Matthew 21 | New International Version

New International Version

Jesus comes to Jerusalem as king

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.’ 4 This took place to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet: 5 ‘Say to Daughter Zion, “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” ’ (Zec 9:9) 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna^[1] to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna^[2] in the highest heaven!’ (Ps 118:25; Ps 118:26) 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’ 11 The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’

Jesus at the temple

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘ “My house will be called a house of prayer,” but you are making it “a den of robbers.” ’ (Isa 56:7; Jer 7:11) 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant. 16 ‘Do you hear what these children are saying?’ they asked him. ‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read, ‘ “From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise”^[3]?’ (Ps 8:2) 17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Jesus curses a fig-tree

18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig-tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May you never bear fruit again!’ Immediately the tree withered. 20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. ‘How did the fig-tree wither so quickly?’ they asked. 21 Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig-tree, but also you can say to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.’

The authority of Jesus questioned

23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. ‘By what authority are you doing these things?’ they asked. ‘And who gave you this authority?’ 24 Jesus replied, ‘I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism – where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?’ They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will ask, “Then why didn’t you believe him?” 26 But if we say, “Of human origin” – we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.’ 27 So they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know.’ Then he said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The parable of the two sons

28 ‘What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, “Son, go and work today in the vineyard.” 29 ‘ “I will not,” he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 ‘Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, “I will, sir,” but he did not go. 31 ‘Which of the two did what his father wanted?’ ‘The first,’ they answered. Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

The parable of the tenants

33 ‘Listen to another parable: there was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall round it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 35 ‘The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them in the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son,” he said. 38 ‘But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.” 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 ‘Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ 41 ‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,’ they replied, ‘and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.’ 42 Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘ “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes”? (Ps 118:22; Ps 118:23) 43 ‘Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.’^[4] 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

King James Version

1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. 12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. 15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, 16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? 17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there. 18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. 23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? 24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? 26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. 27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. 28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. 33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

Hoffnung für alle

Jesus wird als König empfangen

1 Jesus war mit seinen Jüngern inzwischen in die Nähe von Jerusalem gekommen. Kurz bevor sie Betfage am Ölberg erreichten, schickte Jesus zwei Jünger (Mr 11:1; Lu 19:28; Joh 12:12) 2 mit dem Auftrag voraus: »Geht in das Dorf da vorne! Gleich am Ortseingang werdet ihr eine Eselin mit ihrem Fohlen finden, die dort angebunden sind. Bindet sie los und bringt sie zu mir. 3 Sollte euch jemand fragen, was ihr da tut, dann antwortet: ›Der Herr braucht sie.‹ Man wird sie euch dann ohne Weiteres mitgeben.« 4 Damit sollte sich erfüllen, was Gott durch seinen Propheten angekündigt hatte: 5 »Sagt den Menschen auf dem Berg Zion: ›Euer König kommt zu euch. Und doch kommt er nicht stolz daher, sondern reitet auf einem Esel, ja, auf dem Fohlen einer Eselin.‹« (Isa 62:11; Zec 9:9) 6 Die beiden Jünger gingen los und führten aus, was Jesus ihnen aufgetragen hatte. 7 Sie brachten die Tiere zu ihm, legten ihre Mäntel über sie, und Jesus setzte sich darauf. 8 Viele Leute breiteten ihre Kleider als Teppich vor ihm aus, andere rissen Zweige von den Bäumen und legten sie auf den Weg. 9 Vor und hinter ihm drängten sich die Menschen und riefen: »Gelobt sei der Sohn Davids, ja, gepriesen sei, der im Auftrag des Herrn kommt! Gelobt sei Gott hoch im Himmel!« 10 Als er so in Jerusalem einzog, geriet die ganze Stadt in helle Aufregung. »Wer ist dieser Mann?«, fragten die Leute. 11 »Das ist Jesus, der Prophet aus Nazareth in Galiläa«, riefen die Menschen, die ihn begleiteten.

Jesus jagt die Händler aus dem Tempel

12 Dann ging Jesus in den Tempel, jagte alle Händler und Käufer hinaus, stieß die Tische der Geldwechsler und die Stände der Taubenverkäufer um (Mr 11:15; Lu 19:45; Joh 2:13) 13 und rief ihnen zu: »Ihr wisst doch, was Gott in der Heiligen Schrift sagt: ›Mein Haus soll ein Ort des Gebets sein‹, ihr aber macht eine Räuberhöhle daraus!« (Isa 56:7) 14 Noch während Jesus im Tempel war, kamen Blinde und Gelähmte zu ihm, und er heilte sie. 15 Als die obersten Priester und die Schriftgelehrten seine Wundertaten sahen und die Kinder bemerkten, die auch noch im Tempel riefen: »Gelobt sei der Sohn Davids!«, wurden sie wütend 16 und fragten Jesus: »Hörst du eigentlich, was die Kinder da schreien?« »Ja, ich höre es«, antwortete Jesus. »Habt ihr denn nie gelesen: ›Aus dem Mund der Kinder und Säuglinge lässt du dein Lob erklingen‹?« (Ps 8:3) 17 Damit ließ er sie stehen und ging aus der Stadt nach Betanien, um dort zu übernachten.

Von der Kraft des Glaubens

18 Als Jesus am nächsten Morgen nach Jerusalem zurückkehrte, hatte er Hunger. (Mr 11:12; Mr 11:20) 19 Am Wegrand sah er einen Feigenbaum. Er ging hin, fand aber nichts als Blätter an ihm. Da sagte Jesus zu dem Baum: »Du sollst in Zukunft nie wieder Feigen tragen!« Im selben Augenblick verdorrte der Baum. 20 Als die Jünger das sahen, fragten sie erstaunt: »Wie kommt es, dass der Feigenbaum so plötzlich vertrocknet ist?« 21 Jesus erwiderte: »Ich versichere euch: Wenn ihr Gott vertraut und nicht zweifelt, könnt ihr noch mehr als das tun. Ihr könnt sogar zu diesem Berg sagen: ›Hebe dich von der Stelle und stürze dich ins Meer!‹, und es wird geschehen. 22 Ihr werdet alles bekommen, wenn ihr Gott im Glauben darum bittet.«

Die Frage nach der Vollmacht von Jesus

23 Dann ging Jesus in den Tempel und lehrte die Menschen. Noch während er sprach, stellten ihn die obersten Priester und die führenden Männer des Volkes zur Rede: »Woher nimmst du dir das Recht, so aufzutreten? Wer gab dir die Vollmacht dazu?« (Mr 11:27; Lu 20:1) 24 Jesus erwiderte: »Ich will euch eine Gegenfrage stellen. Wenn ihr die beantwortet, werde ich euch sagen, wer mir die Vollmacht gegeben hat. 25 War Johannes der Täufer von Gott beauftragt zu taufen oder nicht?« Sie überlegten: »Wenn wir antworten: ›Gott hat ihn gesandt‹, dann wird er uns fragen: ›Warum habt ihr ihm dann nicht geglaubt?‹ 26 Wenn wir aber bestreiten, dass Gott ihn gesandt hat, bekommen wir Ärger mit dem Volk. Denn alle sind davon überzeugt, dass Johannes ein Prophet war.« 27 So antworteten sie schließlich: »Wir wissen es nicht!« Darauf entgegnete Jesus: »Dann sage ich euch auch nicht, wer mir die Vollmacht gegeben hat, all diese Dinge zu tun.«

Das Gleichnis von den beiden Söhnen

28 »Was sagt ihr dazu: Ein Mann hatte zwei Söhne. Er bat den ersten: ›Mein Sohn, arbeite heute in unserem Weinberg!‹ 29 ›Ich will aber nicht!‹, entgegnete dieser. Später tat es ihm leid, und er ging doch an die Arbeit. 30 Auch den zweiten Sohn forderte der Vater auf, im Weinberg zu arbeiten. ›Ja, Herr‹, antwortete der. Doch er ging nicht hin. 31 Wer von den beiden Söhnen hat nun getan, was der Vater wollte?« Sie antworteten: »Der erste natürlich!« Da sagte Jesus: »Ich versichere euch: Die betrügerischen Zolleinnehmer und die Huren kommen eher in Gottes Reich als ihr. 32 Johannes der Täufer kam zu euch und zeigte, was Gottes Wille ist. Aber ihr habt ihm keinen Glauben geschenkt. Die Zolleinnehmer und Huren dagegen folgten seinem Ruf. Und obwohl ihr das gesehen habt, kamt ihr nicht zur Besinnung und wolltet immer noch nicht auf ihn hören.«

Vom Weinbergbesitzer und den Pächtern

33 »Hört noch ein anderes Gleichnis: Ein Grundbesitzer legte einen Weinberg an, zäunte ihn ein, stellte eine Weinpresse auf und baute einen Wachturm. Dann verpachtete er den Weinberg an einige Weinbauern und reiste ins Ausland. (Mr 12:1; Lu 20:9) 34 Als die Zeit der Weinlese kam, beauftragte er seine Knechte, den vereinbarten Anteil an der Ernte abzuholen. 35 Aber die Weinbauern packten die Knechte, schlugen den einen nieder, töteten den anderen und steinigten den dritten. 36 Da beauftragte der Grundbesitzer andere Knechte, noch mehr als beim ersten Mal. Aber ihnen erging es nicht besser. 37 Zuletzt sandte er seinen Sohn, weil er sich sagte: ›Vor meinem Sohn werden sie Achtung haben!‹ 38 Als die Weinbauern aber den Sohn kommen sahen, sagten sie zueinander: ›Das ist der Erbe! Los, den bringen wir um, und dann gehört der Weinberg uns.‹ 39 Sie packten ihn, stießen ihn aus dem Weinberg hinaus und brachten ihn um. 40 Was, meint ihr, wird der Besitzer mit diesen Weinbauern machen, wenn er zurückkehrt?« 41 Sie antworteten: »Er wird diesen Verbrechern ein schreckliches Ende bereiten und den Weinberg an solche Weinbauern verpachten, die ihm zur gegebenen Zeit seinen Anteil abliefern.« 42 Darauf sagte Jesus zu ihnen: »Habt ihr denn nie gelesen, dass es in der Heiligen Schrift heißt: ›Der Stein, den die Bauarbeiter weggeworfen haben, weil sie ihn für unbrauchbar hielten, ist nun zum Grundstein des ganzen Hauses geworden. Was keiner für möglich gehalten hat, das tut der Herr vor unseren Augen‹? (Ps 118:22) 43 Deshalb sage ich euch: Gottes Reich wird euch weggenommen und einem Volk gegeben werden, das Gott gehorcht^[1]. 44 Ja, wer auf diesen Stein fällt, wird sich zu Tode stürzen, und auf wen der Stein fällt, der wird von ihm zermalmt.« 45 Die obersten Priester und die Pharisäer merkten, dass Jesus in diesem Gleichnis von ihnen gesprochen hatte. 46 Sie hätten ihn am liebsten festgenommen. Aber sie hatten Angst vor dem Volk, das Jesus für einen Propheten hielt.