Jesus comes to Jerusalem as king
1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2saying 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. Untie it and bring it here. 3If anyone asks you, “Why are you doing this?” say, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.” ’
4They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5some people standing there asked, ‘What are you doing, untying that colt?’ 6They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
‘Hosanna!11:9 A Hebrew expression meaning ‘Save!’ which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 10’
‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’11:9 Psalm 118:25,26
10‘Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!’
‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
11Jesus 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.
Jesus curses a fig-tree and clears the temple courts
12The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13Seeing 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. 14Then he said to the tree, ‘May no-one ever eat fruit from you again.’ And his disciples heard him say it.
15On 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, 16and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17And as he taught them, he said, ‘Is it not written: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations”11:17 Isaiah 56:7? But you have made it “a den of robbers”.11:17 Jer. 7:11’
18The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
19When evening came, Jesus and his disciples11:19 Some early manuscripts came, Jesus went out of the city.
20In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig-tree withered from the roots. 21Peter remembered and said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig-tree you cursed has withered!’
22‘Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered. 23‘Truly11:22,23 Some early manuscripts ‘If you have faith in God,’ Jesus answered, 23 ‘truly 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. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’ 2611:26 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Matt. 6:15.
The authority of Jesus questioned
27They 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?’
29Jesus replied, ‘I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30John’s baptism – was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!’
31They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” he will ask, “Then why didn’t you believe him?” 32But if we say, “Of human origin” …’ (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)
33So they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know.’
Jesus said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’
骑驴进耶路撒冷
1耶稣和门徒将近耶路撒冷，快到橄榄山附近的伯法其和伯大尼两个村庄时，祂派了两个门徒， 2对他们说：“你们去前面的村庄，一进村就会看见一头从来没有人骑过的驴驹拴在那里，你们把它解开牵来。 3若有人问你们为什么这样做，就说，‘主要用它，很快会把它送回来。’” 4他们进了村子，果然看见有一头驴驹拴在街道旁一户人家的门外，就上前解开它。 5旁边站着的几个人就问他们：“你们为什么要解开这头驴驹？”
6门徒依照耶稣的吩咐回答，那些人就让他们牵走了。 7他们把驴驹牵到耶稣面前，将自己的外衣搭在驴背上，耶稣就骑了上去。 8很多人把衣服铺在路上，有人将田间的树枝砍下来铺在路上。 9大家前呼后拥，高声欢呼：
“和散那11:9 “和散那”原意是“拯救我们”，此处有“赞美”的意思。！
奉主名来的当受称颂！
10那将要来临的我祖大卫的国度当受称颂！
和散那归于至高之处的上帝！”
11耶稣进了耶路撒冷，来到圣殿，巡视各处。那时天色已晚，耶稣便和十二门徒出城前往伯大尼。
咒诅无花果树
12第二天，他们离开伯大尼后，耶稣饿了。 13祂远远看见有一棵枝叶茂盛的无花果树，就走过去找果子吃。到了树下，却什么也找不到，只有满树的叶子，因为当时不是收无花果的季节。 14祂对那棵树说：“愿无人再吃你的果子！”祂的门徒都听见了这句话。
洁净圣殿
15他们来到耶路撒冷后，耶稣进入圣殿，赶走了里面做买卖的人，推翻了兑换钱币之人的桌子和卖鸽子之人的凳子， 16不准人抬着货物穿过圣殿。 17祂教导他们说：“圣经上不是记载‘我的殿必称为万民祷告的殿’吗？你们竟把它变成了贼窝。”
18祭司长和律法教师听到这番话后，就策划如何杀害耶稣，只是有些怕祂，因为百姓都对祂的教导感到惊奇。 19到了傍晚，耶稣和门徒去了城外。
无花果树的教训
20早上，他们又经过那棵无花果树，看见它连根都枯了。 21彼得想起昨天发生的事，就对耶稣说：“老师，你看！昨天你咒诅的无花果树已经枯了。”
22耶稣说：“要对上帝有信心。 23我实在告诉你们，不论何人，只要有信心，毫不疑惑，就是对这座山说，‘从这里挪开，投进大海里！’也必定为他成就。 24所以我告诉你们，你们祷告时无论求什么，只要相信已经得到了，就必得到。 25你们站着祷告的时候，若想起有人得罪了你们，就要饶恕他。这样，你们天上的父也会饶恕你们的过犯。 26你们如果不饶恕别人，你们天上的父也不会饶恕你们的过犯。11:26 有些古卷无此节。”
质问耶稣的权柄
27他们再次回到耶路撒冷。耶稣在圣殿里行走的时候，祭司长、律法教师和长老上前质问祂： 28“你凭什么权柄做这些事？谁授权给你了？”
29耶稣说：“我也要问你们一个问题，你们回答了，我就告诉你们我凭什么权柄做这些事。 30约翰的洗礼是从天上来的还是从人来的？请回答我！”
31他们彼此议论说：“如果我们说‘是从天上来的’，祂一定会问，‘那你们为什么不信他？’ 32如果我们说‘是从人来的’，又怕触怒百姓，因为他们都相信约翰真的是先知。” 33于是，他们回答说：“我们不知道。”耶稣说：“我也不告诉你们我凭什么权柄做这些事。”
