Mark 11

1As they came near Jerusalem, to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples ahead.

2Jesus told them: Go into the village in front of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied up, one that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

3If anyone asks you, Why are you doing this?, tell them: The Lord needs it, and He will send it back here soon.

4So they went and found a young donkey tied up outside a door, where two streets met, and they untied it.

5Some people standing there asked them: What are you doing, untying that donkey?

6They answered just as Jesus had told them, and the people let them go.

7They brought the donkey to Jesus and threw their coats over it, and Jesus sat on it.

8Many people spread their coats on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.

9The people walking ahead and those following behind shouted: Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!

11Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

12The next day, as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.

13Jesus saw in the distance a fig tree covered with leaves, so He went to see if it had any fruit. But when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.

14Then Jesus said to the tree: May no one ever eat fruit from you again. And His disciples heard Him say it.

15When they came to Jerusalem, Jesus went into the temple. He began to drive out the people who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the money changers and the benches of those who were selling doves.

16Jesus would not allow anyone to carry goods through the temple.

17Then Jesus taught them: Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a hideout for robbers.

18The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill Him. They were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was amazed at His teaching.

19When evening came, Jesus and His disciples left the city.

20The next morning, as they walked along, they saw the fig tree dried up all the way to the roots.

21Peter remembered and said to Jesus: Teacher, look! The fig tree you cursed has dried up.

22Jesus answered: Have faith in God.

23I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, Go and 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.

24So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

25And when you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive your sins.

26But if you do not forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.

27They arrived again in Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders came to him.

28They asked: By what right are you doing these things? Who gave you the right to do them?

29Jesus answered: I will ask you one question. Answer me, and then I will tell you by what right I do these things.

30John's baptism — was it from heaven, or from people? Answer me.

31They talked it over among themselves. They said: If we say, From heaven, He will ask, Then why did you not believe Him?

32But if we say, From people... They were afraid of the crowd, because everyone believed that John really was a prophet.

33So they answered Jesus: We do not know. Then Jesus said: Then I will not tell you by what right I do these things.