Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
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¶1. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
¶2. As it is written in the prophets, “Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you,” and
3.“A voice crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord! Make His paths straight,’”
4.John was baptizing in the wilderness, and he was preaching a baptism of repentance for remission of sins,
5.and all the region of Judea, and those of Jerusalem, went out to him, and they were all being baptized in the Jordan River by him, confessing their sins.
6. And John was clothed with camel hair and a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
7. And he preached, saying, “He who is mightier than I is coming after me, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop to loosen.
8.I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with holy Spirit!”
¶9. Now, it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10. And immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens being ripped open and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, descending upon him,
11.and a voice came from the heavens, saying, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
¶12. And immediately, the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.
13. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan, and he was with the wild beasts, and then the angels ministered to him.
¶14. Now, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the good news of the kingdom of God
15.and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand! Repent and believe the good news!”
¶16. And walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen,
17.and Jesus told them, “Follow me, and I will make you to be fishers of men.”
18. And immediately leaving their nets, they followed him.
19. And going on a little from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother as they were mending the nets in the boat,
20.and immediately, he called them, and leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, they went after him.
¶21. And they entered Capernaum, and immediately, on the Sabbath, he went into the synagogue and taught.
22. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
23. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and it cried out,
24.saying, “Agh! What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know you, who you are – the holy one of God!”
25. But Jesus rebuked it, saying, “Shut up, and come out of him!”
26. And when the unclean spirit had shaken him, and cried out with a loud voice, it came out from him.
27. And all were so amazed that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this, that with authority he commands even the spirits that are unclean, and they obey him!”
28. And the news about him immediately went out into the whole region of Galilee.
¶29. And immediately after they went out of the synagogue, they went into the home of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30. And Simon’s mother-in-law was lying down, burning with fever. And immediately they spoke to him about her.
31. And when he had come to her, he lifted her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever immediately left her, and she began to wait on them.
¶32. And when it was dusk, as the sun went down, they began to carry to him all who were sick and who were demon-possessed,
33.and the whole city was gathered at the door.
34. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons, and he did not allow the demons to say that they knew him.
¶35. And very early in the morning, while it was yet dark, he got up and went out, and he went away to a secluded place, and there he began to pray.
36. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him,
37.and when they found him, they told him, “Everybody’s looking for you.”
38. And he told them, “Let’s go to the neighboring towns so I can preach there, too; that’s why I’ve come.”
39. And so, he continued preaching in their synagogues in all Galilee, and casting out demons.
¶40. And there came to him a leper, pleading with him, and falling on his knees, and saying to him, “If you want to, you can make me clean.”
41. Then Jesus, deeply moved, Jesus, stretched forth his hand and touched him, and told him, “I do want to. Be clean!”
42. And when he spoke, the leprosy immediately departed from him, and he was cleansed.
43. And after he sternly warned him, he immediately sent him away,
44.and he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything. But go! Show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing the things Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”
45. But after he went out, he began to proclaim it greatly and to broadcast the word so widely that Jesus could no longer openly enter a city, and so, he was out in desolate places, and they came to him from every quarter.
¶1. And he entered again into Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that he was at home.
2. And immediately, so many were gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he began to preach to them.
3. And some came to him bringing a paralytic, borne by four men.
4. But being unable to get close to him because of the crowd, they removed the roof where he was, and after digging through, they lowered the pallet on which the paralyzed man lay.
5. Then Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
6. Now, there were some of the scribes sitting there, and they were reasoning in their hearts,
7. “Why is this man speaking blasphemies like this? Who, except God alone, can forgive sins?”
8. But Jesus, immediately perceiving in his spirit that they were reasoning this way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about those things in your hearts?
9.Which is easier? to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and take up your pallet and walk’?
10.But that you may know that the Son of man has authority to forgive sins on earth,” – he said to the paralytic,
11.“I tell you to get up, and take up your pallet, and go on home.”
12. And he got up immediately, and picking up his pallet, he went out before them all, so that they were all astonished, and they glorified God, saying, “We have never seen the like!”
¶13. And he went out again by the sea, and the whole multitude came to him, and he was teaching them.
14. And as he was passing on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax station, and he said to him, “You follow me.” And so, he rose up and followed him.
15. And it came to pass that, as he was reclining at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners reclined with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him.
16. And the scribes and the Pharisees, seeing him eating with tax collectors and sinners, said to his disciples, “Why is it that he is eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?”
17. And upon hearing this, Jesus said to them, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.”
¶18. And the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and said to him, “Why is it that the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees fast, but disciples who belong to you do not fast?”
19. Jesus said to them, “The bridegroom’s attendants can’t fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they can’t fast.
20.But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken from them, and then, in those days, they’ll fast.
21.And no one sews a patch of new cloth onto an old garment, lest its new filler tears away from the old, and the tear is made worse.
22.And no one pours new wine into old wineskins, lest the new wine bursts the wineskins, and the wine is spilled and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.”
¶23. And it came to pass that he went along during the Sabbath through the grain fields, and as his disciples made their way, they began plucking the heads of grain.
24. And the Pharisees said to him, “Behold! Why are they doing on the Sabbath what is not lawful?”
25. And he told them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need, and hungry, he and those with him,
26.how he entered into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of the Presence, which isn’t lawful to eat, except for the priests, and he even gave some to those who were with them?”
27. And then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
28.Therefore, the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
¶1. And he went again into the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand.
2. And they were watching him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, that they might bring an accusation against him.
3. But he told the man who had the hand that was withered, “Get up in the midst!”
4.And then he asked them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do harm? To save life or to kill?” But they were silent.
5. And when he had looked around on them with anger, being grieved at the hardness of their heart, he told the man, “Stretch out your hand!” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored, as healthy as the other one.
6. And the Pharisees went out immediately and began to take counsel against him with the Herodians, how they might destroy him.
7. And Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee and from Judea followed him,
8.and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from the other side of the Jordan, and some from around Tyre and Sidon; a great multitude came to him, having heard of the things he did.
9. And he told his disciples that a small boat should be made ready for him because of the crowd, lest they should crush him,
10.for he had healed so many that everyone with illnesses pressed upon him, to touch him.
11. And when unclean spirits saw him, they fell before him and cried out, saying, “You are the son of God!”
12. But he repeatedly and sternly charged them that they not make him known.
¶13. And he went up on the mountain and called for those he wanted, and they came to him.
14. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him and that he should send them out to preach,
15.and to have authority to heal diseases and to cast out demons:
16.Namely, Simon, whom he surnamed, “Peter”,
17.and James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, whom he surnamed Boanerges (which means, “sons of thunder”),
18.and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
19.and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
¶ And they went home.
20. And the multitude came together again, so that they could not even eat bread.
21. And when his kinsmen heard of it, they came out to take him, for they were saying, “He’s lost his mind.”
22. And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul” and “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
23. And when he had called them to him, he began to say in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?
24.And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25.And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26.And if Satan is risen up against himself, he is likewise divided; he cannot stand, but is finished.
27.No one who enters a strong man’s house can plunder his goods unless he first ties up the strong man; then he can plunder his house.
28.Truly, I tell you that all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies that they might utter,
29.but whoever blasphemes against the holy Spirit has no forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.”
30. (He said this because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”)
¶31. Then his brothers and mother came, and standing outside, they sent word to him, calling for him.
32. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Behold! Your mother, and your brothers, and your sisters are outside looking for you.”
33. And he answered them, saying, “Who is my mother, or my brothers?”
34. And then, looking at those seated all around him, he said, “Behold! Here are my mother and my brothers!
35.For whoever does the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.”
¶1. And he began to teach by the sea again. And such a large crowd was gathered around him that he boarded a boat to sit in the sea, and the whole multitude was on land, facing the sea.
2. And he taught them with many parables, and he said to them in his teaching,
3.“Listen! Behold, the sower went out to sow,
4.and it happened that as he sowed, it fell along the path, and the birds came and gobbled it up.
5.But another fell on a rocky place where it didn’t have much soil, and it immediately sprang up, since it had no depth of soil.
6.But after the sun arose, it was scorched, and because it had no root, it withered.
7.And another seed fell into thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it out, and it produced no crop.
8.And another fell into good soil and produced fruit, coming up, and growing, and bearing: one, thirtyfold; and one, sixtyfold; and one, a hundredfold.”
9. And then he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
¶10. Then, when he was all alone, those around him, with the twelve, questioned him about the parable.
11. And he told them, “To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, everything is in parables,
12.in order that ‘seeing, they may see but shall not perceive, and hearing, they may hear, but they shall not understand, lest they repent and their sins be forgiven.’”
13. And then he said to them, “You don’t understand this parable? Then how will you understand any parables?
14.The sower sows the word.
15.These are the ones along the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes the word away that has been sown in their hearts.
16.And likewise, these who are sown on rocky places are they who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy,
17.but they have no root within themselves. They endure but for a while, and then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they’re offended.
18.And as for the ones sown among the thorns, these are they who hear the word,
19.but the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in, choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20.And as for the ones who were sown onto good soil, they are those who hear the word and welcome it, and bear fruit: one, thirtyfold; one, sixtyfold; and one, a hundredfold.”
¶21. And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a bushel or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?
22.There is nothing secret except to be revealed, nor hidden away but that it shall come to light.
23.If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”
24. And he said to them, “Take heed what you hear. By what measure you measure, it shall be measured to you, and to you who hear, more will be added.
25.For whoever has, it shall be given to him, and he who does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”
¶26. And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man casts seed on the ground,
27.and though he sleeps and rises night and day, he doesn’t know how the seed sprouts and grows.
28.For the earth bears fruit by itself; first a blade, then a head, and then ripe grain in the head.
29.But as soon as the crop allows, he sends in the sickle because the harvest has come.”
¶30. And he said, “To what should we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison should we compare it?
31.It is much the same as a mustard seed, which, when scattered on the earth, is less than all the seeds that are on the earth,
32.but when it is sown, it grows and becomes the greatest of all garden plants, and it produces branches so large that the birds of the air can nest in its shade.”
33. And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as much as they were able to hear.
34. But without a parable, he would not speak to them, but when alone with his disciples, he explained everything.
¶35. And that same day, when it was evening, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.”
36. And dismissing the crowd, they took him, as he was, in the boat, and other little boats were there with it.
37. And there was a great windstorm, and the waves broke over the boat so that it was now filling up.
38. And yet, he was in the stern, sleeping on a pillow, and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re about to die?”
39. And waking up, he commanded the wind and said to the sea, “Silence! Be quiet!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40. And he said to them, “Why are you afraid like this? How is it that you don’t have faith?”
41. And they were terrified, and began saying to one other, “Who in the world is this man, that even the wind and the sea obey him!”
¶1. And they went to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gadarenes.
2. And when he got out of the boat, a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit immediately came toward him,
3.who made his home among the tombs, and no one could bind him, not even with chains.
4. Often, when he was bound with shackles and chains, the chains were torn apart by him, and the shackles were broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to control him.
5. And night and day, on the mountains and in the tombs, he was all the time crying out and cutting himself with stones.
6. And seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell down before him,
7.and crying with a loud voice, he said, “What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the highest God? I adjure you by God, don’t torment me!”
8. (For he had started to say to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!”)
9. And he began asking him, “What’s your name?” And he answered, saying, “Legion is my name, for we are many.”
10. And he begged him earnestly, that he would not send them out of the region.
11. Now, there was a great herd of swine there near the mountain, feeding,
12.and so, all the demons pleaded with him, saying, “Send us into the swine, so that we may enter into them.”
13. And immediately, Jesus gave them permission. And when the unclean spirits had come out, they entered into the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep slope into the sea (there were about two thousand), and they drowned in the sea.
14. And the swineherds fled, and in the city and in the countryside, they reported everything, and they came out to see what it was that had happened.
15. And coming to Jesus, they saw the possessed man – the one who had Legion – sitting, clothed, and in a right mind, and they were afraid.
16. And those who had seen how it happened to the demon-possessed man described it to them, and about the swine.
17. And they began to entreat him to go away from their borders.
18. And when he had boarded the boat, the one who had been demon-possessed kept begging him, that he might be with him.
19. But Jesus did not allow him, but said to him, “Go home to your relatives and report to them what things the Lord has done for you, and showed you mercy.”
20. And so, he went away and began to preach in Decapolis what things Jesus did for him, and everyone was amazed.
¶21. And when Jesus had again crossed over in the boat to the other side, many people gathered around him, and he was by the sea.
22. And behold, one of the synagogue rulers named Jairus came, and when he saw him, he fell at his feet.
23. And he begged him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death! Come that you might lay hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live!”
24. And he went with him, and a large crowd followed him, and they thronged him.
¶25. And there was a certain woman who had lived with a discharge of blood twelve years,
26.and she had suffered much at the hands of many physicians, and had used up everything that she had, and was not helped at all, but rather grew worse.
27. She heard about Jesus, and coming through the crowd from behind, she touched his garment,
28.for she was saying, “If I but touch his garments, I’ll be healed.”
29. And immediately, her flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she had been healed of her disease.
30. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that power had gone out from him, and turning around in the crowd, began to say, “Who touched my garments?”
31. And his disciples told him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you, and you say, ‘Who touched me’?”
32. But he kept looking around to see her who had done this.
33. Then the woman, fearful and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him, and she told him the whole truth.
34. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you whole. Go your way in peace, and be healed from your disease.”
¶35. While he was still speaking, some came from the house of the synagogue ruler, saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any longer?”
36. But immediately when Jesus heard what was spoken, he said to the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid. Just believe.”
37. And he did not allow anyone to come with him except Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
38. And he went to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw a tumult, people weeping and wailing loudly.
39. And when he entered, he told them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s sleeping.”
40. And they laughed at him. But after putting them all out, he took the father of the child, and the mother, and those with him, and entered in to where the child lay.
41. And then taking the child’s hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I tell you, rise up.”
42. And immediately, the girl stood up and walked around (for she was twelve years old), and they were beside themselves with great amazement.
43. And he commanded them sternly not to let anyone know about it, and then he told them to give her something to eat.
¶1. And he left there and went to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.
2. And when it was the Sabbath, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were shocked, saying, “Where does he get these things? And what is this wisdom that is given to him, and such miracles that are done by his hands?
3.Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they were offended in him.
4. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown, and among relatives, and in his home.”
5. And he could not do a single miracle there, except that he laid hands on a few sick folk and healed them.
6. And he marveled because of their unbelief.
¶ And he went about the surrounding villages, teaching.
¶7. And he called for the twelve, and he began to send them out two by two, and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
8. And he commanded them that they should take nothing for a journey except a staff only – no bag, no bread, nor a coin in your belt –
9.but sandals you have worn, and, he added, “Don’t put on two tunics.”
10. And he said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place.
11.And whosoever will not receive you or hear you, when you go out of that place, shake off the dirt beneath your feet as a testimony to them. Truly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable in the Day of Judgment for Sodom or Gomorrah than for that city.”
12. And so, they went out and began preaching that people should repent,
13.and they cast out many demons, and anointed many sick folk with oil and healed them.
¶14. And King Herod heard of him, for his name had become well-known, and he said, “John the Baptizer has risen from the dead, and that is why the miracles work in him.”
15. Others were saying that he was Elijah, but others were saying that he was a prophet like one of the prophets,
16.but when Herod heard of him, he said, “This is the same John whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!”
17. For Herod himself had sent and arrested John, and had bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her,
18.for John kept telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”
19. And Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not,
20.for Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and he protected him, and when he heard him, he did many things, and he liked to hear him.
21. But an opportunity for her arose when Herod made a feast on his birthday for his chief officials, the captains of a thousand, and the leading men of Galilee,
22.and the daughter of this Herodias came in and danced. And when she pleased Herod and those banqueting with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you desire, and I will grant it to you.”
23. And he made an oath to her: “Whatever you ask of me, I will grant you, up to half of my kingdom!”
24. So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for myself?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptizer.”
25. And immediately hurrying in to the king, she asked, saying, “I want you to give me, right now, on a platter, the head of John the Baptizer.”
26. And the king was deeply grieved, yet because of the oaths, and those feasting with him, he would not refuse her.
27. And immediately, the king sent an executioner and commanded that his head be brought in.
28. And he went out and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
29. And when his disciples heard of this, they came and took the corpse away and laid it in a tomb.
¶30. And the apostles came together to Jesus and brought him a report about everything, both the things they had done and the things they had taught.
31. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no time even to eat.
32. So they left by boat for a secluded place by themselves.
33. But many saw them leaving, and they recognized him, and they rushed out together on foot from all the near-by towns and went ahead of them, and they came together to him.
34. And when Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd, and he was moved with compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So, he began to teach them many things.
¶35. The hour being late by this time, his disciples approached him and said, “This is an isolated place, and the time is now late.
36.Send them away so they may go to the surrounding villages and towns and buy bread for themselves, for they don’t have anything to eat.”
37. But he answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” But they told him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?”
38. But he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they told him, “Five loaves, and two fish.”
39. And he commanded them to have everyone sit for a meal by groups on the green grass.
40. And in ranks of hundreds and fifties, they sat down for a meal.
41. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up toward heaven, blessed them, and broke the loaves into pieces, and began giving pieces to his disciples so that they might set them before them. He also divided the two fish to everyone.
42. And they all ate and were filled,
43.and they took up of the broken pieces twelve small baskets full, and of the fish.
44. And there were five thousand men who ate the loaves.
¶45. And immediately, he had his disciples to board the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself dismissed the crowd.
46. And after he bade them farewell, he went away to the mountain to pray.
47. And when evening was come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land.
48. And he saw them struggling as they rowed, for the wind was against them, and about the fourth watch of the night, he went to them walking on the sea, and he intended to pass by them.
49. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost, and they cried aloud,
50.for they all saw him, and they were terrified. And immediately, he spoke with them and said to them, “Take heart! It’s me! Don’t be afraid.”
51. And he went up into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astonished within themselves and were wondering,
52.for they did not understand about the loaves, for their heart was hardened.
¶53. And when they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret, and they drew to shore.
54. And immediately when they got out of the boat, people recognized him,
55.and they hurried around to that whole area, and they began carrying those who were sick on pallets to the place they heard he was.
56. And wherever he would go, to villages, or cities, or the countryside, they laid the feeble down in the marketplaces, and they begged him that they might touch the fringe of his garment, and everyone who touched it was made whole.
¶1. And the Pharisees and certain of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered together to him.
2. And when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is, unwashed hands, they found fault.
3.(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat if they have not washed their hands up to the elbow, keeping the tradition of the elders.
4.And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they have washed themselves. And there are many other things they have received to observe, such as the cleansing of cups, and pots, and copper vessels, and dining couches.)
5. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”
6. He answered and said to them, “Isaiah prophesied well concerning you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7.In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines commandments of men.’
8.For leaving off the commandment of God, you hold fast the tradition of men, such as the washing of pots and cups, and you do a lot of things like that.”
9. And then he told them, “How neatly you set aside the commandment of God to keep your tradition!
10.Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who reviles father or mother shall be put to death.’
11.But you! You say, ‘He is innocent, if a man says to his father or his mother, “Whatever I have by which you might have been helped is Corban” (that is, a donation for the temple), ’
12.and so, you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother,
13.making the word of God of no effect by your tradition that you hand down. And you do a lot of things like that!”
¶14. And he called the whole multitude to him and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand!
15.There is nothing outside a man that can defile him by entering into him, but things that come out of him! Those things are what defiles a man!
16.If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”
17. And when he had entered into a house away from the crowd, his disciples began questioning him about this parable.
18. And he told them, “Are you without understanding, too? Don’t you see that everything that goes into a man from the outside can’t defile him
19.because it doesn’t go into his heart, but into the belly, and then it goes out into the latrine, making all foods clean?”
20. Then he said, “That which comes out of a man, that defiles a man!
21.For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed bad thoughts, adulteries, immoral acts, murders,
22.thefts, covetousness, evil deeds, deceitfulness, indecent conduct, an evil eye, blasphemy, arrogance, foolishness.
23.All these evil things proceed from within, and they defile a man!”
¶24. And he got up and went away from there to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house, not wanting anyone to know, but he could not be hidden.
25. For instance, when a woman heard about him whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, she came and fell down at his feet,
26.but she was a Gentile, a Syro-Phoenician by birth. And she kept begging him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
27. But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be satisfied first. For it’s not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
28. Then she answered and told him, “That’s right, Master. And yet, the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.”
29. And he said to her, “Because of this saying, go your way. The demon is gone out of your daughter.”
30. And when she went to her house, she found the demon gone and her daughter lying in bed.
¶31. Then, leaving the borders of Tyre and Sidon, he went again to the Sea of Galilee, within the borders of Decapolis.
32. And they brought him a deaf man who had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
33. And taking him away from the crowd by himself, he put his fingers in his ears, and after spitting, he touched his tongue,
34.and looking up toward heaven, he groaned and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”)
35. And immediately, his ears were opened, and the bondage of his tongue was ended, and he began to speak plainly.
36. And he commanded them to say nothing, but as much as he commanded them, all the more they proclaimed it.
37. And they were completely astounded, saying, “He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak!”
¶1. In those days, there was an unusually large multitude, and they having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and told them,
2.“I feel compassion for the people because they’ve continued with me three days now, and they don’t have anything to eat,
3.and if I send them away to their home fasting, they will give out on the way, for some of them have come from far away.”
4. And his disciples answered him, “How can anyone satisfy these people with bread here in an isolated place?”
5. And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.”
6. And he directed the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and after he gave thanks, he broke the bread and began giving it to his disciples to set before them, and they set it before the multitude.
7. They also had a few small fish, and when he had blessed them, he told his disciples to set them out, too.
8. Then they ate and were filled. Then they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full.
9. Now, they were about four thousand who ate. And then he sent them away.
10. And immediately, he got in the boat with his disciples and went to the territory of Dalmanutha.
¶11. And the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, testing him.
12. But he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I tell you, let me be damned if a sign will be given to this generation!”[1]
13. Then getting away from them, he boarded the boat again, and went away to the other side.
¶14. Now, they had forgotten to bring bread, and except for one loaf, they had none with them in the boat.
15. And he warned them, saying, “Watch out. Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”
16. And they began talking with one another, saying, “We have no bread.”
17. And when Jesus knew this, he told them, “Why are you talking about not having bread? Don’t you yet know, or understand? Do you still have your hardened heart?
18.Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And don’t you remember?
19.When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many little baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.”
20. And when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?” And they said, “Seven.”
21. Then he said to them, “How do you not understand?”
¶22. Then he went to Bethsaida. And they brought him a blind man, and they begged him to touch him.
23. And taking the blind man’s hand, he led him out of the village. And he spat into his eyes, and when he had laid his hands on him, he asked him if he could see anything.”
24. And when he looked up, he said, “I see men, for I see something like trees walking around!”
25. Then he laid hands on his eyes again, and made him look up. And his sight was restored, and he saw everyone very clearly.
26. And he sent him to his home, saying, “Don’t go into the village or tell anybody in the village.”
¶27. Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way, he questioned his disciples, saying to them, “Who are men saying I am?”
28. And they answered, “John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, and others, one of the prophets.”
29. And he then said to them, “And you? Who do you say I am?” Peter answered and told him, “You are the Messiah.”
30. And he warned them that they should say this about him to anyone.
31. And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be repudiated by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days, to rise again,
32.and he was speaking this plainly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33. But, turning around and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind me, Satan! Your mind isn’t on the things of God, but the things of men!”
34. And summoning the multitude along with his disciples, he said to them, “Whoever wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me!
35.For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his own life for my sake and for the gospel, he will save it.
36.For what does it benefit a man if he should gain the whole world and his soul is forfeited?
37.Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
38.Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
¶1. And he began saying to them, “Truly, I tell you that there are some of those who stand here that will not taste of death until they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
¶2. And after six days, Jesus took Peter, and James, and John, and he led them up on a high mountain by themselves, alone. And he was transformed before them,
3.and his garments became radiant, bright white like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten.
4. And Elijah appeared to them, with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
5. And Peter answered and told Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here, and we will make three tabernacles; you one, and Moses one, and Elijah one!”
6. (He did not know what he should say, for they were terrified.)
7. And then a cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and there came a voice from the cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!”
8. And all of a sudden, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus, alone, with them.
¶9. Then, as they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them to inform no one about the things they had seen, except at such time as the Son of Man rises from the dead.
10. And so, they kept the matter to themselves, debating with one another what it means to “rise from the dead”.
11. And they began to ask him, saying, “The scribes say that Elijah has to come first…”
12. He answered and said to them, “Elijah certainly comes first to restore all things. And yet, how is it written of the Son of man, that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
13.Nevertheless, I tell you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.”
¶14. And when he had come to his disciples, he saw a large multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.
15. And when they saw him, the whole crowd immediately became very excited, and running up, they began to greet him.
16. Then he asked the scribes, “What are you debating with them?”
17. And out of the crowd, one answered and said, “Teacher, I brought you my son who has a dumb spirit.
18.And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, and gnashes his teeth, and gets stiff. And I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they couldn’t.”
19. Then he answered him, saying, “O faithless generation! How long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to me.”
20. And they brought him to him. And when it saw him, the spirit immediately threw him into a convulsion, and he fell on the ground and began rolling about, foaming at the mouth.
21. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “Since he was a child,
22.and it has often thrown him into fire and into water to destroy him. But if you can do something, help us! Have pity on us!”
23. Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24. And immediately, the father of the child cried out with tears, “Sir, I believe! Help my unbelief!”
25. Then Jesus, when he saw that a multitude was running together toward him, rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Dumb and deaf spirit, I command you to come out of him, and enter into him no more!”
26. And when it had cried out and convulsed him terribly, it came out, and he became so like a dead man that many said he was dead.
27. But Jesus took his hand and raised him up, and he stood up.
28. And after he went home, his disciples asked him privately, “How is it we couldn’t cast it out?”
29. And he said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing except by prayer and fasting.”
¶30. And they went out from there, traveling throughout Galilee, and he did not want anyone to know.
31. For he was teaching his disciples, and he kept on telling them, “The Son of man is to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him, but after he is killed, on the third day, he will rise again.”
32. But they did not understand this saying, and they were afraid to question him.
¶33. And he went to Capernaum, and when he was home, he asked them, “What were you discussing among yourselves on the way?”
34. But they stayed quiet, for on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.
35. And so, after he sat down, he called the twelve, and he said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must become last of all, and a servant of all.”
36. And when he had taken a little child, he stood it in their midst, and taking the child in his arms, he said to them,
37. “Whoever receives one of such children in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me doesn’t receive me, but the One who sent me.”
¶38. Then John answered him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name who isn’t following us, and we stopped him, since he’s not following us.”
39. But Jesus said, “Don’t hinder him, for there’s no one who will work a miracle in my name and then be able to quickly speak evil of me.
40.He who isn’t against you is for you.
41.Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you truly, he will by no means lose his reward.
42.And as for whosoever offends one of the little ones who believe in me, it is good rather for him if a stone from a mill is placed around his neck and he be cast into the sea.
43.And if your hand should offend you, cut it off ! It’s better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire,
44.where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
45.And if your foot should offend you, cut it off ! It’s better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire,
46.where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
47.And if your eye should offend you, pluck it out! It’s better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be cast into fiery Gehenna,
48.where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
49.Everybody will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
50.Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
¶1. And from there, he got up and went into the borders of Judea, by way of the other side of Jordan. And again, multitudes flocked to him; and again, as was his custom, he began to teach them.
2. And Pharisees, coming up to him, asked him if it was lawful for a husband to divorce a wife, tempting him.
3. But he answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?”
4. Then they replied, “Moses allowed for a man to write a certificate of separation, and to divorce.”
5. And Jesus answered and told them, “He wrote that commandment for you because of the hardness of your heart,
6.but from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
7.‘For this reason shall a man forsake his father and mother, and be joined to his wife
8.and they two shall be one body.’ Therefore, they are no longer two, but one body.
9.So then, what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
10. And when he was at home again, his disciples asked him about this.
11. And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman is committing adultery against her,
12.and if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.”
¶13. And they were bringing little children to him so that he might touch them, but his disciples began to rebuke those who brought them.
14. Then when Jesus saw that, he became indignant, and he said to them, “You let the children come to me! Don’t stop them, for of such is the kingdom of God!
15.Truly, I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter into it.”
16. And when he had taken them up in his arms and laid hands on them, he began blessing them.
¶17. And as he was going out to the road, one ran up to him and fell on his knees, asking him, “Good teacher, what shall I do, that I might inherit eternal life?”
18. But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except One, that is, God.
19.You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; Do not murder; Do not steal; Do not bear false witness; Do not defraud; Honor your father and mother.”
20. Then he answered and said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth.”
21. Then Jesus, looking intently at him, loved him, and he said to him, “There is one thing lacking in you. Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and then, when you have taken up the cross, come, follow me.”
22. But he was appalled at this statement, and he went away feeling heavy, for he had many possessions.
¶23. Then looking around, Jesus told his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!”
24. And the disciples were astonished at his words. Then Jesus again answered and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God.
25.It is easier for a camel to enter into the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
26. Then they were even more astounded, saying to each other, “Who, then, can be saved?”
27. And with an intense look, Jesus told them, “With men, it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.”
28. Peter began to tell him, “Behold, we’ve left everything and followed you!”
29. Jesus answered and said, “Truly, I tell you, there is no one who has left home, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel,
30.but that he will receive a hundredfold now, in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands – with persecutions – and in the world that is coming, eternal life.
31.Many who are first shall be last, and the last, first.”
¶32. Then they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going on ahead of them, and they marveled, and were afraid as they followed. And taking the twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him:
33.“Behold, we’re going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, and they’ll condemn him to death and turn him over to the Gentiles.
34.And they’ll mock him, and scourge him, spit on him, and kill him, and on the third day, he’ll rise again.”
¶35. And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him, saying, “Teacher, we want you to do for us what we ask.”
36. He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”
37. They told him, “Let us sit, one on your right hand and one on your left, in your glory.”
38. But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I’m baptized with? ”
39. Then they told him, “We are able!” And Jesus told them, “You will surely drink the cup that I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism that I’m baptized with,
40.but to sit on my right or left isn’t mine to give; it’s for those for whom it is prepared.”
41. And when the ten heard this, they started to be indignant with James and John,
42.but Jesus called them near and told them, “You know that those regarded as rulers among the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men bear heavy rule over them.
43.It is not to be that way among you; on the contrary, whoever would be great among you shall be your servant,
44.and whoever of you wants to be first will be a slave to all,
45.for even the Son of man didn’t come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
¶46. And they came to Jericho, and as he was leaving Jericho, along with his disciples and a sizable crowd, a son of Timaeus (Bar-Timaeus the Blind) was sitting by the road, begging.
47. And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “O Son of David! Jesus! Have mercy on me!”
48. And many began rebuking him, to make him quiet, but he cried out all the more, “Son of David! Have mercy on me!”
49. Then Jesus stopped and said for him to be called. And so, they called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! Get up! He’s calling for you.”
50. Then he threw off his garment, stood up, and came to Jesus.
51. And Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man told him, “Rabbi, that I might see again.”
52. Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way! Your faith has made you whole.” And immediately, he received sight, and began following Jesus on the road.
¶1. And when they were drawing near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
2.and told them, “Go on to the village that’s ahead of you, and immediately when you go into it, you’ll find a colt tied, on which no man has sat. Untie him, and bring him to me.
3.And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’, tell him, ‘The Master has need of him.’ And immediately, he will send him here.”
4. So they went away, and outside in the street, they found a colt tied by a door, and they untied him.
5. And some of those standing there were saying to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”
6. They answered them just as Jesus had commanded, and they gave them permission.
7. Then they brought the colt to Jesus, and they put their garments on him, and he sat upon him.
8. And many strewed their garments on the road, but others began cutting leafy branches off the trees and spreading them on the road.
9. And those who were going before him, and those following, kept on crying out, saying, “Hosannah! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
10.Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosannah in the highest!”
¶11. And Jesus entered Jerusalem, and went to the temple. And when he had looked all around, it already being evening, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
¶12. And the next day, as they came from Bethany, he grew hungry.
13. And seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to it, if perhaps he might find something on it. But when he had gone to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not time for figs.
14. And Jesus answered and said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And his disciples were listening.
¶15. And they went into Jerusalem, and when Jesus had gone into the temple, he began to cast out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those selling doves,
16.and he would not let anyone carry a thing through the temple.
17. And he began teaching them, saying, “Isn’t it written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you have made it a den of thieves’?”[2]
18. And the scribes and chief priests heard him, and they continued looking for a way to destroy him, but they were afraid of him because all the multitude were astonished at his teaching.
¶19. And when it was evening, he departed out the city.
¶20. And early in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree was withered from the roots.
21. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed is dried up!”
22. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
23.For truly, I tell you that whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, then whatever he says will be his.
24.That is why I say to you that all things whatsoever you might ask when praying, believe that you receive them, and they will be yours.
25.And when you stand, praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven might forgive you for your trespasses.
26.But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
¶27. And they went again into Jerusalem, and as he walked about in the temple, the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders came to him,
28.and they said to him, “By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority to do these things?”
29. Jesus answered and told them, “I will also ask of you one thing, and you answer me, and then I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things.
30.The baptism of John – was it from heaven or from men? Answer me!”
31. And they began reasoning with each other, saying, “If we say ‘from heaven’, he will say, ‘Why, then, didn’t you believe him?’
32.On the other hand, if we say ‘from men’ ” – they were afraid of the people, for everyone held of John that he truly was a prophet.
33. And so, answering, they told Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus answered and told them, “Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
¶1. And he began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard, and he made a hedged all around, and dug a wine trough, and built a watchtower, and leased it to vine-dressers, and then went on a journey.
2.And he dispatched a servant to the tenants in due season, so that he might receive from the tenants some of the fruit of the vineyard.
3.But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away him empty-handed.
4.And again, he sent another servant to them, and they threw stones at that one, wounding him in the head, and they sent him away, shamefully treated.
5.And again he sent another, and they killed that one. And he sent many others; some they beat, and some they killed.
6.So, yet having an only son, dear to him, he at last sent him also to them, saying, ’They will respect my son.’
7.But those vine-dressers said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come on! Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
8.And they seized him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
9.So now, what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants give the vineyard to others.
10.Have you not even read this scripture? ‘The stone that the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner.
11.This is from the Lord, and it is astonishing in our eyes.’ ”
12. And they were wanting to arrest him, for they knew that he spoke the parable against them, but they were afraid of the multitude, and so they left him and went away.
¶13. And they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians against him, to entrap him in conversation.
14. Then those who came said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true, and are partial to no one, for you do not regard the status of men, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay tax to Caesar, or not?
15.Should we pay, or should we not pay?” But he, discerning their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius so I can see it.”
16. So, they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.”
17. Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were dumbfounded at him.
¶18. And Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection, came to him and put a question to him, saying,
19.“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if someone’s brother dies and leaves behind a wife, but leaves no children, then his brother should take his wife and should raise seed up for his brother.
20.There were seven brothers, and the first took a wife, and when he died, he left no offspring.
21.And then the second took her, and he died and left no offspring either, and the third likewise.
22.And the seven took her, and left no seed. Last of all, the woman died, too.
23.In the resurrection, when they are resurrected, which one’s wife will she be? For seven had her as wife.”
24. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Aren’t you deceived, knowing neither the scriptures nor the power of God?
25.When people rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven.
26.But concerning the dead, that they are raised, haven’t you read in the book of Moses how that God spoke to him at the bush and said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
27.He is not the God of the dead, but God of the living. So then, you are badly deceived.”
¶28. And when one of the scribes drew near and heard them reasoning together, seeing that he answered them well, he put a question to him: “What is the first commandment of all?”
29. Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God. The Lord is the only one![3]
30.And you shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and all of your mind, and with all of your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
31.And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
32. And the scribe said to him, “Well said, Teacher! You have spoken truthfully, for there is one God, and there is no other but He,
33.and to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love a neighbor as oneself is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34. And when Jesus saw that he had answered with discretion, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one any longer dared to put a question to him.
¶35. And then Jesus answered and said as he taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Messiah is David’s son?
36.For by the holy Spirit, David himself said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’
37.Now then, David himself declares him ‘Lord’; so, how is it that he is his son?” And the large crowd were gladly listening to him.
¶38. And as he was teaching, he told them, “Watch out for the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and salutations in the marketplaces,
39.and seats of honor in the synagogues, and places of honor at dinners,
40.who devour widows’ houses, and for show, make long prayers! These men shall receive greater damnation.”
¶41. And when Jesus had sat down across from the offering-box, he kept watching how the people cast money into the offering-box. And many rich men cast in much.
42. And when one poor widow came, she cast in two lepta[4] (which equals a quadrans[5]).
43. And when he had called his disciples to him, he told them, “Truly, I tell you that this poor widow has cast in more than all of them who are casting into the offering-box,
44.for they all cast into the offering-box from the surplus they have, but she, out of her poverty, has cast in everything, as much as she had for herself to live on.”
¶1. And as he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! Such wonderful stones and wonderful buildings!”
2. And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There shall not be one stone left upon another that is not torn down.”
¶3. And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew asked him privately,
4.“Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to be fulfilled?”
5. Then Jesus answered and began to tell them, “Take heed, lest someone deceive you.
6.For many will come, using my name, saying that I am the Messiah,[6] and they’ll deceive many.
7.And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not become alarmed, for these things must take place, but the end is not yet.
8.For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and uprisings. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
¶9.“But take heed to yourselves, for they’ll hand you over to courts, and you’ll be beaten in synagogues, and you’ll be made to stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them.
10.But first, the gospel must be preached to all nations.
11.And when they lead you away and hand you over, don’t worry about what you should say, nor even think about it, but whatever is given you in that hour, say that, for it’s not you who speaks, but the holy Spirit.
12.Brother will betray brother to death, and the father, his child, and children will rise up against parents and will kill them,
13.and you’ll be hated by all men because of my name. But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.
¶14.“Now, when you see the abomination of desolation that was spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing where it ought not, (let him who is reading understand), then let those in Judea flee for the mountains,
15.and let not him who is on the housetop come down into the house, nor go in to take anything out of his house,
16.and let not him who is out in the field turn back for the things left behind, to take his garment.
17.And woe to the women who are with child, and those who are nursing in those days!
18.And pray that your flight be not in winter.
19.For those days will be a tribulation; suchlike has not been from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be.
20.And except the Lord shorten those days, no flesh will be saved; however, for the sake of the elect whom He has chosen, He will shorten the days.
21.And if anyone at that time tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Messiah!’ or ‘Behold, there!’ don’t believe him.
22.For false messiahs and false prophets will arise, and they’ll perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if it were possible, the elect.
23.Now, you take heed to yourselves. Behold, I have told you all things ahead of time.
¶24.“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,
25.and the stars of heaven will be falling down, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.
26.And then they will see the Son of man, coming on clouds with great power and glory.
27.And then he’ll send his angels, and he’ll gather his elect from the four winds, from the extremity of earth to the extremity of heaven.
¶28.“Now, learn a parable from the fig tree. As soon as its branch becomes tender, and it puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
29.Likewise, you also, when you see these things taking place, know that it is near, even at the gates.
30.Truly, I tell you that this generation will not pass away till all these things take place.
31.Heaven shall pass away, and the earth, but my words shall never pass away.
32.But of that day or hour, no one except the Father knows, not even the angels who are in heaven, nor even the Son.
33.Take heed; stay alert and pray, for you don’t know when the time is.
34.The Son of man is like a man away on a journey, who left his home and gave his servants authority, and to each his work, and he commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
35.Watch, then, for you don’t know when the Master of the house is coming, whether at evening, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning,
36.lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.
37.What I say to you, I say to all: Watch! ”
¶1. Now, the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to take him with guile, that they might kill him,
2.but they said, “Not during the feast, lest there is an uproar of the people.”
¶3. And while he was in Bethany, reclining for a meal in the house of Simon the leper, there came a woman with an alabaster bottle of expensive perfume of pure spikenard. And when she broke open the bottle, she poured some of it on his head.
4. But some were indignant and started saying to one another, “Why has she made this waste of perfume?
5.It might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor!” And they began to scold her.
6. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why do you trouble her? She’s done a good work on me.
7.You always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish, you can do them good, but you don’t always have me.
8.She’s done what she could; she’s come ahead of time to anoint my body for the burial.
9.Truly, I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what she’s done will also be spoken of, in memory of her.”
¶10. And then Judas the Iscariot, one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.
11. They were glad when they heard him, and they promised to give him money. And he started looking for a way to betray him at an opportune time.
¶12. And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they slaughter the Passover, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go prepare, that you may eat the Passover?”
13. And he sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a pitcher of water will come toward you. Follow him,
14.and wherever he goes in, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’
15.And he will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
16. And so, his disciples went out, and they came to the city, and they found it just as he told them, and they made ready the Passover.
¶17. And when it was evening, he came with the twelve.
18. And as they reclined and were eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I tell you that one of you who is eating with me will betray me.”
19. And they began to be sad and to say to him, one by one, “It’s not me, is it?” And then another, “It’s not me, is it?”
20. He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping with me in the bowl.
21.The Son of man is going away, just as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It were good for him if that man had not been born.”
¶22. And while they were eating, when Jesus had taken bread and blessed it, he broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take and eat. This is my body.”
23. And when he had taken the cup and given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.
24. And he said to them, “This is my blood, the blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.
25.Truly, I tell you that I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way in the kingdom of God.”
¶26. And after they sang a song of praise, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
¶27. And Jesus said to them, “Tonight, all of you will be offended because of me, because it is written, ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
28.However, after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
29. Then Peter said to him, “Even though all shall be offended, I certainly won’t!”
30. And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you that today, this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
31. But he said all the more vehemently, “If I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And then they all began talking like that.
¶32. And they went to a place by the name of Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go pray.”
33. And then he took with him Peter, and James, and John, and he began to feel overwhelmed and distressed.
34. And he said to them, “My soul is grieved to the point of death. Stay here and watch.”
35. Then, going on a little farther, he fell to the ground and began to pray that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from him.
36. And he said, “Abba (that is, Father)! All things are possible with you. Take this cup away from me! But not what I will, but what you will.”
37. And then he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Weren’t you able to watch for one hour?
38.Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is certainly willing, but the flesh is weak.”
39. And again, he went away and prayed, saying the same thing.
40. And when he returned, he discovered them sleeping again, for their eyes were heavy, and they did not know what to answer him.
41. And he came a third time, and said to them, “Sleeping on, and getting your rest. That is enough; the hour has come. Behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
42.Get up. Let’s go. Behold, the one who betrayed me is near.”
¶43. And immediately, while he was yet speaking, Judas appeared, who was one of the twelve, and with him a large multitude with swords and clubs sent by the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders.
44. Now, the one who betrayed him had given them a cue, saying, “Whoever I kiss is the man. Arrest him, and lead him away under guard.”
45. And when he had come, he went up at once to him, and said to him, “O Rabbi! Rabbi!” And he kissed him affectionately.
46. Then they laid their hands on him and arrested him.
47. But a certain one of those standing by, drawing a sword, smote the servant of the high priest, and took off his ear.
48. And then Jesus answered and said to them, “Did you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me?
49.I was with you every day, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me. But all this has happened so that the scriptures might be fulfilled.”
50. And then they all forsook him and fled.
¶51. But a certain young man followed him, his body clothed with nothing but a shirt. And the young men grabbed him,
52.but he, leaving the shirt behind, fled from them, naked.
¶53. And they led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, and the elders, and scribes had come together with him.
54. And Peter, from a distance, followed him to inside the high priest’s courtyard, and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself by the fire.
55. Now, the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus, to put him to death, but they were finding none.
56. Actually, many were bearing false witness against him, but the testimonies were not consistent.
57. Some stood up, bearing false witness against him, saying,
58.“We heard him saying, ‘I will tear down this temple made with hands, and within three days, I will build another one made without hands.’ ”
59. Yet, not even in this was their testimony consistent.
60. And when the high priest had risen in the midst, he questioned Jesus, saying, “Do you not answer a thing? What is it that these men testify against you?”
61. But he was silent, and answered nothing. Again, the high priest questioned him, and told him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed?”
62. Then Jesus said, “I am. And you’ll see the Son of man seated on the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
63. Then the high priest, tearing his garments, said, “What further need have we of witnesses?
64.You heard his blasphemy! How does it appear to you?” And they all condemned him as being worthy of death.
65. And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face and punch him, and then say to him, “Prophesy!” And the officers kept on slapping him in the face.
¶66. And while Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s servant-girls came,
67.and seeing Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, “You were definitely with the Nazarene, Jesus.”
68. But he denied it saying, “I don’t know him, and I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” And he went outside to the gateway. And a rooster crowed.
69. And when the servant-girl saw him again, she began saying to those who stood by, “This man is one of them.”
70. And he again denied it. And then again, a little while later, those standing by also started saying to Peter, “Truly, you are also one of them, for you are a Galilean; your accent is just like one.”
71. And he began to bind himself with a curse and to swear, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”
72. And a rooster crowed the second time. And Peter remembered the saying that Jesus spoke to him: “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
¶1. And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests made a plan with the elders and scribes and the entire Sanhedrin, and after tying Jesus up, they took him away and handed him over to Pilate.
2. And Pilate asked him, “You? You are the King of the Jews?” He answered and told him, “You yourself are saying it.”
3. And the chief priests began to accuse him of many things.
4. Then Pilate questioned him again, saying, “You answer nothing? Listen to how many things they testify against you!”
5. But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate was amazed.
¶6. Now, at each Feast[7], he used to release to them one prisoner, whomever they asked for.
7. And one called Barabbas was there, bound with his fellow-insurrectionists, men who had committed murder in the insurrection.
8. And the multitude, raising a cry, began to ask Pilate to do as he had always done.
9. Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you desire that I shall release to you the King of the Jews?”
10. (For he perceived that the chief priests had handed him over because of envy.)
11. But the chief priests incited the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead.
12. Then Pilate answered again and told them, “What, then, do you want me to do to the one you call ‘King of the Jews’?”
13. And they again cried out, “Crucify him!”
14. But Pilate kept saying to them, “Why? What evil did he do?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify him!”
15. And Pilate, wanting to pacify the crowd, released Barabbas to them and handed Jesus over to be crucified, after he had him flogged.
¶16. Then the soldiers led him away, within the palace, which is the praetorium, and they called the whole cohort together.
17. And they dressed him up in purple, and when they had woven a crown of thorns, they put it on him,
18.and they began saluting him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
19. And they repeatedly beat his head with a reed and spat on him, and bowing their knees, they worshipped him.
20. And when they had mocked him, they removed the purple from him and put his own clothes on him.
¶ And then they led him out that they might crucify him.
21. And as a certain passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was coming in from a field, they forced him to carry his cross.
22. And they brought him to the place, “Golgotha” (which is translated, “Place of a Skull”).
23. And they offered him myrrh-flavored wine to drink, but he did not take it.
24. And they crucified him, dividing up his garments among themselves, casting lots for them to determine who should take what.
25. Now, it was the third hour when they crucified him.
26. And over his head was the inscription of the charge against him, written out: “The King of the Jews.”
27. And with him they crucified two thieves, one on the right, and one on his left.
28. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “He was numbered with the lawless.”
29. And those passing by were reviling him, wagging their heads and saying, “Ha! You who are going to tear down the temple and in three days raise it up,
30.save yourself, and come down from the cross!”
31. Likewise, the chief priests also, mocking him among themselves, with the scribes, kept saying, “He saved others; himself, he cannot save.
32.Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may behold and believe in him.” And those being crucified with him were reviling him.
¶33. Now, when the sixth hour was come, darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34. And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (That is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”[8])
35. And when some of those standing around heard that, they began to say, “Behold, he’s calling Elijah!”
36. Then one man ran, and filling a sponge with sour wine, when he had put it on a reed, he gave him a drink, saying, “Wait! Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.”
37. Then Jesus, letting out a great cry, breathed out his life.
38. And the veil of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
39. Now, when the centurion, who had been standing out in front of him, saw him cry out like that and breathe out his life, he said, “This man really was a son of a god!”
40. And there were women looking on from a distance, among whom were also Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the small and of Joses, and Salome.
41. These also, when he was in Galilee, followed him and ministered to him, along with many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
¶42. And evening having already come, and since it was the Preparation, which is the day before the Sabbath,
43.Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent member of the Council, who himself also was awaiting the kingdom of God, went and entered in boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.
44. But Pilate was amazed that he was already dead, and he summoned the centurion and asked him if he had been dead long.
45. And when he had ascertained from the centurion that it was so, he granted the body to Joseph.
46. And when he had purchased linen cloth and taken him down, he wrapped him in the cloth and laid him in a sepulcher that had been hewn out of a rock, and then he rolled a stone upon the entrance of the sepulcher.
47. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were observing where he was laid.
¶1. And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, purchased spices that they might come and anoint him.
2. And very early in the morning of the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they came to the sepulcher.
3. And they were saying to each other, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the sepulcher for us?”
4. But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, though it was very large.
5. And when they entered the sepulcher, they saw a young man, clothed in a long, white robe, sitting to their right, and they were alarmed.
6. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He is risen; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him!
7.But go your way. Tell his disciples, especially Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8. And when they went out, they fled from the sepulcher, and trembling and amazement gripped them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
¶9. Now, after he arose, early in the morning the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven demons,
10.who went and gave the report to those who had been with him as they were mourning and weeping.
11. And when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it.
¶12. After these things, he appeared to two of them in another form as they were walking, going into the country.
13. Then those men went and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them, either.
¶14. Afterward, he appeared to the eleven themselves as they reclined for a meal, and he rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15. And he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16.He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be damned.
17.These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name, they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18.they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
¶19. Then the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and he sat down at the right hand of God.
20. And they went out preaching everywhere, the Lord working with them, confirming the word with signs that followed. Amen.
[1] Literally, “– if a sign will be given to this generation.” The curse intended with this oath is so horrific – calling for one’s own death and damnation – that it is not even uttered.
[2] Isa. 54:7b; Jer. 7:11.
[3] The Hebrew of Deuteronomy 6:4, which Jesus is quoting here, is translated, “Hear, Israel! Jehovah is our God; Jehovah alone.”
[4] A lepta was the smallest Roman copper coin, worth less than half a cent.
[5] A quadrans was a Roman coin worth one-quarter of an as. For perspective, it took thirty-two asses to pay a barber for his services.
[6] Or, “saying, ‘I am the Messiah.’ ”
[7] It is unclear whether this refers to every feast of the Jews or only to every Passover feast.
[8] Ps. 22:1a.