Jethro Visits Moses

18 Now Jethro,^(A) the priest of Midian^(B) and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.^(C)

² After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah,^(D) his father-in-law Jethro received her ³ and her two sons.^(E) One son was named Gershom,^[a] for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”;^{(F) 4} and the other was named Eliezer,^[b](G) for he said, “My father’s God was my helper;^(H) he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

⁵ Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain^(I) of God. ⁶ Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

⁷ So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down^(J) and kissed^(K) him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. ⁸ Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships^(L) they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved^(M) them.

⁹ Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things^(N) the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. ¹⁰ He said, “Praise be to the Lord,^(O) who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. ¹¹ Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods,^(P) for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”^{(Q) 12} Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law,^(R) brought a burnt offering^(S) and other sacrifices^(T) to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal^(U) with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence^(V) of God.

¹³ The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. ¹⁴ When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

¹⁵ Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.^{(W) 16} Whenever they have a dispute,^(X) it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”^(Y)

¹⁷ Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. ¹⁸ You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.^{(Z) 19} Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.^(AA) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes^(AB) to him. ²⁰ Teach them his decrees and instructions,^(AC) and show them the way they are to live^(AD) and how they are to behave.^{(AE) 21} But select capable men^(AF) from all the people—men who fear^(AG) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain^(AH)—and appoint them as officials^(AI) over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. ²² Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case^(AJ) to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share^(AK) it with you. ²³ If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

²⁴ Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. ²⁵ He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders^(AL) of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.^{(AM) 26} They served as judges^(AN) for the people at all times. The difficult cases^(AO) they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.^(AP)

²⁷ Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.^(AQ)

At Mount Sinai

19 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt^(AR)—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.^{(AS) 2} After they set out from Rephidim,^(AT) they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.^(AU)

³ Then Moses went up to God,^(AV) and the Lord called^(AW) to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ⁴ ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,^(AX) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings^(AY) and brought you to myself.^{(AZ) 5} Now if you obey me fully^(BA) and keep my covenant,^(BB) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.^(BC) Although the whole earth^(BD) is mine, ⁶ you^[c] will be for me a kingdom of priests^(BE) and a holy nation.’^(BF) These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

⁷ So Moses went back and summoned the elders^(BG) of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.^{(BH) 8} The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”^(BI) So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

⁹ The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud,^(BJ) so that the people will hear me speaking^(BK) with you and will always put their trust^(BL) in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

¹⁰ And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate^(BM) them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes^{(BN) 11} and be ready by the third day,^(BO) because on that day the Lord will come down^(BP) on Mount Sinai^(BQ) in the sight of all the people. ¹² Put limits^(BR) for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. ¹³ They are to be stoned^(BS) or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn^(BT) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”^(BU)

¹⁴ After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.^{(BV) 15} Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain^(BW) from sexual relations.”

¹⁶ On the morning of the third day there was thunder^(BX) and lightning, with a thick cloud^(BY) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.^(BZ) Everyone in the camp trembled.^{(CA) 17} Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.^{(CB) 18} Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,^(CC) because the Lord descended on it in fire.^(CD) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,^(CE) and the whole mountain^[d] trembled^(CF) violently. ¹⁹ As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice^(CG) of God answered^(CH) him.^[e]

²⁰ The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai^(CI) and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up ²¹ and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see^(CJ) the Lord and many of them perish.^{(CK) 22} Even the priests, who approach^(CL) the Lord, must consecrate^(CM) themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”^(CN)

²³ Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai,^(CO) because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits^(CP) around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

²⁴ The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron^(CQ) up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”^(CR)

²⁵ So Moses went down to the people and told them.

Psalm 30^[a]

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.^[b] Of David.

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

11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany^(C) at the Mount of Olives,^(D) Jesus sent two of his disciples, ² saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.^(E) Untie it and bring it here. ³ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

⁴ They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway.^(F) As they untied it, ⁵ some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” ⁶ They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. ⁷ When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. ⁸ Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. ⁹ Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

¹¹ Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.^(I)

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts^(J)(K)(L)

¹² The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. ¹³ Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.^{(M) 14} Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

¹⁵ On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, ¹⁶ and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. ¹⁷ And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’^[c]?^(N) But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’^[d]”^(O)

¹⁸ The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him,^(P) because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.^(Q)

¹⁹ When evening came, Jesus and his disciples^[e] went out of the city.^(R)

²⁰ In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. ²¹ Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi,^(S) look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

²² “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. ²³ “Truly^[f] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.^{(T) 24} Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.^{(U) 25} And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”^{(V) [26] [g]}

The Authority of Jesus Questioned^(W)

²⁷ They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. ²⁸ “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

²⁹ Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ³⁰ John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”

³¹ They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)^(X)

³³ So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

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