11. The crowds following Jesus answered, “This is Jesus. He is the prophet from the town of Nazareth in Galilee.”
12. Jesus went into the Temple area. He threw out all those who were selling and buying things there. He turned over the tables that belonged to those who were exchanging different kinds of money. And he turned over the benches of those who were selling doves.
13. Jesus said to them, “The Scriptures say, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are changing it into a ‘hiding place for thieves.’”
14. Some blind people and some who were crippled came to Jesus in the Temple area. Jesus healed them.
15. The leading priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he was doing. And they saw the children praising him in the Temple area. The children were shouting, “Praise to the Son of David.” All this made the priests and the teachers of the law angry.
16. They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” He answered, “Yes. The Scriptures say, ‘You have taught children and babies to give praise.’ Have you not read that Scripture?”
17. Then Jesus left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.
18. Early the next morning, Jesus was going back to the city. He was very hungry.
19. He saw a fig tree beside the road and went to get a fig from it. But there were no figs on the tree. There were only leaves. So Jesus said to the tree, “You will never again produce fruit!” The tree immediately dried up and died.
20. When the followers saw this, they were very surprised. They asked, “How did the fig tree dry up and die so quickly?”
21. Jesus answered, “The truth is, if you have faith and no doubts, you will be able to do the same as I did to this tree. And you will be able to do more. You will be able to say to this mountain, ‘Go, mountain, fall into the sea.’ And if you have faith, it will happen.
22. If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer.”
23. Jesus went into the Temple area. While Jesus was teaching there, the leading priests and the older leaders of the people came to him. They said, “Tell us! What authority do you have to do these things you are doing? Who gave you this authority?”
24. Jesus answered, “I will ask you a question too. If you answer me, then I will tell you what authority I have to do these things.