Study Desk

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,

and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.

And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'^[c]?⁽ⁿ⁾ But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.'^[d]"^(o)

The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him,^(p) because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.^(q)

When evening came, Jesus and his disciples^[e] went out of the city.^(r)

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.

Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi,^(s) look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.

"Truly^[f] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.^(t)

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.^(u)

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."^(v)

^[26][g]

They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him.

"By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?"

Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

John's baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!"

They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will ask, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?'

But if we say, ‘Of human origin' …" (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)^(x)

So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."