Matthew:21

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* When they were come near Jerusalem and had arrived at Bethphage and the Mount of Olives , Jesus sent two of the disciples on in front , * saying to them , »Go to the village you see facing you , and as you enter it you will find a she-ass tied up and a foal with her . Untie her and bring them to me . * And if any one says anything to you , say , `The Master needs them ,' and he will at once send them .« * This took place in order that the Prophet 's prediction might be fulfilled : wmth @Matthew:21:5 " /> * So the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them : * they brought the she-ass and the foal , and threw their outer garments on them . So He sat on them ; * and most of the crowd kept spreading their garments along the road , while others cut branches from the trees and carpeted the road with them , * and the multitudes –some of the people preceding Him and some following – sang aloud , * When He thus entered Jerusalem , the whole city was thrown into commotion , every one inquiring , »Who is this ?« * »This is Jesus , the Prophet , from Nazareth in Galilee ,« replied the crowds . * Entering the Temple , Jesus drove out all who were buying and selling there , and overturned the money-changers ' tables and the seats of the pigeon-dealers . * »It is written ,« He said , but you are making it * And the blind and the lame came to Him in the Temple , and He cured them . * But when the High Priests and the Scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done and the children who were crying aloud in the Temple , they were filled with indignation . * »Do you hear ,« they asked Him , »what these children are saying ?«»Yes ,« He replied ; »have you never read , * So He left them and went out of the city to Bethany and passed the night there . * Early in the morning as He was on His way to return to the city He was hungry , * and seeing a fig-tree on the road-side He went up to it , but found nothing on it but leaves . »On you ,« He said , »no fruit shall ever again grow .« And immediately the fig-tree withered away . * When the disciples saw it they exclaimed in astonishment , »How instantaneously the fig-tree has withered away !« * »I solemnly tell you ,« said Jesus , »that if you have an unwavering faith , you shall not only perform such a miracle as this of the fig-tree , but that even if you say to this mountain , `Be thou lifted up and hurled into the sea ,' it shall be done ; * and everything , whatever it be , that you ask for in your prayers , if you have faith , you shall obtain .« * He entered the Temple ; and while He was teaching , the High Priests and the Elders of the people came to Him and asked Him , »By what authority are you doing these things ? and who gave you this authority ?« * »And I also have a question to ask ,« replied Jesus , »and if you answer me , I in turn will tell you by what authority I do these things . * John 's Baptism , whence was it ? –had it a heavenly or a human origin ?« So they debated the matter among themselves . »If we say `a heavenly origin ,'« they argued , »he will say , `Why then did you not believe him ?' * and if we say `a human origin ' we have the people to fear , for they all hold John to have been a Prophet .« * So they answered Jesus , »We do not know .« »Nor do I tell you ,« He replied , »by what authority I do these things .« * »But give me your judgement . There was a man who had two sons . He came to the elder of them , and said ,« `My son , go and work in the vineyard to-day .' * »`I will not ,' he replied .« But afterwards he was sorry , and went . * He came to the second and spoke in the same manner . His answer was , »`I will go , Sir .' «But he did not go . * Which of the two did as his father desired ?« »The first ,« they said . `I solemnly tell you ,' replied Jesus , «that the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners are entering the Kingdom of God in front of you . * For John came to you observing all sorts of ritual , and you put no faith in him : the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners did put faith in him , and you , though you saw this example set you , were not even afterwards sorry so as to believe him . * »Listen to another parable . There was a householder who planted a vineyard , made a fence round it , dug a wine-tank in it , and built a strong lodge ; then let the place to vine-dressers , and went abroad .« * When vintage-time approached , he sent his servants to the vine-dressers to receive his share of the grapes ; * but the vine-dressers seized the servants , and one they cruelly beat , one they killed , one they pelted with stones . * Again he sent another party of servants more numerous than the first ; and these they treated in the same manner . * Later still he sent to them his son , saying , »`They will respect my son .' * »But the vine-dressers , when they saw the son , said to one another ,« `Here is the heir : come , let us kill him and get his inheritance .' * »So they seized him , dragged him out of the vineyard , and killed him . * When then the owner of the vineyard comes , what will he do to those vine-dressers ?« * »He will put the wretches to a wretched death ,« was the reply , »and will entrust the vineyard to other vine-dressers who will render the produce to him at the vintage season .« * »Have you never read in the Scriptures ,« said Jesus , « * »That , I tell you , is the reason why the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you , and given to a nation that will exhibit the power of it . * He who falls on this stone will be severely hurt ; but he on whom it falls will be utterly crushed .« * After listening to His parables the High Priests and the Pharisees perceived that He was speaking about them ; * but though they were eager to lay hands upon Him , they were afraid of the people , for by them He was regarded as a Prophet .

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