Matthew 21:23-32

English Standard Version

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

²³^(A)And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him ^(B)as he was teaching, and said, ^(C)“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” ²⁴Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵The baptism of John, ^(D)from where did it come? ^(E)From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ^(F)‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ²⁶But if we say, ‘From man,’ ^(G)we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was ^(H)a prophet.” ²⁷So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

²⁸^(I)“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in ^(J)the vineyard today.’ ²⁹And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he ^(K)changed his mind and went. ³⁰And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. ³¹Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, ^(L)the tax collectors and ^(M)the prostitutes go into ^(N)the kingdom of God before you. ³²For John came to you ^(O)in the way of righteousness, and ^(P)you did not believe him, but ^(Q)the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward ^(R)change your minds and believe him.

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Psalm 48

English Standard Version

Zion, the City of Our God

A Song. A Psalm of ^(A)the Sons of Korah.

48 ^(B)Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
    in ^(C)the city of our God!
His ^(D)holy mountain, ²^(E)beautiful in elevation,
    is ^(F)the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
    ^(G)the city of the great King.
³Within her citadels God
    has made himself known as a fortress.

⁴For behold, ^(H)the kings assembled;
    they came on together.
⁵As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;
    they were in panic; they took to flight.
⁶^(I)Trembling took hold of them there,
    anguish ^(J)as of a woman in labor.
⁷By ^(K)the east wind you ^(L)shattered
    the ships of ^(M)Tarshish.
⁸As we have heard, so have we seen
    in the city of the Lord of hosts,
in ^(N)the city of our God,
    which God will ^(O)establish forever. Selah

⁹We have thought on your ^(P)steadfast love, O God,
    in the midst of your temple.
¹⁰As your ^(Q)name, O God,
    so your praise reaches to ^(R)the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
¹¹    Let Mount ^(S)Zion be glad!
Let ^(T)the daughters of Judah rejoice
    because of your judgments!

¹²Walk about Zion, go around her,
    number her towers,
¹³consider well her ^(U)ramparts,
    go through her citadels,
^(V)that you may tell the next generation
¹⁴    that this is God,
our God forever and ever.
    He will ^(W)guide us forever.^[a]