Matthew 21:1-17

1When they approached Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples [ahead],

2saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and at once you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me.

3If anyone says anything to you, you should say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and without delay the owner will send them [with you].”

4This happened so that what was spoken by the prophet would be fulfilled, saying:

5“Tell the daughter of Zion (the people of Jerusalem), ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Gentle and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”

6Then the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them,

7and they brought the donkey and the colt, and placed their coats on them; and Jesus sat on the coats.

8Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road [as before a king], while others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.

9The crowds that went ahead of Him, and those that followed Him, were shouting [in praise and adoration], “Hosanna to the Son of David (Messiah); Blessed [praised, glorified] is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest [heaven]!”

10When He entered Jerusalem, all the city was trembling [with excitement], saying, “Who is this?”

11And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

12And Jesus entered the temple [grounds] and drove out [with force] all who were buying and selling [birds and animals for sacrifice] in the temple area, and He turned over the tables of the moneychangers [who made a profit exchanging foreign money for temple coinage] and the chairs of those who were selling doves [for sacrifice].

13Jesus said to them, “It is written [in Scripture], ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”

14And the blind and the lame came to Him in [the porticoes and courts of] the temple area, and He healed them.

15But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful and miraculous things that Jesus had done, and heard the boys who were shouting in [the porticoes and courts of] the temple [in praise and adoration], “Hosanna to the Son of David (the Messiah),” they became indignant

16and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus replied to them, “Yes; have you never read [in the Scripture], ‘Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared and provided praise for Yourself’?”

17Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.