Matthew 21:20-29

20The disciples were surprised to see this. They asked, “How did the fig tree dry up so quickly?”

21Jesus answered them, “I can guarantee this truth: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to the fig tree. You could also say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen.

22Have faith that you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

23Then Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to teach. The chief priests and the leaders of the people came to him. They asked, “What gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?”

24Jesus answered them, “I, too, have a question for you. If you answer it for me, I’ll tell you why I have the right to do these things.

25Did John’s right to baptize come from heaven or from humans?” They discussed this among themselves. They said, “If we say, ‘from heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’

26But if we say, ‘from humans,’ we’re afraid of what the crowd might do. All those people think of John as a prophet.”

27So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus told them, “Then I won’t tell you why I have the right to do these things.

28“What do you think about this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go to work in the vineyard today.’

29“His son replied, ‘I don’t want to!’ But later he changed his mind and went.