21:1 - When they got near Jerusalem, approaching Bethphage and the mount of Olives, then Jesus dispatched two disciples.
21:2 - It was said to them, Go into this town that despises you, and straight ahead you will find a mule, and and horse with her: untie them, and bring them to me.
21:3 - And if anyone tries to stop you, tell him, The Lord needs these; and he will let you go right away.
21:4 - All that happened, so that this might happen which was told by the prophet who said,
21:5 - The King came sitting on an ass and with holding the foal to see the daughter of Sion.
21:6 - The followers went on their way and did as Jesus asked them,
21:7 - They brought the donkey and the colt, got them ready for the journey, and set the man on them.
21:8 - There was a very large crowd and many of them covered the road with their clothing and others used palm branches, which are large and flat, and put them on the road to cover it.
21:9 - Every person in the huge crowd of people called out, Praise be to David’s son! He is holy since he has come because of God. Praise be to God.
21:10 - When Jesus came to Jerusalem, people wondered who He was because of the works they had seen.
21:11 - The people introduced him as Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
21:12 - Jesus went into God’s temple, throwing out everyone who was buying and selling items, turning over the bankers’ tables and the seats of the people selling doves,
21:13 - He said, It is written that my house should be a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.
21:14 - The blind and disabled came to him in the temple; he then healed them.
21:15 - The chief priests and scribes were irate when they saw all the wonderful things that he did and his influence on the children who cried in the temple saying Hosanna to the son of David.
21:16 - And said to him, Do you hear what these people are saying? Jesus turned to the others, Listen, have you never read the scripture ‘out of the mouths of infants and newborns has flowed Your perfect praise’?
21:17 - He left them as he left the city. He stayed over in Bethany.
21:18 - On his way to the city, he realized he needed breakfast.
21:19 - When he came upon a fig tree in his path he noticed that it did not bare fruit only leaves. He said to the fig tree that it will never bare fruit again and the tree withered away.
21:20 - And when the disciples saw it, they were shocked and asked, How did the fig tree die so quickly?
21:21 - Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, if you have true faith and no doubt, you can do more than just what you have seen here with the fig tree — you could ask a mountain to move into the sea and it will be done.
21:22 - Whatever one asks in prayer, if they believe, they will receive.
21:23 - And when Jesus came into the temple, the chief priests and other church officials went to him while he taught and said, By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you the authority?
21:24 - Then Jesus said to them, I will ask you one thing, and if you tell me, I will tell you what authority allows me to do these things.
21:25 - When was John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or men? And they told themselves: If we say from heaven, he’ll ask us Why didn’t you beleive him then?
21:26 - It might be said of men that we fear other people, after all John was known as a prophet.
21:27 - And they answered Jesus and said, We don’t know. And he said, Then I won’t tell you by what authority it is that I do these things.
21:28 - What to think? A man with two sons went to the first son and told him to go work in the vineyard.
21:29 - He said he wouldn’t, but then changed his mind, and went.
21:30 - And he arrived at the 2nd and said the same. And he answered I go sir, but he didn’t go.
21:31 - Which of these two did as his father wished? The first, they said. Then Jesus said Truly you will be last in line to get to the kingdom of God, for you are wrong.
21:32 - John came to you truthfully, at the same time as the politicians and commoners who believed him, so that when you see their belief you would also believe him, yet you didn’t believe him,
21:33 - Let’s ponder another allegory, shall we? Once upon a time, a homeowner planted a round vineyard in his backyard. He added a winepress and a tower purchased from Home Depot. He invited other husbands from the neighborhood to go hunting in the country.
21:34 - When harvest time came, the man sent his workers to the people who rented the field, that the workers could collect the grapes for rent.
21:35 - And the farmer took is servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.
21:36 - He sent more servants the next time, but they did the same thing.
21:37 - Finally he sent his son to them, saying, They will respect my son.
21:38 - However, when the farmer recognized the son, they spoke secretly between themselves saying, This is the inheritor, come on, let’s murder him and take away his inheritance.
21:39 - They caught him and threw him out of the vineyard, then killing him.
21:40 - What will the owner of the vineyard do to the farmers when he gets here?
21:41 - They will tell him, He will ensure that the evil people are destroyed, and he will give the other loyal workers his land, and they will reap the benefits of the harvest.
21:42 - Jesus said to them, Didn’t you read in the scriptures, The stone that the builders rejected will be the cornerstone; the Lord did this, and it is amazing in our eyes?
21:43 - I now tell you, The kingdom of God will be taken from you , and given to a nation which will follow me.
21:44 - Anyone who falls on this rock will be hurt, but anyone who this rock falls onto will be crushed.
21:45 - When the leading priests and Pharisees heard him out, they understood the parables that he spoke of.
21:46 - But when they tried to touch him, they were afraid of the crowd, who thought he was a psychic.