19
Seeing a lone1figtree by the road, He came to it and foundnothing on it exceptleavesonly; and He said to it, "Nolonger shall there ever* be any fruit from you." And at once the figtreewithered.
20
Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, "How did the figtreewither all at once?"
21
And Jesusanswered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, 2if you havefaith and do not doubt, you will not onlydowhat was done to the figtree, but evenif you say to thismountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen.
22
"And 3allthings you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
Authority Challenged
234When He entered the temple, the chiefpriests and the elders of the peoplecame to Him 5while He was teaching, and said, "By whatauthority are You doingthesethings, and whogave You thisauthority?"
24
Jesussaid to them, "I will alsoask you onething, whichif you tell Me, I will alsotell you by whatauthority I dothesethings.
25
"The baptism of John was from what source, from heavenor from men?" And they began reasoningamongthemselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Thenwhy* did you not believe him?'
26
"But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the people; for they allregardJohn as 6a prophet."
27
And answeringJesus, they said, "We do not know." He alsosaid to them, "Neither will I tell you by whatauthority I dothesethings.
Parable of Two Sons
28"But what do you think? A manhadtwosons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, goworktoday in the 7vineyard.'
29
"And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward he regretted it and went.