Mark 11:15–33

Jesus Throws Out the Moneychangers—Matthew 21:12–17; Luke 19:45–48

¹⁵When they came to Jerusalem, Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to throw out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the moneychangers’ tables and the chairs of those who sold pigeons. ¹⁶He would not let anyone carry anything across the temple courtyard. 

¹⁷Then he taught them by saying, “Scripture says, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a gathering place for thieves.” 

¹⁸When the chief priests and experts in Moses’ Teachings heard him, they looked for a way to kill him. They were afraid of him because he amazed all the crowds with his teaching. 

¹⁹(Every evening Jesus and his disciples would leave the city.) 

The Fig Tree Dries Up—Matthew 21:20–22

²⁰While Jesus and his disciples were walking early in the morning, they saw that the fig tree had dried up. ²¹Peter remembered ⸤what Jesus had said⸥, so he said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has dried up.” 

²²Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God! ²³I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn’t doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done for him. ²⁴That’s why I tell you to have faith that you have already received whatever you pray for, and it will be yours. ²⁵Whenever you pray, forgive anything you have against anyone. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your failures.”^a

Jesus’ Authority Challenged—Matthew 21:23–27; Luke 20:1–8

²⁷Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple courtyard, the chief priests, the experts in Moses’ Teachings, and the leaders came to him. ²⁸They asked him, “What gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?” 

²⁹Jesus said to them, “I’ll ask you a question. Answer me, and then I’ll tell you why I have the right to do these things. ³⁰Did John’s right to baptize come from heaven or from humans? Answer me!” 

³¹They discussed this among themselves. They said, “If we say, ‘from heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ³²But if we say, ‘from humans,’ ⸤then what will happen⸥?” They were afraid of the people. All the people thought of John as a true prophet. ³³So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” 

Jesus told them, “Then I won’t tell you why I have the right to do these things.”