Get the free app for more features and content.
Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

1When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’ ” 4They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,

“Hosanna!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

11Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

12On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

15Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; 16and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17He was teaching and saying, “Is it not written,

‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’?

But you have made it a den of robbers.”

18And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. 19And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree

20In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21Then Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. 24So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

25“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”

Jesus’ Authority Is Questioned

27Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him 28and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?” 29Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.” 31They argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. 33So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Click here to learn more.

Featured Resources

Mark

Mark

One of the earliest official accounts of the life, death, and resurrection of...

BibleProject

Why forgive? Miroslav Volf explores how forgiveness is possible.

Why forgive? Miroslav Volf explores how forgive...

How can we have true forgiveness? Miroslav Volf, professor of theology at Yal...

The Veritas Forum

Introduction to Mark

Introduction to Mark

Dr. Ahmi Lee introduces Mark by comparing it to a documentary which portrays ...

Fuller Studio

Do The Gospels Marginalize Women? — Rebecca McLaughlin

Do The Gospels Marginalize Women? — Rebecca McL...

People often assume that because the four biographies of Jesus were written b...

The Gospel Coalition

The Workshop - Can We Trust the Gospels? with Dr. Craig Blomberg

The Workshop - Can We Trust the Gospels? with D...

The Workshop Series offers a chance to consider important topics in a TED-tal...

Denver Seminary

The Gospel

The Gospel

The New Testament contains four ancient biographies of Jesus of Nazareth, and...

BibleProject

Erin Dufault-Hunter on Her Calling

Erin Dufault-Hunter on Her Calling

Erin Dufault-Hunter, assistant professor of Christian ethics, reflects on the...

Fuller Studio

Kevin DeYoung on Why You Should Believe in Jesus

Kevin DeYoung on Why You Should Believe in Jesus

Kevin DeYoung points out that Jesus is both a historical fact and a present s...

The Gospel Coalition

New Testament Summary: A Complete Animated Overview

New Testament Summary: A Complete Animated Over...

Watch our overview video on the New Testament. This video breaks down the lit...

BibleProject

Gospel of Mark Summary: A Complete Animated Overview

Gospel of Mark Summary: A Complete Animated Ove...

Watch our overview video on the book of Mark, which breaks down the literary ...

BibleProject

Explore Mark 11