Matthew 21:1-21:22

The King Comes!

This is the familiar scene when Jesus enters Jerusalem for the final time, the triumphal entry, when he overturn the tables of the money-changers. This time, the crowds openly praise him, much to the chagrin of the religious leaders. Also in this passage, Jesus curses the fig tree, symbolic of fruitless Israel. In the next chapter, he tells us to learn from this parable. Will we do that?

  1. And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
  2. Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
  3. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
  4. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
  5. Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
  6. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
  7. And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
  8. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
  9. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
  10. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
  11. And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
  12. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
  13. And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
  14. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
  15. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased,
  16. And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
  17. And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.
  18. Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
  19. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
  20. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
  21. Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
  22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.