Matthew 21:1-18

1 As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives. There Jesus sent two of the disciples on ahead

2 with these instructions: "Go to the village there ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied up with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to me.

3 And if anyone says anything, tell him, "The Master needs them'; and then he will let them go at once."

4 This happened in order to make come true what the prophet had said:

5 "Tell the city of Zion, ¹ Look, your king is coming to you! He is humble and rides on a donkey and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

6 So the disciples went and did what Jesus had told them to do:

7 they brought the donkey and the colt, threw their cloaks over them, and Jesus got on.

8 A large crowd of people spread their cloaks on the road while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

9 The crowds walking in front of Jesus and those walking behind began to shout, "Praise to David's Son! God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise be to God!" ²

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was thrown into an uproar. "Who is he?" the people asked.

11 "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee," the crowds answered.

12 Jesus went into the Temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the stools of those who sold pigeons,

13 and said to them, "It is written in the Scriptures that God said, "My Temple will be called a house of prayer.' But you are making it a hideout for thieves!" ³

14 The blind and the crippled came to him in the Temple, and he healed them.

15 The chief priests and the teachers of the Law became angry when they saw the wonderful things he was doing and the children shouting in the Temple, "Praise to David's Son!"

16 So they asked Jesus, "Do you hear what they are saying?" ⁴ "Indeed I do," answered Jesus. "Haven't you ever read this scripture? "You have trained children and babies to offer perfect praise.' "

17 Jesus left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

18 On his way back to the city early next morning, Jesus was hungry.

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