Mat 21 | LEB | STEP | And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Matthew 21

The Triumphal Entry

1 And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village before you, and right away you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her. Untie them ^{▼▼*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation} and ^{▼▼*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“untie”) has been translated as a finite verb} bring them ^{▼▼*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation} to me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you will say, ‘The Lord ⌞needs them⌟,’ ^{▼▼Literally “has need of them”} and he will send them at once.” 4 Now this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled, saying,

5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
and ^{▼▼Or “even”} on a colt, the foal of a pack animal.’ ” ^{▼▼A quotation from Zech 9:9}

6 So the disciples went ^{▼▼*Here the participle (“went”) is translated as a finite verb because of English style} and did ^{▼▼*Here the participle (“did”) is translated as a finite verb because of English style} just as Jesus directed them, 7 and ^{▼▼*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participles (“went” and “did” in the previous verse) have been translated as finite verbs} brought the donkey and the colt and put their ^{▼▼*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun} cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 And a very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them ^{▼▼*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation} on the road. 9 And the crowds who went ahead of him and the ones who followed were shouting, saying,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! ^{▼▼A quotation from Ps 118:25–26}
Hosanna in the highest heaven!” ^{▼▼*Here “heaven” is understood}

10 And when ^{▼▼*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“entered”)} he entered into Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee!”

The Cleansing of the Temple

12 And Jesus entered the temple courts ^{▼▼*Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself} and drove out all those who were selling and buying in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who were selling doves. 13 And he said to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ ^{▼▼A quotation from Isa 56:7} but you have made it a cave of robbers!”

14 And the blind and the lame came up to him in the temple courts ^{▼▼*Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself} and he healed them. 15 But when ^{▼▼*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal} the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children shouting in the temple courts ^{▼▼*Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself} and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant. 16 And they said to him, “Do you hear what these children ^{▼▼*The word “children” is not in the Greek text but is implied} are saying?” So Jesus said to them, “Yes, have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of children and nursing babies you have prepared for yourself praise’?” ^{▼▼A quotation from Ps 8:2} 17 And leaving them, he went outside of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.

A Barren Fig Tree Cursed

18 Now early in the morning, as he ^{▼▼*Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was returning”) which is understood as temporal} was returning to the city, he was hungry. 19 And seeing a single fig tree by the road, he went to it and found nothing on it except leaves only. And he said to it, “May there be no more fruit from you ⌞forever⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “to the age”} and the fig tree withered at once. 20 And when they ^{▼▼*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal} saw it, ^{▼▼*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation} the disciples were astonished, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” 21 And Jesus answered and ^{▼▼*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb} said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will do not only what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,” it will happen! 22 And whatever you ask in prayer, if you ^{▼▼*Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“believe”) which is understood as conditional} believe, you will receive.”

Jesus’ Authority Challenged

23 And after ^{▼▼*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“arrived”)} he arrived at the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him while he ^{▼▼*Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was teaching”) which is understood as temporal} was teaching, saying, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” 24 And Jesus answered and ^{▼▼*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb} said to them, “I also will ask you one question. If you tell the answer ^{▼▼*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation} to me, I also will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 From where was the baptism of John—from heaven or from men?” And they began to discuss ^{▼▼*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to discuss”)} this ^{▼▼*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation} among themselves, saying, “If we say ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the crowd, because they all look upon John as a prophet.” 27 And they answered and ^{▼▼*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb} said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

28 “Now what do you think? A man had two sons. He approached ^{▼▼Some manuscripts have “And he approached”} the first and ^{▼▼*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“approached”) has been translated as a finite verb} said, ‘Son, go work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered and ^{▼▼*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb} said, ‘I do not want to!’ But later he changed his mind and ^{▼▼*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“changed his mind”) has been translated as a finite verb} went. 30 And he approached the second ^{▼▼Some manuscripts have “the other”} and ^{▼▼*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“approached”) has been translated as a finite verb} said the same thing. So he answered and ^{▼▼*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb} said, ‘I will, sir,’ and he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his ^{▼▼Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun} father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going ahead of you into the kingdom of God! 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe him. And when ^{▼▼*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal} you saw it, ^{▼▼*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation} you did not even change your minds later so as to believe in him.

The Parable of the Tenant Farmers in the Vineyard

33 “Listen to another parable: There was a man—a master of a house—who planted a vineyard, and put a fence around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower, and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey. 34 And when the season of fruit drew near, he sent his slaves to the tenant farmers to collect his fruit. 35 And the tenant farmers seized his slaves, one of whom they beat, and one of whom they killed, and one of whom they stoned. 36 Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first ones, and they did the same thing to them. 37 So finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when ^{▼▼*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal} the tenant farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance!’ 39 And they seized him and ^{▼▼*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“seized”) has been translated as a finite verb} threw him ^{▼▼*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation} out of the vineyard and killed him. ^{▼▼*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation} 40 Now when the master of the vineyard arrives, what will he do to those tenant farmers?” 41 They said to him, “He will destroy those evil men completely and lease the vineyard to other tenant farmers who will give him the fruits in their season.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures,

‘The stone which the builders rejected,
this has become ⌞the cornerstone⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “the head of the corner”}
This came about from the Lord,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’? ^{▼▼A quotation from Ps 118:22–23}

43 For this reason, I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and will be given to a people ^{▼▼Or “nation”} who produce its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls—it will crush him!” 45 And when ^{▼▼*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal} the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them, 46 and although they ^{▼▼*Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as concessive} wanted to arrest him, they were afraid of the crowds, because they looked upon him as a prophet.