151Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were sellingdoves;
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and He would not permitanyone to carrymerchandisethrough the temple.
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And He began to teach and say to them, "Is it not written, '2MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS '? 3But you have made it a ROBBERS'DEN."
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The chiefpriests and the scribesheard this, and 4began seekinghow to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for 5the wholecrowd was astonished at His teaching.
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6Wheneveningcame, they would go out of the city.
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7As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the figtreewithered from the roots up.
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Being reminded, Petersaid to Him, "8Rabbi, look, the figtreewhich You cursed has withered."
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And Jesusansweredsaying to them, "9Havefaith in God.
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"10Truly I say to you, whoever*says to thismountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.
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"Therefore* I say to you, 11allthings for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.
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"Whenever you 12standpraying, 13forgive, if you haveanythingagainstanyone, so that your Fatherwho is in heaven will alsoforgive you your transgressions.
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[ "14But if you do not forgive, neither will your Fatherwho is in heavenforgive your transgressions."]
Jesus' Authority Questioned
27 They cameagain to Jerusalem. 15And as He was walking in the temple, the chiefpriests and the scribes and the elderscame to Him,
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and began saying to Him, "By whatauthority are You doingthesethings, orwhogave You thisauthority to dothesethings?"
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And Jesussaid to them, "I will ask you onequestion, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by whatauthority I dothesethings.
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"Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me."
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They began reasoningamongthemselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Thenwhy* did you not believe him?'
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"But shall we say, 'From men '?"-they were afraid of the people, for everyoneconsideredJohn to have been a realprophet.
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AnsweringJesus, they said, "We do not know." And Jesussaid to them, "Nor will I tell you by whatauthority I dothesethings."