Matthew 21:15-32 Now the ranking priests and the scribes (scholars; theologians of the Law), at seeing and perceiving the remarkable and wonderful marvels which He performed (or: did), and the young children repeatedly exclaiming (perhaps: shouting-out approval; cheering) within the Temple courts, and continually saying, "O save us now, by the son of David (or: Hosanna to the Son of David)," : Ps. they grew displeased, indignant and resentful.

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹⁵ Now the ranking priests and the scribes (scholars; theologians of the Law), at seeing and perceiving the remarkable and wonderful marvels which He performed (or: did), and the young children repeatedly exclaiming (perhaps: shouting-out approval; cheering) within the Temple courts, and continually saying, "O save us now, by the son of David (or: Hosanna to the Son of David)," [Ps. 118:25] they grew displeased, indignant and resentful. ¹⁶ And so they said to Him, "Are you listening and hearing what these people are repeatedly saying?" So Jesus is then saying to them, "Yes! Did you men never read that, 'From out of the mouth of babes, and infants still nursing at the breast, You completely harmonize – by thoroughly adjusting and knitting together – praise for Yourself'?" [Ps. 8:3] ¹⁷ And then, leaving them behind, He went out – outside of the city – into Bethany, and lodged there, spending the night in a court yard (or: camped there in a sheepfold). ¹⁸ Now, while leading [them] back in return into the city early in the morning, He got hungry. ¹⁹ And then, upon seeing one [specific] fig tree upon the way (or: on the path; = by the road), He came up on it and found nothing within it except leaves (or: foliage). So He is then saying to it, "Fruit can under no condition any longer come into existence (= be produced) from out of you, on into the Age." And without delay, the fig tree was caused to dry up and wither. ²⁰ At seeing [this], the disciples kept on expressing astonishment: "How was the fig tree instantly caused to dry up and wither?" ²¹ So Jesus, giving a decided reply, said to them, "Truly (It is so; Depend on it; Amen), I am now saying and laying it out for you, if you can continuously hold trust (or: if you folks should constantly have faith) and would not be affected by some separating factor passing through your act of discerning or judging, leading you to hesitate, doubt, or completely question your decision, [then] not only will you men do [what I did] to the fig tree, but further, you can also say to this mountain range (or: hill country; mountain), 'Be uplifted, and then be flung (cast) into the midst of the lake (or: sea)!' It will progressively come to pass (It will proceed in birthing itself and happening). [comment: in prophetic language a mountain was a figure for a kingdom, and the sea represented the masses of humanity] ²² "And so, you will progressively take to yourselves and receive everything (or: all things) – as much or as many as you folks ever could (or: may) request in thoughts or words toward things going well (or: in union with prayer), while continuously trusting and 'faithing' (= expressing, living in, and being joined to faith and belief)!" ²³ Later, after His coming into the Temple courts and grounds, the chief and ranking priests – as well as the elders (or: older men) of the people – came up to Him while [He was] in the process of teaching. They, one after another, proceeded saying, "In what kind of authority (or: In association with sort of customary law) are you continuing to do these things?" And then, "Who gave this authority (right; privilege) to you?" ²⁴ So Jesus, making a discerning response, says to them, "I, Myself, will proceed also asking you one question (thought; word), which, if you folks can (or: should; would) tell Me, then I also will continue in telling you in what kind of authority (or: in association with what sort of customary law) I am constantly doing these things: ²⁵ "The immersion (baptism; = ceremonial washing) which pertained to and was done by John – from what source or origin was it being; from out of heaven (or: from [the] Atmosphere), or from out of the midst of humans (mankind; people)?" Now they began reasoning and discussing among themselves, one after another saying, "If we should say, 'From out of heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why (Through what cause or situation) did you not trust or put faith in him?' ²⁶ "Yet if we should say, 'From out of humans,' we continue fearing about the crowd (= are afraid of how the crowd might react), for they all are in the habit of holding John as a prophet." ²⁷ And so, giving a determined reply to Jesus, they said, "We have not seen and so we do not know (or: We are not aware)." He also affirms to them, "Neither am I, Myself, laying it out or saying to you folks within what kind of authority (right; privilege; customary law) I continue to do these things. ²⁸ "But how is it normally seeming to you men (= What are you now thinking of this situation; What is your opinion)? A man had two children. Upon coming to the first one, he said, 'Child, be going (or: lead the way) under [my directive] today, and continue working in the vineyard. ²⁹ "Now he, giving a determined reply, said, 'I am neither wanting nor intending [to] (or: I will not)!' – yet afterward, changing his thoughts and interests (or: regretting his behavior), he went off. ³⁰ "So, upon going to the different one, he said similarly. Now, giving a considered reply, he said, 'I [go], sir,' – and yet, he did not go off. ³¹ "Which of the two did the will of the father?" They [as a group] are saying, "The first one." [other MSS read vs. 29-31 thus: "Now he, giving a considered reply, said,' I {go}, sir,' and yet he did not go off. So, upon approaching the second one, he said likewise. Yet he, giving a determined reply, said, 'I will not! 'Subsequently, he thought better of it {and} went forth. Which of {these} two fulfilled the desire of {his} father?" They are saying, "The latter one."] Jesus said, "That's right (You got it; Amen)! I am now saying and laying it out for you that the tax (or: tribute; toll) collectors (or: tax farmers; businessmen who bought the contract to collect taxes for the government) and the prostitutes are constantly preceding you men into God's reign (or: the kingdom of God; the sovereign activity of God)! ³² "You see, John came toward you men within the path (or: on the road) of fairness and equity, in accord with the way pointed out, and in the right relationship which pertains to justice – and you men did not trust him or put your faith in him (or: you did not believe him). However, the tax collectors and the prostitutes trusted him (put their faith in him; believed him), yet you men – upon seeing [this] – still did not change your thoughts or interests (or: regret your behavior and think better of it) [so as] to trust in him (put faith in and believe him).