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 fulfill 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 around 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 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 marvelous 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.
Yesu Anaingia Yerusalemu Kwa Shangwe
(Marko 11:1-11; Luka 19:28-40; Yohana 12:12-19)
121:1 Yn 8:1; Mdo 1:12Walipokaribia Yerusalemu, wakafika Bethfage katika Mlima wa Mizeituni. Ndipo Yesu akawatuma wanafunzi wake wawili, 2akawaambia, “Nendeni katika kijiji kilichoko mbele yenu, nanyi mtamkuta punda amefungwa hapo, na mwana-punda pamoja naye. Wafungueni na mniletee. 321:3 Mt 26:18Kama mtu yeyote akiwasemesha lolote, mwambieni kwamba Bwana ana haja nao, naye atawaruhusu mwalete mara.”
421:4 Mt 1:22Haya yalitukia ili litimie lile lililonenwa na nabii, akisema:
521:5 Zek 9:9; Isa 62:11“Mwambieni Binti Sayuni,
‘Tazama, mfalme wako anakuja kwako,
ni mnyenyekevu, naye amepanda punda,
juu ya mwana-punda, mtoto wa punda.’ ”
621:6 Mk 11:4Wale wanafunzi wakaenda, wakafanya kama Yesu alivyokuwa amewaagiza. 721:7 1Fal 9:13Wakamleta yule punda na mwana-punda, nao wakatandika mavazi yao juu ya hao punda, naye Yesu akaketi juu yake. 821:8 2Fal 9:3Umati mkubwa wa watu ukatandaza mavazi yao barabarani, na wengine wakakata matawi kutoka kwenye miti, wakayatandaza barabarani. 921:9 Mt 9:27; Za 118:26; Mt 23:29; Lk 2:14Ule umati wa watu uliomtangulia na ule uliomfuata ukapiga kelele ukisema,
“Hosana,21:9 Kiebrania kusema Okoa, basi likawa neno la shangwe. Mwana wa Daudi!”
“Amebarikiwa yeye ajaye kwa Jina la Bwana!”
“Hosana juu mbinguni!”
1021:10 Mk 11:15; Lk 19:45; Yn 2:13, 15Yesu alipoingia Yerusalemu, mji wote ukataharuki, watu wakauliza, “Huyu ni nani?”
1121:11 Kum 18:15; Yn 1:21Ule umati wa watu ukajibu, “Huyu ni Yesu, yule nabii kutoka Nazareti katika Galilaya.”
Yesu Atakasa Hekalu
(Marko 11:15-19; Luka 19:45-48; Yohana 2:13-22)
1221:12 Kum 14:26; Kut 30:13; Law 1:14Yesu akaingia katika eneo la Hekalu na kuwafukuza wote waliokuwa wakinunua na kuuza vitu Hekaluni. Akazipindua meza za wale waliokuwa wakibadilisha fedha, na pia viti vya wale waliokuwa wakiuza njiwa. 1321:13 Isa 56:7; Yer 7:11Akawaambia, “Imeandikwa, ‘Nyumba yangu itaitwa nyumba ya sala,’ lakini ninyi mmeifanya kuwa pango la wanyangʼanyi.”
1421:14 Mt 4:23Vipofu na vilema wakamwendea kule Hekaluni, naye akawaponya. 1521:15 Mt 9:27; Lk 19:39Lakini viongozi wa makuhani na walimu wa sheria walipoona mambo ya ajabu aliyofanya na kuwasikia watoto wakishangilia katika eneo la Hekalu wakisema, “Hosana Mwana wa Daudi,” walikasirika.
1621:16 Za 8:2Wakamuuliza Yesu, “Je, unasikia hayo hawa wanayosema?”
Akawajibu, “Naam; kwani hamkusoma,
“ ‘Midomoni mwa watoto wachanga na wanyonyao
umeamuru sifa’?”
1721:17 Lk 24:50; Yn 11:18Akawaacha, akatoka nje ya mji, akaenda hadi Bethania, akalala huko.
Mtini Wanyauka
(Marko 11:12-14, 20-24)
1821:18 Mk 11:12Asubuhi na mapema, Yesu alipokuwa akirudi mjini, alikuwa na njaa. 1921:19 Isa 34:4; Yer 8:13Akauona mtini kando ya barabara, naye akaukaribia, lakini hakupata tunda lolote ila majani. Ndipo akauambia, “Wewe usizae matunda tena kamwe!” Papo hapo ule mtini ukanyauka.
2021:20 Mk 11:20Wanafunzi wake walipoona jambo hili, wakashangaa, wakamuuliza, “Imekuwaje mtini huu kunyauka ghafula?”
2121:21 1Kor 13:2; Yak 1:6Yesu akawajibu, “Amin, nawaambia, kama mkiwa na imani wala msiwe na shaka, si kwamba mtaweza kufanya tu yale yaliyofanyika kwa huu mtini, bali hata mkiuambia huu mlima, ‘Ngʼoka, ukatupwe baharini,’ litafanyika. 2221:22 Mt 7:7Yoyote mtakayoyaomba mkisali na mkiamini, mtayapokea.”
Wahoji Kuhusu Mamlaka Ya Yesu
(Marko 11:27-33; Luka 20:1-8)
2321:23 Mdo 4:7; 7:27Yesu alipoingia Hekaluni, viongozi wa makuhani na wazee wa watu wakamjia alipokuwa anafundisha na kusema, “Unafanya mambo haya kwa mamlaka gani? Na ni nani aliyekupa mamlaka hayo?”
24Yesu akawajibu, “Nami nitawauliza swali moja. Kama mkinijibu, nami nitawaambia ni kwa mamlaka gani ninafanya mambo haya. 25Ubatizo wa Yohana, ulitoka wapi? Je, ulitoka mbinguni au kwa wanadamu?”
Wakahojiana wao kwa wao na kusema, “Tukisema ulitoka mbinguni atatuuliza, ‘Mbona basi hamkumwamini?’ 2621:26 Mt 11:9; Mk 6:20Lakini tukisema, ‘Ulitoka kwa wanadamu,’ tunawaogopa hawa watu, maana wote wanamtambua Yohana kuwa ni nabii.”
27Kwa hiyo wakamjibu Yesu, “Sisi hatujui.”
Naye akawaambia, “Wala mimi sitawaambia ni kwa mamlaka gani ninatenda mambo haya.”
Mfano Wa Wana Wawili
2821:28 Mt 21:33; 20:1“Lakini mwaonaje? Mtu mmoja alikuwa na wana wawili. Akamwendea yule wa kwanza akamwambia, ‘Mwanangu, nenda ukafanye kazi kwenye shamba la mizabibu leo.’
2921:29 Mt 7:21“Yule mwanawe akamjibu ‘Mimi sitakwenda.’ Baadaye akabadili mawazo yake akaenda.
30“Kisha yule baba akamwendea yule mwanawe mwingine akamwambia vilevile. Yeye akajibu, ‘Nitakwenda, bwana,’ lakini hakwenda.
3121:31 Lk 7:29; 7:50“Ni yupi kati yao hao wawili aliyetimiza kile alichotaka baba yake?”
Wakamjibu, “Ni yule wa kwanza.”
Yesu akawaambia, “Amin, amin nawaambia, watoza ushuru na makahaba wanawatangulia kuingia katika Ufalme wa Mungu. 3221:32 Mt 3:1-12; Lk 3:12-13; 7:29-30; 7:36-50Kwa maana Yohana alikuja kwenu kuwaonyesha njia ya haki, lakini hamkumsadiki, lakini watoza ushuru na makahaba wakamsadiki. Nanyi hata mlipoona hayo, baadaye hamkutubu na kumsadiki.
Mfano Wa Wapangaji Waovu
(Marko 12:1-12; Luka 20:9-19)
3321:33 Za 80:8; Isa 5:1-7; Mt 25:14-25“Sikilizeni mfano mwingine: Kulikuwa na mtu mmoja mwenye shamba ambaye alipanda shamba la mizabibu. Akajenga ukuta kulizunguka, akatengeneza shinikizo ndani yake na akajenga mnara wa ulinzi. Kisha akalikodisha hilo shamba la mizabibu kwa wakulima fulani, naye akaondoka, akasafiri kwenda nchi nyingine. 3421:34 Mt 22:3Wakati wa mavuno ulipokaribia, akawatuma watumishi wake kwa hao wapangaji ili kukusanya matunda yake.
3521:35 2Nya 24:1; Ebr 11:36-37“Wale wapangaji wakawakamata wale watumishi, wakampiga mmoja, wakamuua mwingine, na yule wa tatu wakampiga mawe. 3621:36 Mt 22:4Kisha akawatuma kwao watumishi wengine, wengi kuliko wale wa kwanza, nao wale wapangaji wakawatendea vilevile. 37Mwisho wa yote, akamtuma mwanawe kwao, akisema, ‘Watamheshimu mwanangu.’
3821:38 Ebr 1:2; Mt 12:14; Za 2:8“Lakini wale wapangaji walipomwona mwanawe, wakasemezana wao kwa wao, ‘Huyu ndiye mrithi. Njooni tumuue, ili tuchukue urithi wake.’ 3921:39 Mt 26:50; Mk 14:46; Lk 22:54; Yn 18:12; Mdo 2:32Hivyo wakamchukua, wakamtupa nje ya shamba la mizabibu, wakamuua.
40“Kwa hiyo, huyo mwenye shamba la mizabibu atakapokuja, atawafanyia nini hao wakulima?”
4121:41 Mt 8:11-12; Mdo 18:6; 28:28Wakamjibu, “Kwa huzuni kuu atawaangamiza kabisa hao wadhalimu na kulipangisha shamba lake la mizabibu kwa wakulima wengine ambao watampatia fungu lake la matunda wakati wa mavuno.”
4221:42 Za 118:22-23; 1Pet 2:7Yesu akawaambia, “Je, hamjasoma katika Maandiko kwamba:
“ ‘Jiwe walilolikataa waashi
limekuwa jiwe kuu la pembeni.
Bwana ndiye alitenda jambo hili,
nalo ni la ajabu machoni petu’?
4321:43 Mt 8:12“Kwa hiyo ninawaambia, Ufalme wa Mungu utaondolewa kwenu na kupewa watu wengine wawezao kuzaa matunda yake. 4421:44 Lk 2:34Yeye aangukaye juu ya jiwe hili atavunjika vipande vipande, lakini yule litakayemwangukia atasagwa kabisa.”
45Viongozi wa Makuhani na Mafarisayo waliposikia mifano ya Yesu, walitambua kuwa alikuwa akiwasema wao. 4621:46 Mt 21:11, 26Wakatafuta njia ya kumkamata, lakini wakaogopa umati wa watu, kwa kuwa watu walimwona Yesu kuwa ni nabii.
