Matthew 21:21-31

21 "I solemnly tell you," said Jesus, "that if you have an unwavering faith, you shall not only perform such a miracle as this of the fig-tree, but that even if you say to this mountain, `Be thou lifted up and hurled into the sea,' it shall be done;

22 and everything, whatever it be, that you ask for in your prayers, if you have faith, you shall obtain."

23 He entered the Temple; and while He was teaching, the High Priests and the Elders of the people came to Him and asked Him, "By what authority are you doing these things? and who gave you this authority?"

24 "And I also have a question to ask *you*," replied Jesus, "and if you answer me, I in turn will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25 John's Baptism, whence was it? --had it a heavenly or a human origin?" So they debated the matter among themselves. "If we say `a heavenly origin,'" they argued, "he will say, `Why then did you not believe him?'

26 and if we say `a human origin' we have the people to fear, for they all hold John to have been a Prophet."

27 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." "Nor do I tell you," He replied, "by what authority I do these things."

28 "But give me your judgement. There was a man who had two sons. He came to the elder of them, and said, "`My son, go and work in the vineyard to-day.'

29 "`I will not,' he replied. "But afterwards he was sorry, and went.

30 He came to the second and spoke in the same manner. His answer was, "`I will go, Sir.' "But he did not go.

31 Which of the two did as his father desired?" "The first," they said. "I solemnly tell you,' replied Jesus, "that the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners are entering the Kingdom of God in front of you.