Matthew 21:17-23

English Standard Version

¹⁷ And ^(A)leaving them, he ^(B)went out of the city to ^(C)Bethany and lodged there.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

^18 (D)In the morning, as he was returning to the city, ^(E)he became hungry. ^19 (F)And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.

²⁰ When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” ²¹ And Jesus answered them, ^(G)“Truly, I say to you, ^(H)if you have faith and ^(I)do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ^(J)‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. ²² And ^(K)whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, ^(L)if you have faith.”

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

^23 (M)And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him ^(N)as he was teaching, and said, ^(O)“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”