A House of Prayer for All

Near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples to bring a colt that had never been ridden. They spread cloaks on it, and Jesus rode into Jerusalem. Many spread cloaks and leafy branches on the road and shouted, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David!"

The next morning Jesus saw a leafy fig tree with no fruit and said no one would eat fruit from it again. In the temple He drove out those who bought and sold and overturned the money changers' tables. He taught that it is written that God's house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations, but they had made it a den of robbers. The chief priests and scribes sought to destroy Him because the crowd was amazed at His teaching.

The next day the disciples saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Jesus said, "Have faith in God." He taught them to pray believing and to forgive others when they pray. When the leaders asked by what authority He acted, Jesus asked them whether John's baptism was from heaven or from men. They refused to answer, so He did not tell them.