Matthew 21 describes Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem and the Pharisees displeasure with him. In the verse, Jesus speaks another parable to the people and retires to the city of Bethany.
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Jesus Arrives in Jerusalem
When Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, he sent two of his disciples ahead to fetch a donkey and a colt from the neighboring village. When the people asked why they were taking the animals, the disciples responded that the Lord had need of them, so the people let them go.
When they brought the animals back to Jesus, they covered them with their clothes. Likewise, many people laid their robes and branches on the ground leading to the city, blessing the son of David.
After entering the city, its inhabitants asked who it was that came in such a manner. The multitudes that had followed answered that he was Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus Enters the Temple
Jesus went into Jerusalem and found the temple. When he entered it, he became angry and removed all the people who sold and bought in the temple. He overturned the tables and seats and rebuked the people, saying that the temple was a house of prayer, not a den for thieves.
Many people came to Jesus in the temple and he healed the sick and taught the word of God. However, when the Pharisees saw what he had done, they became very displeased with him. They tempted him, asking why he did not reprimand the people for calling him the son of David. Jesus responded by asking them if they had never read that truth comes out of the mouths of children. After conversing with the Pharisees, Jesus left the temple and went to Bethany to lodge for the night.
The Fig Tree
In the morning, as Jesus returned to the city, he became hungry. He saw a fig tree on the road and approached it. However, when he saw that it bore no fruit, he cursed it and it withered. When the disciples saw the tree, they were amazed at what Jesus had done. Therefore Jesus answered them and said that if they had faith, they could not only do the same, but command a mountain to move and it would. He added that whatever they asked in prayer faithfully, they would receive.
Back in the City
Returning to Jerusalem, Jesus went back to the temple and began to teach the people. When the Pharisees saw him, they asked him whose authority he was teaching with. Jesus responded saying that he would tell them if they would answer a question first. So, he asked them on whose authority John the Baptist baptized the people. The Pharisees reasoned that if they said God’s, then he would ask them why they didn’t believe him. However, if they answered man’s, then the people would be angered because they believed he was a prophet. Therefore, the Pharisees answered that they did not know. So, Jesus responded that he, likewise, would not tell them whose authority he taught with.
The Two Sons
After answering the Pharisees, Jesus spoke a parable to the people. He said that there was a householder with two sons. The owner told his first son to go out into the field to work, but he refused. However, the son later repented and went to work. When the owner told his second son to go to the field, he agreed but never went. Jesus said that those who had done wrong and repented would reach heaven before those who spoke the word of God but did not practice it.
He continued with another parable. He said that a landowner placed a vineyard on his property and hired men to work it before moving to a far off country. When it was time to harvest, he sent messengers to them, but they beat and killed all that were sent. Finally, the owner sent his own son, but he was beat and killed also. Therefore, the owner returned and destroyed all of the men working in his vineyard and gave the living to others.
The Pharisees heard this story and perceived that Jesus was talking about them and they became very angry. However, they knew they could not seize him there amongst the people.
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Matthew Chapter 21(King James Version)
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.
23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.