18
Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry.
19
And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away.
20
And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither away so soon?"
21
So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done.
22
And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
23
Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?"
24
But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things:
25
The baptism of John--where was it from? From heaven or from men?" And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
26
But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet."
27
So they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
28
"But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.'
29
He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went.
30
Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go.
31
Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.
32
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.
33
"Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.
34
Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit.
35
And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.
36
Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them.
37
Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
38
But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.'