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		</div><div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span>Lenten Day Meditation Day 16</span></span></p>
<h1 class="passage-display"><span class="passage-display-bcv">Matthew 21</span><span class="passage-display-version"></span></h1>
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<h3 style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-1" id="en-NIV-23828">Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King</span></span></span></h3>
<div class="chapter-2" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-1"><span class="chapternum">21 </span>As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,</span> <span class="text Matt-21-2" id="en-NIV-23829"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>saying to them, <span class="woj">“Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-21-3" id="en-NIV-23830"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-4" id="en-NIV-23831"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div class="poetry top-05" style="text-align:center;">
<div class="line"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-5" id="en-NIV-23832"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>“Say to Daughter Zion,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Matt-21-5">‘See, your king comes to you,</span></span><br /><span class="text Matt-21-5">gentle and riding on a donkey,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Matt-21-5">and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”</span></span></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div class="top-05" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-6" id="en-NIV-23833"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.</span> <span class="text Matt-21-7" id="en-NIV-23834"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.</span> <span class="text Matt-21-8" id="en-NIV-23835"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.</span> <span class="text Matt-21-9" id="en-NIV-23836"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,</span></span></span></div>
<div class="poetry top-05" style="text-align:center;">
<div class="line"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-9">“Hosanna<;sup class=";footnote"; data-fn=";#fen-NIV-23836b"; data-link=";[<a href="#fen-NIV-23836b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]&#8221;>;</sup> to the Son of David!”</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="poetry top-05" style="text-align:center;">
<div class="line"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-9">“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”</span></span></span></div>
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<div class="poetry top-05" style="text-align:center;">
<div class="line"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-9">“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”</span></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div class="top-05" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-10" id="en-NIV-23837"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-11" id="en-NIV-23838"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”</span></span></span></div>
<p><a name='more'></a></p>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-12" id="en-NIV-23839">Jesus at the Temple</span></span></span></h3>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-12"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.</span> <span class="text Matt-21-13" id="en-NIV-23840"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>“It is written,”</span> he said to them, <span class="woj">“‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-14" id="en-NIV-23841"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.</span> <span class="text Matt-21-15" id="en-NIV-23842"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-16" id="en-NIV-23843"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-16"><span class="woj">“Yes,”</span> replied Jesus, <span class="woj">“have you never read,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="poetry top-05" style="text-align:center;">
<div class="line"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-16"><span class="woj">“‘From the lips of children and infants</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Matt-21-16"><span class="woj">you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div class="top-05" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-17" id="en-NIV-23844"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-18" id="en-NIV-23845">Jesus Curses a Fig Tree</span></span></span></h3>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-18"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.</span> <span class="text Matt-21-19" id="en-NIV-23846"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, <span class="woj">“May you never bear fruit again!”</span> Immediately the tree withered.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-20" id="en-NIV-23847"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-21" id="en-NIV-23848"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>Jesus replied, <span class="woj">“Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-21-22" id="en-NIV-23849"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-23" id="en-NIV-23850">The Authority of Jesus Questioned</span></span></span></h3>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-23"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-24" id="en-NIV-23851"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>Jesus replied, <span class="woj">“I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-21-25" id="en-NIV-23852"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-25">They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’</span> <span class="text Matt-21-26" id="en-NIV-23853"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-27" id="en-NIV-23854"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-27">Then he said, <span class="woj">“Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-28" id="en-NIV-23855">The Parable of the Two Sons</span></span></span></h3>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-28"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-29" id="en-NIV-23856"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>“‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-30" id="en-NIV-23857"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-31" id="en-NIV-23858"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-31">“The first,” they answered.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-31">Jesus said to them, <span class="woj">“Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-21-32" id="en-NIV-23859"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-33" id="en-NIV-23860">The Parable of the Tenants</span></span></span></h3>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-33"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-21-34" id="en-NIV-23861"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-35" id="en-NIV-23862"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">35 </sup>“The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-21-36" id="en-NIV-23863"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">36 </sup>Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-21-37" id="en-NIV-23864"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">37 </sup>Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-38" id="en-NIV-23865"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">38 </sup>“But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’</span></span> <span class="text Matt-21-39" id="en-NIV-23866"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">39 </sup>So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-40" id="en-NIV-23867"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">40 </sup>“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-41" id="en-NIV-23868"><sup class="versenum">41 </sup>“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-42" id="en-NIV-23869"><sup class="versenum">42 </sup>Jesus said to them, <span class="woj">“Have you never read in the Scriptures:</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="poetry top-05" style="text-align:center;">
<div class="line"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-42"><span class="woj">“‘The stone the builders rejected</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Matt-21-42"><span class="woj">has become the cornerstone;</span></span></span><br /><span class="text Matt-21-42"><span class="woj">the Lord has done this,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Matt-21-42"><span class="woj">and it is marvelous in our eyes’?</span></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div class="top-05" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span class="text Matt-21-43" id="en-NIV-23870"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">43 </sup>“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-21-44" id="en-NIV-23871"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">44 </sup>Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span> <span class="text Matt-21-45" id="en-NIV-23872"><sup class="versenum">45 </sup>When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.</span> <span class="text Matt-21-46" id="en-NIV-23873"><sup class="versenum">46 </sup>They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.</span></span></span></div>
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