The Triumphal Entry (Zechariah 9:9–13; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:28–40; John 12:12–19)
1 UST After that, Jesus and his apprentices continued to walk toward the city of Jerusalem, and they were getting closer. They were near the Mount of Olives, just outside the village of Bethphage. Then, Jesus told two of his apprentices to go{ ahead of them}. BSB BSB: As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples,
2 UST He commanded them,“Enter the village of Bethphage, which you see ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will see a female donkey that someone has tethered. Her colt will be next to her. Remove the tether{ from the female donkey} and lead her and her colt to me here. BSB BSB: saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me.
3 UST People might ask you about what you are doing. In that case, tell them,‘The Lord needs this donkey and colt.’ As soon as you say that, those people will let you have the donkey and colt.” BSB BSB: If anyone questions you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 UST When he said those things, what God said by speaking through one of the prophets came true: BSB BSB: This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 UST “Say to the people who live in the city of Jerusalem,‘Your king will soon be with you! He is gentle. He sits on a donkey, on a colt,{ which is} a donkey’ s offspring.’” BSB BSB: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6 UST The two apprentices went{ to the village} and did what Jesus had told them to do. BSB BSB: So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.
7 UST They led the donkey and her colt to Jesus. They spread their coats on the animals, and Jesus sat on the coats. BSB BSB: They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.
8 UST Then,{ to honor Jesus,} a very large group of people laid their coats down on the path{ in front of Jesus}. Other people cut small branches down from trees and laid them down on the path too. BSB BSB: A massive crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9 UST Large groups of people walked in front of Jesus and behind him. They were shouting,“Praise this descendant of King David! May God bless him who is here to represent the Lord! May everything in heaven praise him!” BSB BSB: The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”
10 UST { How people welcomed Jesus} when he went into the city of Jerusalem unsettled many people who lived there. They asked,“Who is this man?” BSB BSB: When Jesus had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 UST The large groups of people answered,“He is Jesus, from the town of Nazareth, which is in Galilee. He is a man who speaks for God.” BSB BSB: The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Jesus Cleanses the Temple (Mark 11:15–19; Luke 19:45–48; John 2:12–25)
12 UST Later, Jesus visited the temple area. Some people were selling and buying things there. He forced them to leave. Other people were exchanging{ regular} money{ for special temple money}, and other people were selling small birds{ for people to sacrifice}. Jesus flipped over their tables and chairs. BSB BSB: Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.
13 UST Then Jesus told those people,“The prophets wrote in the Scriptures,‘People should say that my temple is a place where people pray.’ However, you have turned it into‘a hideout for thieves’!” BSB BSB: And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
14 UST Later, people who could not see and people who could not walk came to Jesus while he was in the temple area. Jesus cured them. BSB BSB: The blind and the lame came to Him at the temple, and He healed them.
15 UST The ruling priests and the teachers of the Jewish law saw the amazing things that Jesus did.{ They heard} young children in the temple area shouting,“Praise this descendant of King David!”{ When they saw and heard those things}, they were very upset. BSB BSB: But the chief priests and scribes were indignant when they saw the wonders He performed and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
16 UST They asked him,“Do you realize what those young children are saying{ about you}?” Jesus replied,“Yes,{ I realize it}!{ What they are doing fits with what} you have read{ in the Scriptures}:‘You have appointed young children and little babies to honor you.’” BSB BSB: “Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”
17 UST Then Jesus{ and his apprentices} went away from the ruling priests and the teachers of the Jewish law. They left the city of Jerusalem and stayed overnight in the village of Bethany. BSB BSB: Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night.
The Barren Fig Tree (Mark 11:12–14; Mark 11:20–25)
19 UST He noticed a fig tree near the path. So, he went over to it{ to pick some figs to eat}. However, the tree only had leaves. Then Jesus spoke to the fig tree,“May you never again produce figs!” As soon as he said that, the fig tree died. BSB BSB: Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately the tree withered.
20 UST What the apprentices had just seen impressed them. They asked,“How did the fig tree die as soon as you spoke to it?” BSB BSB: When the disciples saw this, they marveled and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”
21 UST Jesus replied,“Suppose that you trusted{ God} and were not unsure{ about what he can do}. Then, you could do what I did to the fig tree. Even more, you could tell the hill we are near to leave{ this place} and fall into the ocean, and it would happen. What I have said is true. BSB BSB: “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.
22 UST Further, suppose that you trust God to do whatever you ask when you are praying. Then, he will do it for you.” BSB BSB: If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Jesus’ Authority Challenged (Mark 11:27–33; Luke 20:1–8)
23 UST Then Jesus visited the temple area, and he was instructing people there. The ruling priests and the Jewish leaders came to him. They asked,“In what way did someone authorize you to do what you have done? Who was it that authorized you{ to do these things}?” BSB BSB: When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”
24 UST Jesus replied,“I too will ask you a question. When you answer it, I too will answer your question about the way in which someone authorized me to do what I have done. BSB BSB: “I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
25 UST Who authorized John the Baptizer to baptize people? Did God{ authorize him} from heaven, or did people{ authorize him}?” Then the ruling priests and the Jewish leaders told each other,“Suppose that we answer that{ God authorized John} from heaven. Then, he will tell us that we should have listened to John. BSB BSB: What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
26 UST On the other hand, suppose that we answer that people{ authorized John}. Then, since the large group of people believe that John spoke for God, we are afraid of how they would react.” BSB BSB: But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”
27 UST So, they answered Jesus,“We do not know{ who authorized John}.” Jesus responded,“Because you did not answer my question, I will not tell you in what way someone authorized me to do what I have done. BSB BSB: So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
The Parable of the Two Sons 28 UST Think about this situation: There was a man with two children. He went to the older one and told him,‘My child, go{ to where my grape vines are} and take care of them today.’ BSB BSB: But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29 UST His child replied,‘I will not{ do that}!’ However, later he regretted{ what he had said}. He took care of the grape vines after all. BSB BSB: ‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.
30 UST After{ speaking with the older child}, the man went to the younger child and told him to take care of his grape vines. His child replied,‘I will{ do that}, my father!’ However, he did not take care of the grape vines. BSB BSB: Then the man went to the second son and told him the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he said. But he did not go.
31 UST Which of these two children did what their father wanted?” The ruling priests and the Jewish leaders answered,“The older one.” Jesus replied,“Prostitutes and people who collect taxes are participating in God’ s kingdom before you are. What I have said is true. BSB BSB: Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
32 UST { I say that} because, when John the Baptizer was with you, he did what was right. However, you did not trust him. In contrast, prostitutes and people who collect taxes did trust him. When you realized{ that even they trusted John}, you did not regret how you were acting and trust him after all. BSB BSB: For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Mark 12:1–12; Luke 20:9–18)
33 UST I will tell you another story. A man who managed a household planted a vineyard. He built a fence around it{ in order to protect it}. He made a stone tank{ to collect the grape juice that they would press out of the grapes}. He also built a tower{ for someone to sit in to guard his vineyard}. He rented the vineyard to some people who would take care of it, and he left to travel to a different country. BSB BSB: Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.
34 UST When it was almost time to harvest the grapes, the man told some of his servants to go to the people who were taking care of the vineyard. He wanted them to give him his share of the grapes{ that the vineyard had produced}. BSB BSB: When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit.
35 UST However, the people who were taking care of the vineyard grabbed the man’ s servants. They beat up some servants. They executed other servants. They{ killed} other servants by throwing stones at them. BSB BSB: But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.
36 UST After that, the man told an even greater number of his servants to go{ to the people who were taking care of the vineyard}. However, those people treated these servants just as they had treated the other servants. BSB BSB: Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group. But the tenants did the same to them.
37 UST Finally, the man told his own son to go to them. He thought that they would treat his son well{ and give him his share of the grapes}. BSB BSB: Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
38 UST However, when the people who were taking care of the vineyard saw the man’ s son arriving, they told each other,‘This man is the one who will inherit the vineyard. We should kill him, and then we can take the vineyard for ourselves.’ BSB BSB: But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’
39 UST So, they grabbed the man’ s son and dragged him outside the vineyard. Then, they killed him. BSB BSB: So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 UST After that, the man who owned the vineyard came back. How do you think he treated the people who were taking care of the vineyard?” BSB BSB: Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?”
41 UST The ruling priests and the Jewish leaders replied,“He would kill those evil people! Then, he would rent the vineyard to other people who would give him his share of the grapes when it was time to harvest them.” BSB BSB: “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.”
42 UST Jesus responded,“{ What I have said fits with what} you have read in the Scriptures:‘The people who were constructing a building refused to use a certain stone. However, that stone is now the most important one in the building. The Lord{ God} did that, and we think it is amazing.’ BSB BSB: Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 UST So then, here is what I want to tell you: God will stop you from participating in his kingdom. He will have a different group of people participate in his kingdom. They will do what he wants those in his kingdom to do. BSB BSB: Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
44 UST Any people who trip over the stone{ that is now the most important one} will injure themselves. Further, that stone will squash anyone on whom it drops.” BSB BSB: He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
45 UST The ruling priests and the Pharisees listened to the stories that Jesus told. They realized that Jesus was telling{ the stories} about them. BSB BSB: When the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they knew that Jesus was speaking about them.
46 UST They wanted to arrest Jesus. However, since the large groups of people believed that Jesus spoke for God, they were afraid of how those people would react.{ So, they did not arrest Jesus at that time.} BSB BSB: Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.