Some people who stood there said to them, "Why are you untying the donkey?" They told them what Jesus said, and the people allowed them to go. They brought the young donkey to Jesus. They put their coats over the donkey's back and Jesus sat on it. Many people put their coats on the road and other people put down branches they cut from the fields.

The people who went ahead of Him and the people who followed Him shouted, "Hosanna, the One Who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed! The kingdom of our father David is coming and is blessed! Hosanna in the highest places!"

Jesus came into Jerusalem and went into the temple and looked at everything. But then He went into Bethany with the Twelve because it was late in the day.

The Fig Tree that Does Not Produce Fruit

Jesus was hungry after they came from Bethany the next day. He saw a fig tree far away, and it had leaves on it. He went to the tree to see if He could find any fruit on it. He found only leaves when He came to it, because it was not time for figs yet. He said to the tree, "No one will ever be allowed to eat fruit from you again." His followers heard it.

People Who Buy and Sell in the Temple

Jesus and His followers came to Jerusalem , and He went into the temple. He began to order the people who were buying and selling things in the temple to leave. He turned over the tables of the men who traded one kind of money for another, and turned over the seats of the men who sold doves. He would not let anyone carry the things to sell through the temple. He taught them, "Isn't it written, 'My house will be named a house of prayer for all nations?' But you have made it a place where thieves meet together." The chief priests and the teachers of the religious law heard this and they began to think of a way to kill Him, because they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd of people was full of wonder at His teaching.

Jesus and His followers went out of the city when evening came.

Jesus Teaches about Faith and Prayer

Jesus' followers saw that the fig tree was completely dead, when they went past it the next morning. Peter remembered it and said to Him, "Teacher, look, the fig tree that You cursed has died."

Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, any person who will say to this mountain, 'Lift yourself up and go into the sea,' and will not doubt in his heart that it will happen, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. So I tell you, believe that you will receive the things you pray for and ask for, and they will be given to you. Forgive a person when you pray, if you have anything against him, so your Father Who is in heaven will also forgive you for your sins. But your Father in heaven will not forgive you for your sins if you do not forgive other people."

The Jewish Leaders Doubt Jesus' Authority

Jesus and His followers came to Jerusalem again, and the chief priests, teachers of the religious law, and religious leaders came to Jesus while He was walking in the temple. They said to Him, "Where do You get the authority to do these things, and who gave You this authority to do them?" Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question. Tell Me the answer, and I will tell you where I get the authority to do these things. Did John get the authority to baptize people from God or from people? Tell Me the answer."

They talked to each other and said, "If we say, 'The authority was from God,' He will say, 'Why didn't you believe John then?' But should we say, 'From people?'" (They were afraid of the people, because everyone believed that John was a real prophet.) So they answered Jesus and said, "We don't know."

Jesus said to them, "Then I will not tell you where I get the authority to do these things either."