181Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry.
19
Seeing a lone2figtree 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.
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Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, "How did the figtreewither all at once?"
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And Jesusanswered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, 3if 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.
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"And 4allthings you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
Authority Challenged
235When He entered the temple, the chiefpriests and the elders of the peoplecame to Him 6while He was teaching, and said, "By whatauthority are You doingthesethings, and whogave You thisauthority?"
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Jesussaid to them, "I will alsoask you onething, whichif you tell Me, I will alsotell you by whatauthority I dothesethings.
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"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?'
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"But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the people; for they allregardJohn as 7a prophet."
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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 8vineyard.'
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"And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward he regretted it and went.
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"The man came to the second and said the samething; and he answered, 'I will, sir '; but he did not go.
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"Which of the twodid the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesussaid to them, "Truly I say to you that 9the taxcollectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of Godbefore you.
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"For Johncame to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but 10the taxcollectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not evenfeelremorseafterward so as to believe him.