Chapter 11

1As they approached Jerusalem, near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead.

2He told them, “Go into the village across from you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

3Jesus continued, “If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.’”

4The two disciples went and found a young donkey tied outside beside a door, on the street. They untied it.

5Some people standing there asked them, “What are you doing, untying that young donkey?”

6The disciples answered just as Jesus had told them, and the people let them take it.

7They brought the young donkey to Jesus and placed their outer garments on it. Jesus then sat on it.

8Many people spread their outer garments on the road. Others spread leafy branches they had cut from the fields.

9Those walking ahead of Jesus and those following behind shouted, “Save us now! May God favor the one who comes as God’s representative!

10They continued, “May God favor the coming royal rule of our ancestor David! Save us from heaven above!”

11Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple complex. After looking around at everything, he left for Bethany with his twelve disciples because it was already late.

12The next day, as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus became hungry.

13He saw a fig tree covered with leaves in the distance and went to see whether it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves because it was not the season for figs.

14Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” His disciples heard him say this.

15They came to Jerusalem. Jesus entered the temple complex and began driving out the people who were buying and selling there. He overturned the money changers’ tables and the seats of those selling doves for offerings.

16He would not let anyone carry anything through the temple complex.

17Jesus taught the people, saying, “Doesn’t Scripture say that God’s house will be called ‘a house of prayer for people of every nation’? But you have turned it into a cave where robbers hide.”

18The leading priests and the teachers of the Jewish law heard about this and began looking for a way to kill Jesus. They were afraid of him because the whole crowd was amazed by his teaching.

19Whenever evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

20As they passed by early in the morning, they saw that the fig tree had dried up from its roots.

21Peter remembered what Jesus had said and told him, “Teacher, look! The fig tree you cursed has dried up.”

22Jesus answered the disciples, “Trust God.

23Jesus continued, “I tell you the truth: anyone may say to this mountain, ‘Rise up and throw yourself into the sea.’ If that person does not doubt inwardly but believes it will happen, it will be done for them.

24Jesus continued, “So whenever you pray and ask for something, trust that you have received it, and it will be yours.

25Jesus continued, “Whenever you stand praying, forgive anyone you have something against, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive the things you have done wrong.”

27Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking through the temple complex, the leading priests, the teachers of the Jewish law, and the community elders came to him.

28They asked Jesus, “What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you that right?”

29Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you what right I have to do these things.

30Jesus continued, “Did John’s practice of immersing people in water come from God or from human beings? Answer me.”

31The leaders discussed their answer among themselves: “What should we say? If we say, ‘From God,’ Jesus will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe John?’

32They continued, “But if we say, ‘From human beings’—” They were afraid of the crowd because everyone considered John a true messenger from God.

33So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” Jesus told them, “Then neither will I tell you what right I have to do these things.”