Luke 19:41-20:8

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

⁴¹ As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, ⁴² saying, ‘If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. ⁴⁴ They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.’^[a]

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

⁴⁵ Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; ⁴⁶ and he said, ‘It is written,

⁴⁷ Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; ⁴⁸ but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

20 One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders ² and said to him, ‘Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?’ ³ He answered them, ‘I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: ⁴ Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ ⁵ They discussed it with one another, saying, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say, “Why did you not believe him?” ⁶ But if we say, “Of human origin”, all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.’ ⁷ So they answered that they did not know where it came from. ⁸ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’