The Ministry Of Jesus. Matthew’s Gospel

The Entry Into Jerusalem.

And when they drew near unto Jerusalem and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village and straightaway you shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto Me. And if any man says ought unto you, you shall say, The Lord has a need of them, and straightaway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell you the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King comes unto you meek and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. Matthew 21 vs 1-5.

And the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them, And they brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set Jesus thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when Jesus had entered into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. Matthew 21 vs 6-11.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple.

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to Jesus in the temple, and He healed them. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that Jesus did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, And said unto Him, Do you hear what these say? And Jesus said unto them, Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings you have perfected praise? And Jesus left them and went out of the city into Bethany, and He lodged there. Matthew 21 vs 12-17.

The Barren Fig Tree.

In the morning, as Jesus returned into the city, He was hungry. And when He saw a fig tree on the way, He came to it, and found no fruit on it, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on you henceforward forever. And presently, the fig tree withered away.  And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If you have faith, and doubt not, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if you shall say unto this mountain, Be removed, and be cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive. Matthew 21 vs 18-22.

Jesus’ Authority Challenged.

And when Jesus had entered into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto Him as He was teaching, and said, By what authority do you do these things? and who gave You this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, where did it come from? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say unto us, Why did you not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And Jesus said unto them, Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. Matthew 21 vs 23-27.

The Parable of the Two Sons.

But what do you think? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterwards he repented, and went. And he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, I  will go, sir: but he never went. Which of the two did the will of their father? They said unto Him, The first. Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and you, when you had seen it, repented not afterwards, that you might believe him. Matthew 21 vs 28-32.

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants.

Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, who planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:  And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last, of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard comes, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Matthew 21 vs 33-41.

Jesus said unto them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore I say unto you The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever, it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Jesus, they feared the multitude, because they took Him for a prophet. Matthew 21 vs 42-46.