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¹ As they came near to Jerusalem, about Bethphage and Bethany, by the mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, and said to them: ² go to yonder village that faces you, and upon your entrance into it, you will find a colt tied, that never was yet backed; loose him, and bring him to me. ³ if any one should ask you, why you do so? tell him, the Lord has occasion for it, and immediately he will send it hither. ⁴ accordingly they went, and finding the colt tied before a door, where two ways met, they untied it. ⁵ upon which some people there said to them, what do you mean by untying the colt? ⁶ and they answered as Jesus had directed, so they let them go. ⁷ then they brought the colt to Jesus, and throwing their garments upon it, he mounted thereon. ⁸ many spread their clothes in the way, others lopt down the branches of trees to strew them in the road. ⁹ the crowd that march'd before and behind crying out, Hosanna, blessed be he that comes in the name of the Lord; ¹⁰ blessed be the kingdom of our father David, which is now come, Hosanna in the highest heavens. ¹¹ Jesus having made his entrance into Jerusalem, went into the temple, and after he had survey'd the whole, it being then late, he departed with the twelve to Bethany.

¹² On the morrow when they had left Bethany, he was press'd with hunger. ¹³ and observing at a distance a fig-tree full of leaves, he went up to it to see if he could find any fruit upon it. but when he came to it, he found it had nothing but leaves, (for it was not the season for that sort of fig.) ¹⁴ thereupon Jesus said to the fig-tree, "no one shall ever eat any fruit of yours." and his disciples took notice of it. ¹⁵ Being arrived at Jerusalem, Jesus went into the temple, and began to turn out those that bought and sold there; he overthrew the table of Money-changers, and the stalls of those that sold doves. ¹⁶ nor would he suffer any baggage to be carried thro' the temple. ¹⁷ at the same time he explained himself to them in these words, is it not written, "my house shall be called a house of prayer to all nations?" but ye have made it a harbour for thieves. ¹⁸ the Scribes and Pharisees upon hearing this consulted together how to destroy him; but they stood in awe of him, because all the people were strangely affected with his doctrine. ¹⁹ but at night Jesus withdrew from the city. ²⁰ In the morning as they were coming back, they saw the fig-tree withered away to the very roots. ²¹ Peter remembring the tree, said, master, see the fig-tree, which you cursed, is quite withered. ²² but Jesus replied, and said to them, rely upon God. ²³ for I assuredly tell you, that whoever shall say to this mountain, be removed, and cast into the sea, having no doubt in his mind, but believing what he says shall be effected, what he pronounces shall actually be accomplished. ²⁴ therefore whenever you pray, be fully persuaded of obtaining your request, and I assure you it shall be granted, whatever it be. ²⁵ only when you are dispos'd to prayer, if you have any cause of complaint against any one, forgive him, that your heavenly father may forgive you your offences. ²⁶ but if you do not forgive others, neither will your heavenly father forgive you.

²⁷ Then they entred again into Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the Scribes, and rulers of the Jews came about him, ²⁸ and asked him, by what authority do you behave thus? and who gave you that authority? ²⁹ Jesus replied to them, if you will answer one question, that I shall propose to you, then I will tell you by what authority I act thus. ³⁰ the baptism of John, was it of divine, or of human institution? ³¹ answer me that. upon this they reasoned thus with themselves; if we should say, it was divine, he will urge, why then did you not believe him? ³² if we should say, it was a human institution, we run a risk from the people. (for they all believed John was a true prophet.) ³³ they therefore gave Jesus this answer, we cannot tell. neither do I, said Jesus, acquaint you by what authority I act thus.