And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?”

And the multitudes said, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “Behold, how ye prevail nothing; lo, the world is gone after him.”

And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple; and when he had looked round about upon all things, it being now eventide, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

MONDAY—­THE DAY OF AUTHORITY

THE CURSING OF THE FIG TREE.

And on the morrow, when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered.  And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon:  and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season of figs.  And he answered and said unto it, “No man eat fruit from thee henceforward for ever.”

And his disciples heard it.

THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE.

And they come to Jerusalem:  and he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and them that bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves:  and he would not suffer that any man should carry a vessel through the temple.  And he taught, and said unto them, “Is it not written, ’My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ but ye have made it a den of robbers?”

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.  But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the son of David”:  they were moved with indignation, and said unto him, “Hearest thou what these are saying?”

And Jesus saith unto them, “Yea:  did ye never read, ’Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise’?”

And the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him:  and they could not find what they might do; for the people all hung upon him, listening.

And he left them, and went forth out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there.

TUESDAY—­THE DAY OF CONTROVERSY

THE LESSON FROM THE WITHERED FIG TREE.

And as they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots.  And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, “Rabbi, behold the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.”

And Jesus answering saith unto them, “Have faith in God.  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, ’Be thou taken up and cast into the sea’; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it.  Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.  And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”