The Last Time Jesus Goes into Jerusalem ^(A)

21 They were near Jerusalem and had come to the town of Bethphage at the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two followers on ahead. ² He said to them, “Go to the town over there. You will find a donkey tied and her young with her. Let them loose and bring them to Me. ³ If anyone says something to you, say, ‘The Lord needs them.’ He will send them at once.”

⁴ It happened as the early preacher said it would happen, saying, ⁵ “Say to the people in Jerusalem, ‘See! Your King is coming to you. He is gentle. He is riding on a young donkey.’” ^(B)

⁶ The followers went and did as Jesus told them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and her young one. They put their clothes on the donkey and Jesus sat on them. ⁸ Many people put their coats down on the road. Other people cut branches from the trees and put them along the way. ⁹ The people who went in front and those who followed Jesus called out, “Greatest One! The Son of David! Great and honored is He Who comes in the name of the Lord! Greatest One in the highest heaven.”

¹⁰ When Jesus came into Jerusalem, all the people of the city were troubled. They said, “Who is this?” ¹¹ Many people said, “This is Jesus, the One Who speaks for God from the town of Nazareth in the country of Galilee.”

Jesus Stops the Buying and the Selling in the House of God ^(C)

¹² Then Jesus went into the house of God and made all those leave who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the men who changed money. He turned over the seats of those who sold doves. ¹³ He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house is to be called a house of prayer.’ You have made it a place of robbers.” ^(D)

¹⁴ The blind and those who could not walk came to Jesus in the house of God and He healed them. ¹⁵ The religious leaders of the Jews and the teachers of the Law saw the great things He did. They heard the children calling in the house of God and saying, “Greatest One! Son of David!” The leaders were very angry. ¹⁶ They said to Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes, have you not read the writings, ‘Even little children and babies will honor Him’?” ¹⁷ Jesus left them and went out of the city to the town of Bethany. He stayed there that night.

The Fig Tree Dries Up ^(E)

¹⁸ In the morning as He was coming back to the city, He was hungry. ¹⁹ He saw a fig tree by the side of the road and went to it. There was nothing on it but leaves. He said to the tree, “No fruit will ever grow on you again.” At once the fig tree dried up. ²⁰ The followers saw it and were surprised and wondered. They said, “How did the fig tree dry up so fast?” ²¹ Jesus said to them, “For sure, I tell you this: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only be able to do what was done to the fig tree. You will also be able to say to this mountain, ‘Move from here and be thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done. ²² All things you ask for in prayer, you will receive if you have faith.”