And when they were approaching Jerusalem and came to Bethsphage to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples ahead of the group saying to them; «Go into the village that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her; loose them and bring them to Me».
And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say that «The Lord has need of them; and immediately he will send them». All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet saying; «Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King comes to you, humble and riding on a donkey and on a colt the foal of a donkey».
So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them, they brought the donkey and the colt, and laid on them their clothes, and He sat on them.
And the very great crowd spread their clothes on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before Him and those who followed cried out, saying; «Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest».
And when he had come into Jerusalem the entire city was stirred up saying; «Who is this?» So the multitudes said; «This is Jesus the prophet who is from Nazareth of Galilee».
And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all those who sold and bought in the temple, and the tables of the money changers He overturned and the seats of those who sold doves, and He said to them; «It is written, «My house a house of prayer shall be called»; but you have made it a den of thieves».
And then came to Him the blind and the lame in the Temple and He healed them. But when they saw the chief priests and the scribes the amazing things that he was doing and the children crying out in the temple and saying, «Hosanna to the son of David», they were very displeased and said to Him; «Do You hear what these are saying?» And Jesus said to them; «Yes. Have you never read that «Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise?»
And leaving them He went out of the city to Bethany and He lodged there.
Now in the morning as he was returning to the city he was hungry; And seeing a fig tree by the road He came to it, but found nothing on it but leaves only, and said to it; «Never again on you let no fruit grow unto the ages». And withered away immediately the fig tree. And when the disciples saw it they marveled, saying; «How did so soon the fig tree wither away?»
So Jesus answered and said to them; «Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only what was done to the fig tree do, but also if you say to this mountain, «Be removed and be cast into the sea», it will be done; And whatever things you ask in prayer believing, you will receive».
And when He had come into the temple came to Him as He was teaching the chief priests and the presbyters of the people saying; «By what authority do you do these things, and who gave you this authority?»
But Jesus answered and said to them; «I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
The baptism of John where was it from, from heaven or from men?» And they reasoned among themselves saying; «If we say, «from heaven», He will say to us, «Why then did you not believe him»; but if we say, «from men», we fear the crowd; because everyone considers John as a prophet».
So they answered Jesus and said; «We do not know». And He said to them; «Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things».
«But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said; «Son, go, work today in my vineyard». And he answered and said; «I will not»; but afterward he regretted it and went. And coming to the second he said likewise. And he answered and said; «I go, sir»; but he did not go.
Which of the two did the will of his father?» They said to Him; «The first». Jesus said to them; «Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and prostitutes enter before you in the kingdom of God.
For he came to you John in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes believed him; and when you saw it you did not afterward repent and believe him.
Hear another parable. There was a certain landowner, who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower, and he leased it to farmers and left for another country.
And when it drew near the season for the fruit, he sent his servants to the farmers to receive its fruit. But the farmers took his servants beat one, killed another, and stoned yet another. Again he sent other servants more than the first, and they did to them likewise.
And then he sent to them his own son saying; «They will respect my son». But the farmers when they saw the son said to each other; «This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance». So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.
Therefore, when he comes the owner of the vineyard, what will he do to those farmers?» They said to Him; «Miserably those wicked men He will destroy, and the vineyard he will lease out to other farmers, who will give him the fruits in their seasons».
Said to them Jesus; «Have you never read in the Scriptures, «The stone which rejected the builders, has become the head cornerstone; this was from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes?» Therefore I say to you it will be taken from you the kingdom of God and given to nations bearing the fruits of it;
And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder».
And hearing the chief priests and the Pharisees His parables they perceived that he was speaking of them; And when they sought to lay hands on Him they feared the crowds, because for a prophet the people considered Him.