20. In the morning as Jesus and his disciples walked along, they saw the fig tree. It was dried up all the way down to the roots.
21. Peter remembered. He said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you put a curse on has dried up!"
22. "Have faith in God," Jesus said.
23. "What I'm about to tell you is true. Suppose one of you says to this mountain, 'Go and throw yourself into the sea.' You must not doubt in your heart. You must believe that what you say will happen. Then it will be done for you.
24. "So I tell you, when you pray for something, believe that you have already received it. Then it will be yours.
25-26. And when you stand praying, forgive anyone you have anything against. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins."
27. Jesus and his disciples arrived again in Jerusalem. He was walking in the temple courtyards. Then the chief priests came to him. The teachers of the law and the elders came too.
28. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "Who gave you authority to do this?"
29. Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
30. Was John's baptism from heaven? Or did it come from men? Tell me!"
31. They talked to each other about it. They said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'
32. But what if we say, 'From men'?" They were afraid of the people. Everyone believed that John really was a prophet.