A entrada de Jesus em Jerusalém
(Mc 11.1-10; Lc 19.28-38; Jo 12.12-15)
1Quando se aproximavam de Jerusalém e chegavam perto de Betfagé, ao monte das Oliveiras, Jesus então enviou dois dos discípulos à frente. 2Disse-lhes: “Vão até àquela aldeia além e logo à entrada encontrarão uma jumenta amarrada com a sua cria. Soltem-nas e tragam-mas. 3Se alguém vos perguntar alguma coisa, respondam-lhe: ‘O Senhor precisa delas e em breve as devolverá.’ ” 4Assim ia cumprir-se a antiga profecia:
5“Digam à filha de Sião: ‘Vê, o teu Rei aproxima-se de ti!
Manso, montado numa cria de jumento,
num pequeno jumentinho.’ ”21.5 Zc 9.9.
6Os dois discípulos fizeram como Jesus lhes ordenou. 7Trouxeram-lhe a jumenta e a cria. Puseram os mantos sobre o lombo dos animais e ele sentou-se em cima.
8Muita gente estendeu os seus mantos no caminho, enquanto outros cortaram ramos das árvores e os espalharam no caminho. 9As multidões iam tanto à frente como atrás, exclamando:
“Hossana ao Filho de David!
Bendito aquele que vem em nome do Senhor!
Hossana nas alturas!”
10Entrou em Jerusalém e toda a cidade ficou em alvoroço. E perguntavam: “Quem é este?”
11E o povo respondia: “É Jesus, o profeta de Nazaré da Galileia!”
Jesus no templo
(Mc 11.15-19; Lc 19.45-47; Jo 2.13-16)
12Jesus entrou no templo e expulsou todos os negociantes e compradores que ali havia; derrubou as mesas dos cambistas e as bancas dos vendedores de pombos. 13E disse-lhes: “As Escrituras afirmam: ‘O meu templo será chamado casa de oração’, mas vocês transformaram-no num covil de ladrões!”21.13 Is 56.7; Jr 7.11.
14Entretanto, os cegos e os aleijados vinham ter com ele e curava-os ali no templo. 15Mas quando os principais sacerdotes e especialistas na Lei viram aqueles milagres espantosos, e ouviram as próprias crianças a gritar no templo, “Hossana ao Filho do rei David!”, ficaram inquietos e indignados. 16E perguntaram-lhe: “Ouves o que dizem estas crianças?”21.16 Sl 8.2.
“Ouço, sim. Nunca leram as Escrituras que dizem: ‘Da boca dos pequenos e das criancinhas de peito tirarei o louvor?’ ” 17Depois disto, voltou para Betânia, onde passou a noite.
A figueira mirra
(Mc 11.12-14, 20-24)
18De manhã, quando ia de novo para Jerusalém, sentiu fome. 19Vendo uma figueira à beira da estrada, aproximou-se dela e nada achou nela, senão folhas. E disse à figueira: “Nunca mais nasça fruto de ti, para sempre!” E logo secou.
20Os discípulos ficaram pasmados: “Como foi que a figueira secou tão depressa?”
21Respondeu-lhes Jesus: “É realmente como vos digo: se tiverem fé e não duvidarem, farão não só o que se fez a esta figueira, como dirão a este monte: ‘Levanta-te e atira-te ao mar!’, e assim sucederá. 22Podem pedir seja o que for em oração que, se crerem, recebê-lo-ão.”
A autoridade de Jesus contestada
(Mc 11.27-33; Lc 20.1-8)
23Tendo ele entrado no templo, os principais sacerdotes e outros anciãos do povo foram ter com ele, enquanto estava a ensinar, e perguntaram-lhe: “Com que autoridade fazes essas coisas? Quem te deu tal autoridade?”
24Em resposta, retorquiu-lhes: “Di-lo-ei, se me responderem a uma pergunta: 25O batismo de João é de inspiração celeste ou humana?”
Eles puseram-se a falar entre si: “Se dissermos que é de inspiração celeste, ele perguntará: ‘Então, porque não acreditaram nele?’ 26Mas se dissermos que é de inspiração humana, temos receio da multidão, pois todos têm João na conta de um profeta.” 27Por fim, responderam: “Não sabemos!”
E Jesus respondeu: “Então também não respondo à vossa pergunta!
A parábola dos dois filhos
28Que acham disto? Um homem que tinha dois filhos disse ao mais velho: ‘Filho, vai trabalhar hoje na herdade.’ 29‘Não vou’, respondeu. Mas pensando melhor, acabou por ir. 30Depois, disse ao mais novo: ‘Vai tu também!’ E ele respondeu: ‘Sim senhor, vou já’, acabando por não ir. 31Qual dos dois obedeceu ao pai?” Responderam: “O primeiro, sem dúvida.”
Jesus disse-lhes: “É realmente como vos digo: os cobradores de impostos e as mulheres de má vida entrarão antes de vocês no reino de Deus. 32Porque João Batista disse-vos para se arrependerem e se voltarem para Deus, e não quiseram; no entanto, muitos cobradores de impostos e mulheres mal afamadas arrependeram-se. Apesar de terem visto estas coisas, não se arrependeram e nunca chegaram a crer.
A parábola dos lavradores desonestos
(Mc 12.1-12; Lc 20.9-19)
33Agora ouçam outra parábola: Certo proprietário plantou uma vinha, erigiu um muro em volta e construiu um lagar. Construiu também uma torre, arrendou a vinha a uns lavradores e partiu em viagem. 34Quando chegou a época das vindimas, enviou os seus servos ir ter com os lavradores e receber a sua parte da colheita. 35Mas os lavradores assaltaram-nos; espancaram um, mataram outro e apedrejaram um terceiro. 36Então o dono enviou um grupo ainda maior do que o primeiro, mas trataram-nos do mesmo modo.
37Por fim, mandou o filho. Dizia ele: ‘Hão de respeitar o meu filho.’ 38Os lavradores, porém, ao verem o filho aproximar-se, disseram entre si: ‘Este é o herdeiro. Vamos matá-lo e a herança será nossa!’ 39Agarraram-no, mataram-no e arrastaram-no para fora da vinha.
40Quando o dono voltar, que acham vocês que fará àqueles lavradores?”
41Os anciãos responderam: “Dará uma morte severa a esses malvados e arrendará a vinha a outros lavradores que lhe paguem pontualmente a parte que lhe cabe dos frutos.”
42Jesus perguntou-lhes: “Não se lembram de ler esta frase nas Escrituras?
‘A pedra que os construtores rejeitaram
veio a tornar-se a pedra fundamental do edifício!
Isto foi outra obra que o Senhor fez,
e é espantosa aos nossos olhos!21.42 Sl 118.22-23.’
43Por isso, garanto que o reino de Deus vos será tirado e entregue a um povo que dê a sua parte da colheita. 44Quem tropeçar nesta pedra será feito em pedaços e aqueles sobre quem ela cair serão esmagados.”
45Quando os principais sacerdotes e os fariseus perceberam que a parábola que Jesus contara se referia a eles 46procuraram prendê-lo, mas tiveram medo das multidões que tinham Jesus como profeta.
Jesus comes to Jerusalem as king
1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.’
4This took place to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet:
5‘Say to Daughter Zion,
“See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” ’21:5 Zech. 9:9
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
‘Hosanna21:9 A Hebrew expression meaning ‘Save!’ which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 15 to the Son of David!’
‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’21:9 Psalm 118:25,26
‘Hosanna21:9 A Hebrew expression meaning ‘Save!’ which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 15 in the highest heaven!’
10When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’
11The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’
Jesus at the temple
12Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘ “My house will be called a house of prayer,”21:13 Isaiah 56:7 but you are making it “a den of robbers.”21:13 Jer. 7:11’
14The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant.
16‘Do you hear what these children are saying?’ they asked him.
‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read,
‘ “From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise”21:16 Psalm 8:2 (see Septuagint)?’
17And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.
Jesus curses a fig-tree
18Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19Seeing a fig-tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May you never bear fruit again!’ Immediately the tree withered.
20When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. ‘How did the fig-tree wither so quickly?’ they asked.
21Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig-tree, but also you can say to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.’
The authority of Jesus questioned
23Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. ‘By what authority are you doing these things?’ they asked. ‘And who gave you this authority?’
24Jesus replied, ‘I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25John’s baptism – where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?’
They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will ask, “Then why didn’t you believe him?” 26But if we say, “Of human origin” – we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.’
27So they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know.’
Then he said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
The parable of the two sons
28‘What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, “Son, go and work today in the vineyard.”
29‘ “I will not,” he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30‘Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, “I will, sir,” but he did not go.
31‘Which of the two did what his father wanted?’
‘The first,’ they answered.
Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
The parable of the tenants
33‘Listen to another parable: there was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall round it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
35‘The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them in the same way. 37Last of all, he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son,” he said.
38‘But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.” 39So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40‘Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’
41‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,’ they replied, ‘and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.’
42Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures:
‘ “The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvellous in our eyes”21:42 Psalm 118:22,23?
43‘Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.’21:44 Some manuscripts do not have verse 44.
45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
