6 When Jesus had thus spoken to the tree he went his way. 7 And when he reached the temple, lo, the rooms were filled with petty merchants selling doves and animals, and other things, for sacrifice; the temple was a mart of trade. 8 And Jesus was indignant at the sight, and said, You men of Israel, for shame! This is supposed to be the house of prayer; but it is now a den of thieves. Remove this plunder from this holy place. 9 The merchants only laughed and said, We are protected in our trade by those who bear the rule; we will not go. 10 Then Jesus made a scourge of cords, as he did once before, and rushed among the merchantmen, threw all their money on the floor; 11 Threw wide the cages of the doves, and cut the cords that held the bleating lambs and set them free. 12 And then he drove the merchants from the place, and with a clean, new broom he swept the floors. 13 Chief priests and scribes were filled with wrath, but feared to touch or even to rebuke the Lord, for all the people stood in his defense. 14 And Jesus taught the people all day long and healed a multitude of those diseased, 15 And when the evening came he went again to Bethany. CHAPTER 153. _The Christines go to Jerusalem. They note the withered fig tree; its symbolic meaning. Jesus teaches in the temple. Is censured by the priests. Relates a parable of a rich man’s feast._ On Tuesday, early in the day, the master and the twelve went to Jerusalem. 2 And as they went the twelve observed the tree to which the Lord had talked the day before, and lo, the leaves were withered, just as if they had been scorched with fire. 3 And Peter said, Lord, see the tree! Its leaves are withered and the tree seems dead. 4 And Jesus said, So shall it be with those who bear no fruit. When God shall call them up to give account, lo, he will breathe upon them, and their leaves, their empty words, will wither and decay. 5 God will not let the fruitless trees of life encumber ground, and he will pluck them up and cast them all away. 6 Now, you can demonstrate the power of God. Have faith in God, and you can bid the mountains to depart, and they will crumble at your feet; 7 And you may talk to wind and wave, and they will hear, and will obey what you command. 8 God hears the prayer of faith and when you ask in faith you shall receive. 9 You must not ask amiss; God will not hear the prayer of any man who comes to him with blood of other men upon his hands. 10 And he who harbors envious thoughts, and does not love his fellow men, may pray forever unto God, and he will hear him not. 11 God can do nothing more for men than they would do for other men. 12 And Jesus walked again within the temple courts. 13 The priests and scribes were much emboldened by the council of Caiaphas and the other men in power, and so they came to Jesus and they said,