The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Study note
Jesus orchestrates his entry into Jerusalem with deliberate prophetic symbolism, riding a colt that has never been ridden, fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy of a humble king. The crowds spread clothing and branches, crying 'Hosanna' and invoking the kingdom of David, recognizing Jesus as a messianic figure. Yet Jesus' choice of a humble donkey rather than a war horse signals a kingdom different from their expectations. His inspection of the temple before departing for Bethany sets the stage for the dramatic events of the following day.
1 They got close to Jerusalem. They were near Bethphage and Bethany by the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two followers ahead. And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
2 He told them, "Go into the village up ahead. As soon as you walk in, you will find a young donkey tied up that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it back to me." And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
3 "If anybody asks, 'What do you think you are doing?' say, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back right away.'" And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
4 They went and found the young donkey tied up beside a door, right out on the street where two roads came together. They untied it. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.
5 Some bystanders asked, "Hey, what are you doing untying that donkey?" And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
6 They gave the answer Jesus had told them to give, and the people let them take it. And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
7 They brought the donkey to Jesus, laid their coats across its back, and Jesus climbed on. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
8 Many people spread their coats on the road in front of him. Others cut leafy branches from nearby trees and scattered them along the path. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 The people walking ahead of him and behind him kept shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes representing the Lord!" And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
10 "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went straight to the temple. He looked around at everything carefully. But since it was already getting late, he headed back to Bethany with the twelve. And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
The Cursing of the Fig Tree
Study note
On his way back to Jerusalem, hungry Jesus approaches a fig tree with leaves but finds no fruit, even though it was not the season for figs. His cursing of the tree is a prophetic enacted parable, not an irrational outburst. The fig tree, which has the outward appearance of fruitfulness (leaves) but produces nothing, symbolizes Israel's temple establishment: impressive in appearance but spiritually barren. This scene frames the temple cleansing that follows, forming a literary sandwich that interprets both events.
12 The next morning, as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus felt hungry. And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
13 He noticed a fig tree with leaves on it a little way off, so he walked over to check for fruit. But when he got there, all he found was leaves. It was not the right time of year for figs. And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
14 Jesus spoke directly to the tree: "No one will ever eat fruit from you again." His disciples heard him say it. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
Cleansing the Temple
Study note
Jesus enters the temple and drives out those buying and selling, overturning the tables of money changers and dove sellers, and refusing to allow anyone to carry goods through the sacred courts. His quotation combining Isaiah's vision of the temple as 'a house of prayer for all nations' with Jeremiah's condemnation of it as 'a den of thieves' exposes how the religious establishment has made the temple a barrier rather than a bridge for Gentile worship. The chief priests and scribes respond by seeking to destroy him, but they fear his popular support.
15 When they got to Jerusalem, Jesus went into the temple. He started throwing out the people buying and selling things there. He flipped over the money changers' tables and knocked over the chairs of the people selling doves. And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
16 He stopped people from using the temple area as a shortcut to carry goods through. And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
17 He taught them, "Do the scriptures not say, 'My house will be called a place of prayer for people of every nation'? But you have turned it into a hideout for criminals!" And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
18 The chief priests and scribes heard about this and started scheming to destroy him. They were afraid of him because the entire crowd was captivated by his teaching. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
19 That evening, Jesus and his disciples left the city. And when even was come, he went out of the city.
The Withered Fig Tree and Teaching on Faith
Study note
The next morning, the disciples discover the fig tree has withered from the roots, completing the prophetic parable. Jesus uses the moment to teach about mountain-moving faith and the power of believing prayer. His additional teaching on forgiveness as a prerequisite for answered prayer connects the inner life of the believer to the outer practice of worship. Just as the fruitless fig tree was judged, so those who maintain religious appearances while harboring unforgiveness will find their worship empty.
20 The next morning, as they walked past the fig tree, they noticed it had completely dried up -- dead all the way down to the roots. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 Peter remembered what had happened and said, "Teacher, look! The fig tree you spoke against is dead!" And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22 Jesus said to them, "Put your trust in God." And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 "I am telling you the truth. If someone tells this mountain, 'Pick yourself up and throw yourself into the sea,' and truly believes it will happen without doubting in their heart, it will be done." For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 "I tell you: When you pray and ask God for something, believe that you have already received it. Then it will be yours." Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 "And whenever you stand up to pray, if you are holding something against anyone, let it go and forgive them. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins too." And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 "But if you refuse to forgive other people, then your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins either." But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
The Question of Jesus' Authority
Study note
The chief priests, scribes, and elders directly challenge Jesus' authority for cleansing the temple. Jesus responds with a counter-question about the authority of John's baptism that traps them in a dilemma: if they say John's authority was from heaven, they must explain why they did not believe him; if from men, they fear the crowd. Their evasive answer, 'We cannot tell,' exposes their dishonesty, and Jesus refuses to reveal his authority to those unwilling to receive it. This exchange demonstrates Jesus' superior wisdom and the religious leaders' bad faith.
27 They went back to Jerusalem. While Jesus was walking through the temple area, the chief priests, scribes, and elders confronted him. And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,
28 They demanded, "What gives you the right to do all this? Who put you in charge?" And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?
29 Jesus said, "Let me ask you just one question first. Answer it, and I will tell you where my authority comes from." And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
30 "Here is my question: When John baptized people, was that something God told him to do, or was it just a human idea? Give me your answer." The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
31 They huddled together and debated: "If we say it was from God, he will ask why we did not believe John." And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
32 "But if we say it was just a human idea..." They could not say that either, because the people were convinced John was a real prophet, and the leaders were afraid of how the crowd would react. But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
33 So they told Jesus, "We do not know." Jesus replied, "Then I am not going to tell you where my authority comes from either." And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.