Matthew 21
Living Bible
21 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, and were near the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of them into the village ahead.
2 “Just as you enter,” he said, “you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them here. 3 If anyone asks you what you are doing, just say, ‘The Master needs them,’ and there will be no trouble.”
4 This was done to fulfill the ancient prophecy, 5 “Tell Jerusalem her King is coming to her, riding humbly on a donkey’s colt!”
6 The two disciples did as Jesus said, 7 and brought the animals to him and threw their garments over the colt[a] for him to ride on. 8 And some in the crowd threw down their coats along the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them out before him.
9 Then the crowds surged on ahead and pressed along behind, shouting, “God bless King David’s Son!” . . . “God’s Man is here!”[b] . . . “Bless him, Lord!” . . . “Praise God in highest heaven!”
10 The entire city of Jerusalem was stirred as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.
11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth up in Galilee.”
12 Jesus went into the Temple, drove out the merchants, and knocked over the money changers’ tables and the stalls of those selling doves.
13 “The Scriptures say my Temple is a place of prayer,” he declared, “but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”
14 And now the blind and crippled came to him, and he healed them there in the Temple. 15 But when the chief priests and other Jewish leaders saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the little children in the Temple shouting, “God bless the Son of David,” they were disturbed and indignant and asked him, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”
16 “Yes,” Jesus replied. “Didn’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘Even little babies shall praise him!’”
17 Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.
18 In the morning, as he was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry 19 and noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “Never bear fruit again!” And soon[c] the fig tree withered up.
20 The disciples were utterly amazed and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”
21 Then Jesus told them, “Truly, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this Mount of Olives, ‘Move over into the ocean,’ and it will. 22
23 When he had returned to the Temple and was teaching, the chief priests and other Jewish leaders came up to him and demanded to know by whose authority he had thrown out the merchants the day before.[d]
24 “I’ll tell you if you answer one question first,” Jesus replied. 25 “Was John the Baptist sent from God or not?”
They talked it over among themselves. “If we say, ‘From God,’” they said, “then he will ask why we didn’t believe what John said. 26 And if we deny that God sent him, we’ll be mobbed, for the crowd all think he was a prophet.” 27 So they finally replied, “We don’t know!”
And Jesus said, “Then I won’t answer your question either.
28 “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work on the farm today.’ 29 ‘I won’t,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 Then the father told the youngest, ‘You go!’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t. 31 Which of the two was obeying his father?”
They replied, “The first, of course.”
Then Jesus explained his meaning: “Surely evil men and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom before you do. 32 For John the Baptist told you to repent and turn to God, and you wouldn’t, while very evil men and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to repent, and so you couldn’t believe.
33 “Now listen to this story: A certain landowner planted a vineyard with a hedge around it, and built a platform for the watchman, then leased the vineyard to some farmers on a sharecrop basis, and went away to live in another country.
34 “At the time of the grape harvest he sent his agents to the farmers to collect his share. 35 But the farmers attacked his men, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.
36 “Then he sent a larger group of his men to collect for him, but the results were the same. 37 Finally the owner sent his son, thinking they would surely respect him.
38 “But when these farmers saw the son coming, they said among themselves, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate; come on, let’s kill him and get it for ourselves!’ 39 So they dragged him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 “When the owner returns, what do you think he will do to those farmers?”
41 The Jewish leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will pay him promptly.”
42 Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone rejected by the builders has been made the honored cornerstone;[e] how remarkable! what an amazing thing the Lord has done’?
43 “What I mean is that the Kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and given to a nation that will give God his share of the crop.[f] 44 All who stumble on this rock of truth[g] shall be broken, but those it falls on will be scattered as dust.”
45 When the chief priests and other Jewish leaders realized that Jesus was talking about them—that they were the farmers in his story— 46 they wanted to get rid of him but were afraid to try because of the crowds, for they accepted Jesus as a prophet.
Footnotes
- Matthew 21:7 threw their garments over the colt, implied.
- Matthew 21:9 God’s Man is here, literally, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
- Matthew 21:19 soon, or “immediately.”
- Matthew 21:23 by whose authority he had thrown out the merchants the day before, literally, “By what authority do you do these things?”
- Matthew 21:42 the honored cornerstone, literally, “the head of the corner.”
- Matthew 21:43 that will give God his share of the crop, literally, “bringing forth the fruits.”
- Matthew 21:44 on this rock of truth, literally, “on this stone.”
Matei 21
Cornilescu 1924 - Revised 2010, 2014
Intrarea lui Isus în Ierusalim
21 Când(A) s-au apropiat de Ierusalim şi au ajuns la Betfaghe, înspre Muntele(B) Măslinilor, Isus a trimis doi ucenici 2 şi le-a zis: „Duceţi-vă în satul dinaintea voastră. În el veţi găsi îndată o măgăriţă legată şi un măgăruş împreună cu ea; dezlegaţi-i şi aduceţi-i la Mine. 3 Dacă vă va zice cineva ceva, să spuneţi că Domnul are trebuinţă de ei. Şi îndată îi va trimite.” 4 Dar toate aceste lucruri s-au întâmplat ca să se împlinească ce fusese vestit prin prorocul care zice: 5 „Spuneţi(C) fiicei Sionului: ‘Iată, Împăratul tău vine la tine, blând şi călare pe un măgar, pe un măgăruş, mânzul unei măgăriţe’.” 6 Ucenicii(D) s-au dus şi au făcut cum le poruncise Isus. 7 Au adus măgăriţa şi măgăruşul, şi-au(E) pus hainele peste ei şi El a şezut deasupra. 8 Cei mai mulţi din norod îşi aşterneau hainele pe drum; alţii(F) tăiau ramuri din copaci şi le presărau pe drum. 9 Noroadele care mergeau înaintea lui Isus şi cele ce veneau în urmă strigau: „Osana(G), Fiul lui David! Binecuvântat(H) este Cel ce vine în Numele Domnului! Osana în cerurile preaînalte!”
Gonirea vânzătorilor din Templu
10 Când(I) a intrat în Ierusalim, toată cetatea s-a pus în mişcare şi fiecare zicea: „Cine este acesta?” 11 „Este Isus, Prorocul(J), din Nazaretul Galileii”, răspundeau noroadele. 12 Isus a intrat(K) în Templul lui Dumnezeu. A dat afară pe toţi cei ce vindeau şi cumpărau în Templu, a răsturnat mesele schimbătorilor(L) de bani şi scaunele celor ce vindeau porumbei 13 şi le-a zis: „Este scris: ‘Casa(M) Mea se va chema o casă de rugăciune’. Dar(N) voi aţi făcut din ea o peşteră de tâlhari.” 14 Nişte orbi şi şchiopi au venit la El în Templu şi El i-a vindecat. 15 Dar preoţii cei mai de seamă şi cărturarii, când au văzut minunile pe care le făcea şi pe copii strigând în Templu şi zicând: „Osana, Fiul lui David!”, s-au umplut de mânie. 16 Şi I-au zis: „Auzi ce zic aceştia?” „Da”, le-a răspuns Isus. „Oare n-aţi citit niciodată cuvintele acestea: ‘Tu ai scos laude din(O) gura pruncilor şi din gura celor ce sug’?” 17 Şi, lăsându-i, a ieşit din cetate, şi S-a îndreptat spre Betania(P) şi a rămas acolo.
Blestemarea smochinului
18 Dimineaţa(Q), pe când Se întorcea în cetate, I-a fost foame. 19 A văzut(R) un smochin lângă drum şi S-a apropiat de el, dar n-a găsit decât frunze şi i-a zis: „De acum încolo, în veac să nu mai dea rod din tine!”Şi îndată smochinul s-a uscat. 20 Ucenicii, când(S) au văzut acest lucru, s-au mirat şi au zis: „Cum de s-a uscat smochinul acesta într-o clipă?” 21 Drept răspuns, Isus le-a zis: „Adevărat vă spun că, dacă(T) veţi avea credinţă şi nu(U) vă veţi îndoi, veţi face nu numai ce s-a făcut smochinului acestuia, ci(V), chiar dacă aţi zice muntelui acestuia: ‘Ridică-te de aici şi aruncă-te în mare’, se va face. 22 Tot(W) ce veţi cere cu credinţă, prin rugăciune, veţi primi.”
Puterea lui Isus. Pilda celor doi fii
23 Isus(X) S-a dus în Templu şi, pe când învăţa norodul, au venit la El preoţii cei mai de seamă şi bătrânii norodului şi I-au zis(Y): „Cu ce putere faci Tu lucrurile acestea şi cine Ţi-a dat puterea aceasta?” 24 Drept răspuns, Isus le-a zis: „Vă voi pune şi Eu o întrebare şi, dacă-Mi veţi răspunde la ea, vă voi spune şi Eu cu ce putere fac aceste lucruri. 25 Botezul lui Ioan de unde venea? Din cer sau de la oameni?” Dar ei vorbeau între ei şi ziceau: „Dacă vom răspunde: ‘Din cer’, ne va spune: ‘Atunci de ce nu l-aţi crezut?’ 26 Şi dacă vom răspunde: ‘De la oameni’, ne temem de norod, pentru că(Z) toţi socotesc pe Ioan drept proroc.” 27 Atunci au răspuns lui Isus: „Nu ştim!” Şi El, la rândul Lui, le-a zis: „Nici Eu nu vă voi spune cu ce putere fac aceste lucruri. 28 Ce credeţi? Un om avea doi feciori. S-a dus la cel dintâi şi i-a zis: ‘Fiule, du-te astăzi de lucrează în via mea!’ 29 ‘Nu vreau’, i-a răspuns el. În urmă, i-a părut rău şi s-a dus. 30 S-a dus şi la celălalt şi i-a spus tot aşa. Şi fiul acesta a răspuns: ‘Mă duc, doamne!’ Şi nu s-a dus. 31 Care din amândoi a făcut voia tatălui său?” „Cel dintâi”, au răspuns ei. Şi Isus le-a zis: „Adevărat(AA) vă spun că vameşii şi curvele merg înaintea voastră în Împărăţia lui Dumnezeu. 32 Fiindcă Ioan(AB) a venit la voi umblând în calea neprihănirii şi nu l-aţi crezut. Dar(AC) vameşii şi curvele l-au crezut. Şi, măcar că aţi văzut lucrul acesta, nu v-aţi căit în urmă ca să-l credeţi.
Pilda vierilor
33 Ascultaţi o altă pildă. Era un om, un gospodar, care(AD) a sădit o vie. A împrejmuit-o cu un gard, a săpat un teasc în ea şi a zidit un turn. Apoi a dat-o unor vieri şi a plecat(AE) în altă ţară. 34 Când a venit vremea roadelor, a trimis pe robii săi la vieri, ca(AF) să ia partea lui de rod. 35 Vierii(AG) au pus mâna pe robii lui şi pe unul l-au bătut, pe altul l-au omorât, iar pe altul l-au ucis cu pietre. 36 A mai trimis alţi robi, mai mulţi decât cei dintâi; şi vierii i-au primit la fel. 37 La urmă, a trimis la ei pe fiul său, zicând: ‘Vor primi cu cinste pe fiul meu!’ 38 Dar vierii, când au văzut pe fiul, au zis între ei: ‘Iată(AH) moştenitorul; veniţi(AI) să-l omorâm şi să punem stăpânire pe moştenirea lui’. 39 Şi(AJ) au pus mâna pe el, l-au scos afară din vie şi l-au omorât. 40 Acum, când va veni stăpânul viei, ce va face el vierilor acelora?” 41 Ei I-au răspuns(AK): „Pe ticăloşii aceia ticălos îi va pierde(AL), şi(AM) via o va da altor vieri, care-i vor da roadele la vremea lor”. 42 Isus le-a zis: „N-aţi(AN) citit niciodată în Scripturi că: ‘Piatra pe care au lepădat-o zidarii a ajuns să fie pusă în capul unghiului; Domnul a făcut acest lucru, şi este minunat în ochii noştri’? 43 De aceea vă spun că(AO) Împărăţia lui Dumnezeu va fi luată de la voi şi va fi dată unui neam care va aduce roadele cuvenite. 44 Cine va(AP) cădea peste piatra aceasta va(AQ) fi zdrobit de ea, iar pe acela peste care va cădea ea, îl va spulbera.” 45 După ce au auzit pildele Lui, preoţii cei mai de seamă şi fariseii au înţeles că Isus vorbeşte despre ei 46 şi căutau să-L prindă, dar se temeau de noroade, pentru că ele(AR) îl socoteau drept proroc.
Matthew 21
King James Version
21 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
2 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.
3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 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.
6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 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.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright of the Cornilescu Bible © 1924 belongs to British and Foreign Bible Society. Copyright © 2010, 2014 of the revised edition in Romanian language belongs to the Interconfessional Bible Society of Romania, with the approval of the British and Foreign Bible Society.
