful in our eyes’?(K)

43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to [another] people who will produce the fruit of it. 44 And he who falls on this Stone will be broken to pieces; but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”(L)

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was talking about them. 46 And although they were trying to arrest Him, they feared the people, because they regarded Jesus as a prophet.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 21:7 A colt that had not been used was considered holy by the Jews and was fit to carry a king.
  2. Matthew 21:7 A sign of homage and recognition of Jesus’ kingship.
  3. Matthew 21:9 “Save now!” or “Save I pray!”
  4. Matthew 21:15 There would have been a large number of twelve year old boys in the temple preparing to celebrate their first Passover and their ceremonial entry into manhood.
  5. Matthew 21:23 I.e. the official delegation from the Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court.
  6. Matthew 21:42 This quotation from a Messianic psalm refers to the coming rejection and crucifixion of Jesus, and His resurrection as the Cornerstone of mankind’s redemption.

21 Now kai when hote they drew engizō near to eis Jerusalem Hierosolyma and kai came erchomai to eis Bethphage Bēthphagē, to eis the ho Mount oros of ho Olives elaia, then tote Jesus Iēsous sent apostellō two dyo disciples mathētēs, saying legō to them autos, “ Go poreuō into eis the ho village kōmē · ho ahead katenanti of you hymeis, and kai right eutheōs away you will find heuriskō a donkey onos tethered deō, and kai a colt pōlos with meta her autos. Untie lyō them and bring agō them to me egō. · kai If ean anyone tis says legō anything tis to you hymeis, you are to say legō, ‘ The ho Lord kyrios has echō need chreia of them autos.’ And de he will send apostellō them autos at once.” This houtos · de took ginomai place in hina order that what ho had been spoken legō by dia the ho prophet prophētēs might be fulfilled plēroō, saying legō, Say legō to the ho daughter thugatēr of Zion Siōn, ‘ Behold idou, · ho your sy king basileus is coming erchomai to you sy, humble praus and kai mounted epibainō on epi a donkey onos, and kai on epi a colt pōlos, the foal hyios of a beast hypozygion of burden .’”

So de the ho disciples mathētēs went poreuō and kai did poieō as kathōs Jesus Iēsous had instructed syntassō them autos. · ho They brought agō the ho donkey onos and kai the ho colt pōlos, and kai placed epitithēmi their ho cloaks himation on epi them autos; and kai he sat epikathizō on epanō them autos. · ho · de A very large polys crowd ochlos spread strōnnyō their heautou · ho cloaks himation on en the ho road hodos, while de others allos cut koptō branches klados from apo · ho trees dendron and kai spread strōnnyō them on en the ho road hodos. The ho · de crowds ochlos that ho went proagō before him autos and kai those ho that followed akoloutheō were shouting krazō, “ Hosanna hōsanna to the ho Son hyios of David Dauid! Blessed eulogeō is he ho who comes erchomai in en the name onoma of the Lord kyrios! Hosanna hōsanna in en the ho highest hypsistos!” 10 And kai when he autos entered eiserchomai Jerusalem Hierosolyma, the ho whole pas city polis was seiō in turmoil , asking legō, “ Who tis is eimi this houtos?” 11 And de the ho crowds ochlos said legō, “ This houtos is eimi the ho prophet prophētēs, Jesus Iēsous · ho from apo Nazareth Nazareth of ho Galilee Galilaia.”

12 And kai Jesus Iēsous entered eiserchomai the ho temple hieron and kai drove ekballō out all pas who ho were selling pōleō and kai buying agorazō in en the ho temple hieron, and kai he overturned katastrephō the ho tables trapeza of the ho moneychangers kollybistēs and kai the ho chairs kathedra of those ho who were selling pōleō · ho doves peristera. 13 And kai he said legō to them autos, “ It stands written graphō, · ho My egō house oikos will be called kaleō a house oikos of prayer proseuchē,’ but de you hymeis are making poieō it autos a den spēlaion of thieves lēstēs.”

14 Then kai the blind typhlos and kai the lame chōlos came proserchomai to him autos in en the ho temple hieron and kai he healed therapeuō them autos. 15 But de when the ho ruling archiereus priests and kai the ho scribes grammateus saw the ho wonderful thaumasios things that hos he did poieō, and kai the ho children pais who ho were crying krazō out in en the ho temple hieron, · kai Hosanna hōsanna to the ho Son hyios of David Dauid!” they were indignant aganakteō, 16 and kai they said legō to him autos, “ Do you hear akouō what tis they houtos are saying legō?” “ Yes nai,” replied legō · ho · de Jesus Iēsous, “ but oudepote have you never read anaginōskō, ‘ Out ek of the mouth stoma of infants nēpios and kai nursing thēlazō babies you have brought katartizō forth praise ainos’?” 17 And kai leaving kataleipō them autos, he went exerchomai out exō of the ho city polis to eis Bethany Bēthania and kai spent aulizomai the night there ekei.

18 In the morning prōi, · de as he was returning epanagō to eis the ho city polis, he became hungry peinaō. 19 And kai seeing a heis fig sykē tree by epi the ho road hodos, he went erchomai over to epi it autos and kai found heuriskō nothing oudeis on en it autos except ei mē leaves phyllon only monon. And kai he said legō to it autos, “ May ginomai no mēketi fruit karpos ever come ginomai from ek you sy for eis all ho time aiōn!” And kai at once parachrēma the ho fig sykē tree withered away xērainō. 20 · kai When the ho disciples mathētēs saw this, they were astonished thaumazō and said legō, “ How pōs did xērainō the ho fig tree sykē wither away xērainō so quickly parachrēma?” 21 And de Jesus Iēsous answered apokrinomai · ho them autos, “ I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, if ean you have echō faith pistis and kai do not doubt diakrinō, not ou only monon will you do poieō what ho was done to the ho fig sykē tree , but alla even kan if you say legō to ho this houtos mountain oros, ‘ Be lifted airō up and kai thrown ballō into eis the ho sea thalassa,’ it will happen ginomai. 22 And kai whatever pas hosos you ask aiteō in en · ho prayer proseuchē, if you believe pisteuō, you will receive lambanō.”

23 And kai when he autos had entered erchomai the ho temple hieron, the ho ruling priests archiereus and kai the ho elders presbyteros of the ho people laos approached proserchomai him autos while he was teaching didaskō and said legō, “ By en what poios authority exousia are you doing poieō these houtos things , and kai who tis gave didōmi you sy · ho this houtos authority exousia?” 24 Jesus Iēsous answered apokrinomai · de · ho them autos, saying legō, “ I also kagō will ask erōtaō you hymeis one heis question logos, and if ean you give legō me egō an answer , then I kagō will tell legō you hymeis by en what poios authority exousia I do poieō these houtos things . 25 The ho baptism baptisma of ho John Iōannēs, where pothen did eimi it come from? From ek heaven ouranos or ē from ek man anthrōpos?” They ho · de reasoned dialogizomai among en themselves heautou, saying legō, “ If ean we say legō, ‘ From ek heaven ouranos,’ he will say legō to us hēmeis, ‘ Why dia tis then oun did you not ou believe pisteuō him autos?’ 26 But de if ean we say legō, ‘ From ek man anthrōpos,’ we are afraid phobeomai of the ho crowd ochlos, for gar they pas hold echō that hōs John Iōannēs was a prophet prophētēs.” · ho 27 So kai they answered apokrinomai · ho Jesus Iēsous, saying legō, “ We do not ou know oida.” And he autos said phēmi to them autos, · kai Neither oude will I egō tell legō you hymeis by en what poios authority exousia I do poieō these houtos things .

28  What tis · de do you hymeis think dokeō? A man anthrōpos had echō two dyo sons teknon, and kai he went proserchomai to the ho first prōtos and said legō, ‘ Son teknon, go hypagō and work ergazomai today sēmeron in en the ho vineyard ampelōn.’ 29 And de he ho answered apokrinomai, saying legō, ‘ I will thelō not ou,’ but de later hysteros he changed metamelomai his mind and went aperchomai. 30 Then de the man went proserchomai to the ho second heteros son and said legō the same hōsautōs thing . And de he ho answered apokrinomai, saying legō, ‘ I egō will, sir kyrios,’ but kai he did not ou go aperchomai. 31 Which tis of ek the ho two dyo did poieō the ho will thelēma of his ho father patēr?” They said legō, “ The ho first prōtos.” Jesus Iēsous said legō to them autos, · ho I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, · ho tax telōnēs collectors and kai · ho prostitutes pornē will enter proagō the ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos before you hymeis! 32 For gar John Iōannēs came erchomai to pros show you hymeis the way hodos of righteousness dikaiosynē, and kai you did not ou believe pisteuō him autos; · ho but de tax telōnēs collectors and kai · ho prostitutes pornē did believe pisteuō. And de even when you hymeis saw it, you did not oude change metamelomai your minds afterward hysteros · ho and believe pisteuō him autos.

33  Listen to akouō another allos parable parabolē: There was eimi a landowner oikodespotēs who hostis planted phyteuō a vineyard ampelōn. · kai He put peritithēmi a fence phragmos around peritithēmi it autos, · kai dug oryssō a winepress lēnos in en it autos, and kai built oikodomeō a watchtower pyrgos. Then kai he leased ekdidōmi it autos to tenants geōrgos and kai went away apodēmeō on a journey . 34 When hote · de the ho harvest karpos time kairos drew engizō near , · ho he sent apostellō · ho his autos servants to pros the ho tenants geōrgos to collect lambanō his autos share of the ho crop karpos. 35 But kai the ho tenants geōrgos seized lambanō · ho his autos servants; one hos men they severely beat derō, another hos de they killed apokteinō, and de still another hos de they stoned lithoboleō. 36 Then palin he sent apostellō other allos servants, more polys than the ho first prōtos time, and kai they did poieō the same hōsautōs to them autos. 37 Finally hysteros · de he sent apostellō his autos son hyios to pros them autos, · ho saying legō, ‘ They will respect entrepō · ho my egō son hyios.’ 38 But de when the ho tenants geōrgos saw the ho son hyios, they said legō to en one another heautou, ‘ This houtos is eimi the ho heir klēronomos; come deute on , let us kill apokteinō him autos and kai take echō · ho his autos inheritance klēronomia.’ 39 So kai they seized lambanō him autos and threw ekballō him out exō of the ho vineyard ampelōn and kai killed apokteinō him. 40 Now oun when hotan the ho owner kyrios of the ho vineyard ampelōn returns erchomai, what tis will he do poieō to ho those ekeinos tenants geōrgos?” 41 They said legō to him autos, “ He will bring those autos wretches kakos to a wretched kakōs end apollymi and kai lease ekdidōmi the ho vineyard ampelōn to other allos tenants geōrgos who hostis will give apodidōmi him autos his ho share karpos at en · ho their autos harvest kairos.” 42 Jesus Iēsous said legō to them autos, · ho Have you never oudepote read anaginōskō in en the ho Scriptures graphē: ‘A stone lithos that hos the ho builders oikodomeō rejected apodokimazō has become ginomai the cornerstone kephalē gōnia; this houtos was the Lord’ s kyrios doing ginomai, and kai it is eimi amazing thaumastos in en our hēmeis eyes ophthalmos’? 43 Therefore dia houtos I tell legō you hymeis that hoti the ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos will be taken airō away from apo you hymeis and kai given didōmi to a people ethnos who will produce poieō · ho its autos fruit karpos.” 44 and kai the ho one who falls piptō on epi this houtos · ho stone lithos will be broken synthlaō to pieces ; and de upon epi whomever hos it falls piptō, it will crush likmaō him autos 45 · kai When akouō the ho ruling priests archiereus and kai the ho Pharisees Pharisaios heard akouō · ho his autos parables parabolē, they perceived ginōskō that hoti he was speaking legō about peri them autos. 46 And kai although they wanted zēteō to arrest krateō him autos, they were afraid phobeomai of the ho crowds ochlos because epei they held echō him autos to eis be a prophet prophētēs.