Bible

Matthew 21:1-46 (NIRV)

Topics in Book | Outline of Book | Facts About Book | Commentary | Parallel Verse

NET | AMP | NIV | NIV-2010 | NASB | TNIV | NIRV | ESV | KJV | ASV | RSV | Good News | NLT | CEV | Basic | MSG | Spanish | French

Previous Chapter | Previous Verse | Whole Chapter | Next Verse | Next Chapter


1 As they all approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage. It was on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent out two disciples. 2 He said to them, "Go to the village ahead of you. As soon as you get there, you will find a donkey tied up. Her colt will be with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them. The owner will send them right away." 4 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would come true. It says, 5 6 The disciples went and did what Jesus told them to do. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt. They placed their coats on them. Then Jesus sat on the coats. 8 A very large crowd spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up. The people asked, "Who is this?" 11 The crowds answered, "This is Jesus. He is the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." 12 Jesus entered the temple area. He began chasing out all those who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the people who were exchanging money. He also turned over the benches of those who were selling doves. 13 14 Blind people and those who were disabled came to Jesus at the temple. There he healed them. 15 The chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did. They also saw the children in the temple area shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" But when they saw all of this, they became angry. 16 17 Then Jesus left the people and went out of the city to Bethany. He spent the night there. 18 Early in the morning, Jesus was on his way back to Jerusalem. He was hungry. 19 He saw a fig tree by the road. He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Right away the tree dried up. 20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree dry up so quickly?" they asked. 21 Jesus replied, "What I'm about to tell you is true. You must have faith and not doubt. Then you can do what was done to the fig tree. And you can say to this mountain, 'Go and throw yourself into the sea.' It will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive what you ask for when you pray." 23 Jesus entered the temple courtyard. While he was teaching there, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "Who gave you this authority?" 24 Jesus replied, "I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 Where did John's baptism come from? Was it from heaven? Or did it come from men?" They talked to each other about it. They said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' 26 But what if we say, 'From men'? We are afraid of the people. Everyone believes that John was a prophet." 27 So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Then I won't tell you by what authority I am doing these things either. 28 "What do you think about this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 29 " 'I will not,' the son answered. But later he changed his mind and went. 30 "Then the father went to the other son. He said the same thing. The son answered, 'I will, sir.' But he did not go. 31 "Which of the two sons did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "What I'm about to tell you is true. Tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 John came to show you the right way to live. And you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. You saw this. But even then you did not turn away from your sins and believe him. 33 "Listen to another story. A man who owned some land planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it. He dug a pit for a winepress in it. He also built a lookout tower. He rented the vineyard out to some farmers. Then he went away on a journey. 34 When harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the renters. He told the servants to collect his share of the fruit. 35 "But the renters grabbed his servants. They beat one of them. They killed another. They threw stones at the third to kill him. 36 Then the man sent other servants to the renters. He sent more than he did the first time. The renters treated them the same way. 37 "Last of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said. 38 "But the renters saw the son coming. They said to each other, 'This is the one who will receive all the owner's property someday. Come, let's kill him. Then everything will be ours.' 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard. Then they killed him. 40 "When the owner of the vineyard comes back, what will he do to those renters?" 41 "He will destroy those evil people," they replied. "Then he will rent the vineyard out to other renters. They will give him his share of the crop at harvest time." 42 43 "So here is what I tell you. The kingdom of God will be taken away from you. It will be given to people who will produce its fruit. 44 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces. But the stone will crush anyone it falls on." 45 The chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' stories. They knew he was talking about them. 46 So they looked for a way to arrest him. But they were afraid of the crowd. The people believed that Jesus was a prophet.


This passage relates to the following topic(s):
(v. 6) Obedience - Disciples - getting the donkey for Jesus
(v. 12) Zeal / Boldness / Radicalness - Jesus - zealously cleared the temple
(v. 13) Zeal / Boldness / Radicalness - Jesus - zealously cleared the temple
(v. 21) Prayer - Ask in faith and it will be done
(v. 21) Faith / Doubt / Worry - Ask in faith and it will be done
(v. 22) Prayer - If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
(v. 22) Believing / Unbelief - If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

This passage is referenced in the following quiet time(s):
(v. 2) Seek Jesus (2015-11-15)
(v. 5) Names of Jesus (part IX) (2011-04-15)
(v. 18) Jesus was Human (part II) (2011-03-02)
(v. 21) Followup - Prayer (part II) (2011-01-27)
(v. 22) Followup - Prayer (part II) (2011-01-27)
(v. 23) Jesus with People - Heart Determined to Preach (2009-02-10)
(v. 24) Jesus with People - Heart Determined to Preach (2009-02-10)
(v. 25) Jesus with People - Heart Determined to Preach (2009-02-10)
(v. 26) Jesus with People - Heart Determined to Preach (2009-02-10)
(v. 27) Jesus with People - Heart Determined to Preach (2009-02-10)
(v. 35) Prayer of the Righeous - Wiping Away Tears (2012-10-15)
(v. 36) Prayer of the Righeous - Wiping Away Tears (2012-10-15)
(v. 37) Prayer of the Righeous - Wiping Away Tears (2012-10-15)
(v. 41) Names of the Church (part VI) (2011-04-30)
(v. 43) First the Kingdom - Trees (part 3) (2010-02-10)

Definition(s):
Jesus (Jeez-us): savior; deliverer
Nazareth (Naz-ar-eth): separated; crowned; sanctified
Pharisees (Fehr-iss-ees): set apart
So (Soh):