Matthew 21:18–32

Cursing of the Fig Tree

Mark 11:11–14, 20–24

18 qNow in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 rAnd seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

20 sAnd when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”

21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, tif you have faith and udo not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, vbut also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And wwhatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Question of Jesus’ Authority

Mark 11:27–33; Luke 20:1–8

23 xNow when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and ysaid, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”

24 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: 25 The zbaptism of aJohn—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?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we bfear the multitude, cfor all count John as a prophet.” 27 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.

Parable of the Two Sons

28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my dvineyard.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?”

They said to Him, “The first.”

Jesus said to them, e“Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. 32 For fJohn came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; gbut tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward 6relent and believe him.