Page 506 - Bible History

THE PASSION AND DEATH OF CHRIST 479
became hungry. Seeing a g tree by the wayside, He went up to it. Though it was covered with leaves, there were no gs upon it, and He said, "May no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever.''
Entering the city, Jesus went at once to the Temple. s In the Court of the Gentiles He came upon the mer- :i chants selling the victims for the sacri ces, and the T e money changers at their tables. As once before, at
the beginning of His public life, He began to drive them out and to overthrow their tables and their chairs, and He would not so much as allow anyone to carry anything through the Temple. He said to them,
"Is it not written, 'My house shall be called the house
of prayer to all nations'? But you have made it a den
of thieves.''
And w en evening was come, He went forth out of
the city back toward Bethania, and spent the night on the Mount of Olives.
On the following morning, which was Tuesday, Jesus and the apostles once more returned to Jerusalem. As they passed the g tree which Jesus had cursed the day before, they saw that it was dried up from the roots. Peter said, ''Master, behold, the g tree which Thou didst curse is withered away.'' Jesus answered,
"Amen, I say to you, if you shall have faith, and waver not, not only this of the g tree shall you do, but also if you shall say to this mountain, 'Take up thyself and cast thyself into the sea,' it shall be done."
Entering the Temple, Jesus began to preach to the P i people. Some of the chief priests· and leaders of the Jon people came up to Him and said, "By what authority