Jesus asked for a donkey and colt to be brought to Him. They put their coats on the colt for Jesus to sit on. This fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. On the way people spread their coats, or put down branches on the road. The people shouted the words of Psalm 118:26. This must have caused quite a ruckus! Jesus went into the temple and threw out all the merchants that were there. He quoted Isaiah 56:7. Jesus healed many people while He was at the temple. The chief priests and teachers were mad when they heard how the people praised Jesus, He quoted Psalm 8:2. He went to Bethany and spent the night. Early the next morning, Jesus was on the road to the city and came upon a fig tree. There was no fruit on it and Jesus cursed it and it withered. The 12 wondered how He did that and He told them it was by faith. He told them that if they believe, they can have whatever they ask for in prayer. Later, when Jesus was teaching in the temple, the chief priests and teachers asked Him by what authority he was teaching? Jesus told them if they could answer His question He would answer theirs. He asked them by whose authority John was baptizing? They couldn't answer on the grounds that they couldn't win, so they said they didn't know. Then Jesus told them a parable about a father who wanted his sons to help in the vineyard. The first said he wouldn't go and then did, and the second lied, saying he'd go but didn't. Jesus asked them which one obeyed the father? They thought the first one did. Jesus told them that prostitutes and tax collectors would enter the kingdom of God before them. John came to show them the way and they didn't believe him, but the prostitutes and tax collectors did. Jesus told them another story about a landowner who rented his vineyard to some very selfish tenants. I like the way the story describes the relationship between the landowner, the servants and the tenants. Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22-23. The chief priests and teachers knew that Jesus was talking about them. They wanted to arrest Jesus, but were afraid of the crowd.
Jesus continued speaking to the chief priests and teachers in parables. He told about a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son and none of the invited guests showed up because they had more important things to do. So then he invited strangers to come and eat and drink and celebrate with him. He went to meet his guests and noticed one who didn't have on the proper wedding clothes. When the king asked him why he hadn't changed clothes, he didn't have an answer. The king had him tied at the wrists and ankles and thrown into the darkness. Then Jesus said, "Many are invited, but only a few are chosen." (CEV Matt.22:14) The Pharisees put their heads together to figure out how to trick Jesus. They sent some people to ask Him whether they should pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus knew what they were up to and he asked them whose picture was on the coin? The Emperor's. Jesus told them to give Ceasar what belongs to him and give to God what belongs to Him. The Sadducees didn't believe in life after death. They asked Jesus a trick question about a woman who was married to 7 brothers and who's wife would she be after death. Jesus told them that they didn't know anything. He told them that after death there is no marriage, people are like the angels in heaven. God is the God of the living. The Pharisees asked what he most important commandment is. Jesus told them the first and most important commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. The second is like it, love others as much as you love yourself. All the other commandments are based on these two. Jesus asked the Pharisees who is the father of the Messiah? Then Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1 and asked them if David called him Lord, how can he be his son? They didn't ask any more questions.
Tomorrow read Matthew 23-25:13
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