The Common Edition: New Testament
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Title: The Common Edition: New Testament
Translator: T. E. Clontz
Release date: February 1, 2002 [eBook #3057]
Most recently updated: March 24, 2023
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COMMON EDITION: NEW TESTAMENT ***
The Gospel According to Matthew
1
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David,
the son of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez
and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of
Ram, 4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of
Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 Salmon the father of Boaz
by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7
Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and
Abijah the father of Asa, 8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the
father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 Uzziah the father of
Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10
Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and
Amon the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his
brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12 And after the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of
Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 Zerubbabel the father
of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14
Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the
father of Eliud, 15 Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of
Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of
Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called
Christ.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen
generations, and from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations,
and from the exile to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way: when
his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she
was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her
husband, being a just man, and not wanting to put her to public shame,
was resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered this, behold,
an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of
David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife, for that which is
conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will give birth to a son,
and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their
sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the
prophet:
23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel,"
which means, "God with us." 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as
the angel of the Lord commanded him and took his wife, 25 but did not
know her until she had borne a son. And he called his name Jesus.
2
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of
Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2
saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have
seen his star in the East and have come to worship him." 3 When Herod
the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And
when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people
together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they
said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you shall come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
7 Then Herod called the wise men secretly and determined from
them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem
and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child, and when you
have found him, bring back word to me, so that I too may come and
worship him." 9 When they had heard the king they went their way; and
behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, until it
came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the
star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 On coming into the
house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they fell down and
worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with
gifts of gold, and of frankincense, and of myrrh. 12 And being warned in
a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by
another way.
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord
appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his
mother, and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is
about to search for the child, to destroy him." 14 When he rose, he took
the young child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and
remained there until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the
Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son."
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the
wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male
children in Bethlehem and in all its region who were two years old or
under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 "A voice was heard in Ramah,
lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared
in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, "Rise, take the young child and
his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young
child's life are dead." 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother,
and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was
reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.
And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23
and he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by
the Prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
3
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the
wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is
at hand." 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when
he said,
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight."
4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his
waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all
Judea and all the region about the Jordan went out to him, 6 and
confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming
for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to
flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance, 9 and do
not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I
tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these
stones. 10 Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree
therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the
fire. 11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming
after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He
will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is
in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into
the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire."
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be
baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent him, saying, "I need to be
baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 But Jesus answered him,
"Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."
Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, he went up
immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he
saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him. 17
And behold, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with
whom I am well pleased."
4
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be
tempted by the devil. 2 And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and
afterward he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, "If you
are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." 4
But he answered, "It is written,
'Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of
the temple, 6 and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself
down. For it is written,
'He will give his angels charge of you,'
and 'In their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"
7 Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not tempt the Lord
your God.'" 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and
showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. 9 And he said
to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me."
10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away, Satan! for it is written,
'You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.'"
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to
him.
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he
withdrew to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, he went and dwelt in
Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,
14 that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 "The land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentilesó
16 the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and on those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned."
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
18 As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two
brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net
into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow
me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20 Immediately they left their
nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other
brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with
Zebedee their father, mending their nets. And he called them, 22 and
immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every
disease and every sickness among the people. 24 Then his fame spread
throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all sick people who were
afflicted with various diseases and pains, and those who were demon-
possessed, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 Great
crowds followed himófrom Galilee, and from the Decapolis, Jerusalem,
Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
5
1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on a mountain, and when he sat
down his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught
them, saying:
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, and say all
kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for
great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who
were before you.
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its taste,
how shall it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except
to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 14 You are the light of
the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a
lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in
the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the
Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For
truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot,
will by any means pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19
Whoever then breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches
men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does
them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20
For I tell you, that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes
and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall
not murder, and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say
to you that anyone who is angry with his brother shall be subject to
judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca,' shall be answerable to
the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of the fire of
hell. 23 Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there
remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift
there before the altar, and go. First be reconciled to your brother; and
then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly,
while you are on the way with him to court, lest your adversary deliver
you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be
thrown into prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you
have paid the last penny.
27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit
adultery.' 28 But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman
lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your
right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better for
you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown
into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw
it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than for your
whole body to go into hell.
31 "It has also been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him
give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 But I say to you that every one who
divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to
become an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits
adultery.
33 "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You
shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.' 34 But I
say to you, do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35
or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of
the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make
even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your
'No,' 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil.
38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a
tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. But if
someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40
And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your
cloak as well. 41 And if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him
two miles. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to
borrow from you do not turn away.
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your
neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your
Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who
love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the
same? 47 And if you greet only your brethren, what more are you doing
than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You, therefore,
must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
6
1 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before
men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your
Father in heaven.
2 "Thus, when you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before
you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they
may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their
reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know
what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your charitable deed may be in
secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For
they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners,
that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their
reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, shut the door and pray
to your Father, who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will
reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not use empty repetitions as the
Gentiles do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask
him. 9 Pray, then, in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.'
14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will
your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 "And when you fast, do not look gloomy, like the hypocrites,
for they disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting.
Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to be
fasting to men, but to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who
sees in secret will reward you.
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth
and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and
where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also. 22 The lamp of the body is the eye. So if
your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye
is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is
darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No one can serve two masters;
for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to
the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you
will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put
on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look
at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and
yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than
they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his span of life?
28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field,
how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you that even
Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God
so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown
into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31
Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we
drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these
things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But
seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be
given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will worry about itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
7
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the same
judgment you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you
use, it will be measured to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in
your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or
how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,'
when there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the
plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the
speck from your brother's eye. 6 Do not give what is holy to the dogs; do
not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their
feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives,
and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or
what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are
evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will
your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 12
So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do also to them, for this
is the Law and the Prophets.
13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is
broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. 14
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and few are
those who find it.
15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them
by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from
thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears
bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear
good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and
thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.
21 "Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the
kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in
heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many
mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never
knew you; depart from me, you evildoers!'
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and does
them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the
rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that
house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26
And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will
be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27 and the rain
descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that
house, and it fell. And great was its fall."
28 And when Jesus had finished these sayings, the crowds were
astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one who had
authority, and not as their scribes.
8
1 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds
followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came and knelt before him, saying,
"Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." 3 Then Jesus put out
his hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be clean." Immediately
his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no
one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that
Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him,
asking for help, 6 and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at
home, in terrible distress." 7 And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal
him." 8 But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have
you come under my roof. But only say the word, and my servant will be
healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me.
And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he
comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10 When Jesus
heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say
to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith. 11 I say to you that
many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will
be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth." 13 Then to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done
for you as you have believed." And his servant was healed at that very
hour.
14 When Jesus come into Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-
law lying sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her,
and she rose and served him. 16 When evening had come, they brought to
him many who were demon-possessed. And he cast out the spirits with a
word, and healed all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was
spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
"He took up our infirmities
and bore our diseases."
18 Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave
orders to go over to the other side. 19 Then a certain scribe came and said
to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." 20 And Jesus said
to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of
Man has nowhere to lay his head." 21 Another of the disciples said to
him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." 22 But Jesus said to him,
"Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24
And behold, a great storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered
with the waves. But he was asleep. 25 The disciples went and woke him,
saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" 26 And he said to them, "Why
are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds
and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying,
"What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"
28 When he had come to the other side, to the country of the
Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs,
exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold,
they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you
come here to torment us before the time?" 30 Now a herd of many swine
was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him,
"If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine." 32 And he said
to them, "Go." So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the
whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the
water. 33 Then those who kept them fled, and they went away into the
city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-
possessed men. 34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus.
And when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
9
1 And getting into a boat, he crossed over and came to his own
city. 2 And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And
when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son;
your sins are forgiven." 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to
themselves, "This man is blaspheming!" 4 But Jesus, knowing their
thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is
easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? 6 But
that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive
sins"óhe then said to the paralyticó"Rise, take up your bed and go
home." 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they
were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew
sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and
followed him. 10 And as Jesus sat at table in the house, behold, many tax
collectors and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11
And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does
your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 But when Jesus
heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but
those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy,
and not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we
and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 15 And Jesus said
to them, "Can the guests of the bridegroom mourn as long as he is with
them? The days will come, when the bridegroom will be taken away from
them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth
on an old garment, for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear
is made worse. 17 Neither do they put new wine into old wineskins; if
they do, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are ruined.
But they put new wine into new wineskins, and so both are preserved."
18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler
came and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come
and lay your hand on her and she will live." 19 So Jesus rose and
followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had
suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and
touched the fringe of his garment. 21 For she said to herself, "If I only
touch his garment, I shall be made well." 22 Jesus turned, and when he
saw her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well."
And the woman was made well from that moment. 23 When Jesus came to
the ruler's house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, 24 he
said, "Depart; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at
him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took
her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through
all that region.
27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed
him, crying out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." 28 When he had
entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them,
"Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord."
29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done
to you." 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them,
"See that no one knows it." 31 But they went out and spread the news
about him all over that region.
32 As they were going out, behold, a mute and demon-possessed
man was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the
mute man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything
like this seen in Israel." 34 But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons
by the prince of demons."
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in
their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing
every disease and every sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had
compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep
without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is
plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the
harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
10
1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them
authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease
and every sickness. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first,
Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of
Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and
Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4
Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them: "Do not go
among the Gentiles, or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather
to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And preach as you go, saying,
'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers,
raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9
Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, 10 nor bag for your
journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the worker is worthy
of his food. 11 Now whatever village or town you enter, inquire who in it
is worthy, and stay there until you go out. 12 As you enter the house, give
it your greeting. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon
it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if any one
will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your
feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be
more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and
Gomorrah than for that town.
16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.
Therefore be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 But beware of
men, for they will deliver you up to councils and flog you in their
synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for my
sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver
you up, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say;
for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; 20 for it is not
you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21
Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 22 And
you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the
end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one city, flee to
another. For truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities
of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his
master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the
servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house
Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
26 "So do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will
not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in
the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear,
proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body
but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear him who can destroy both soul
and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one
of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father's will. 30 But even
the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you
are of more value than many sparrows.
32 "Therefore whoever acknowledges me before men, him I will
also acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever
denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in
heaven.
34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did
not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come
to set a man 'against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36 and a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'
37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and
he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and
he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 He
who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will
find it.
40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me
receives him who sent me. 41 He who receives a prophet because he is a
prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous
man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water
because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."
11
1 And when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples,
he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
2 Now when John heard in prison about the works of Christ, he
sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, "Are you the One who is to
come, or shall we look for another?" 4 And Jesus answered them, "Go
and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the
lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are
raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed
is he who is not offended because of me." 7 As they went away, Jesus
began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into
the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go
out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft
clothing are in kings' houses. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A
prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of
whom it is written:
'Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.'
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen
one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of
heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now
the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it
by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14
And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come. 15 He
who has ears to hear, let him hear.
16 "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like
children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions,
17 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a
demon.' 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say,
'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'
But wisdom is justified by her deeds."
20 Then he began to rebuke the cities in which most of his
mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 "Woe to
you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which
were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have
repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be
more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
23 And you, Capernaum,
will you be exalted to heaven?
You shall be brought down to Hades.
For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom,
it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it shall be
more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for
you."
25 At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and
intelligent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Yes, Father, for this was
your good pleasure.
27 "All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one
knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the
Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me,
all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take
my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my
burden is light."
12
1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath.
And his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to
eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your
disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath." 3 He said to
them, "Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those
who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the
consecrated bread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who
were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the Law
that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are
innocent? 6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7 And if
you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you
would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of
the Sabbath."
9 And he went on from there, and went into their synagogue. 10
And behold, there was a man with a withered hand. And they asked him,
"Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" so that they might accuse him. 11
He said to them, "What man of you, if he has one sheep and it falls into a
pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much
more value is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the
Sabbath." 13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he
stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 14 But the
Pharisees went out and plotted against him, how they might destroy him.
15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed
him, and he healed them all, 16 and ordered them not to make him known.
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
18 "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased!
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry out;
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
till he sends forth justice to victory;
21 and in his name will the Gentiles hope."
22 Then they brought to him a demon-possessed man who was
blind and mute, and he healed him, so that the mute man both spoke and
saw. 23 And all the people were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son
of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard this they said, "It is only by
Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." 25
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided
against itself is laid waste, and every city or house divided against itself
will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself.
How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by
Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be
your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the
kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong
man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?
And then he will plunder his house. 30 He who is not with me is against
me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you,
every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against
the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the
Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit
will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the
tree bad, and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood
of vipers! how can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man out of the
good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of
the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I tell you that men will
have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they
have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your
words you will be condemned."
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher,
we want to see a sign from you." 39 But he answered them, "An evil and
adulterous generation seeks for a sign; but no sign will be given to it
except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and
three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three
days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh
will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for
they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah
is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this
generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to
hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than
Solomon is here.
43 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through
dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, 'I will return to
my house from which I came.' And when he comes he finds it empty,
swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other
spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the
last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this
wicked generation."
46 While he was still talking to the people, behold, his mother
and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him. 47 Someone told
him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to
you." 48 But he replied to the man who told him, "Who is my mother,
and who are my brothers?" 49 And stretching out his hand toward his
disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever
does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
13
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.
2 And great crowds gathered around him, so that he got into a boat and
sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them
many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow his seed. 4
And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and
devoured them. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where they did not have
much soil, and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of
soil. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they
had no root they withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the
thorns grew up and choked them. 8 But other seed fell on good soil and
yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who
has ears, let him hear."
10 The disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to
them in parables?" 11 And he answered them, "To you it has been given
to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been
given. 12 For whoever has, to him will more be given, and he will have
abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken
away from him. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because
seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they
understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says:
'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand;
and seeing you will see and not perceive.
15 For this people's heart has grown dull.
And their ears are hard of hearing,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and they understand with their hearts,
and turn so that I should heal them.'
16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear. 17
For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see
what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not
hear it.
18 "Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 when anyone hears
the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes
and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown
along the path. 20 But he who received the seed on rocky places, this is
he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has
no root in himself, but endures only for a while. And when tribulation or
persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22
Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word,
but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word,
and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But the one who received seed on the good
soil is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit
and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
24 Another parable he put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom
of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while
men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat,
and went away. 26 So when the plants sprouted and bore grain, then the
weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the householder came and
said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has
it weeds?' 28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants
said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them up?' 29 But he
said, 'No, lest while you gather up the weeds you also root up the wheat
with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time
I will tell the reapers. Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to
be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
31 Another parable he put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom
of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field;
32 it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of
shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make
nests in its branches."
33 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like
leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour till it was
all leavened."
34 All these things Jesus spoke to the crowd in parables; and
without a parable he did not speak to them. 35 So was fulfilled what was
spoken by the prophet:
"I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter things hidden
since the foundation of the world."
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. And his
disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of
the field." 37 He answered, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of
Man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of
the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy
who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the
reapers are angels. 40 Therefore as the weeds are gathered and burned in
the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send
out his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom everything that
causes sin and all who do evil, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of
fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the
righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who
has ears, let him hear.
44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a
field, which a man found and hid; and then in his joy over it he goes and
sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of
fine pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great value, went and
sold all that he had and bought it.
47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown
into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; 48 which, when it was full,
they drew it up on the shore; and they sat down and gathered the good
into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and
throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth."
51 Jesus asked, "Have you understood all these things?" "Yes,"
they said to him. 52 And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has
been instructed for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who
brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from
there. 54 And coming to his own country he taught them in their
synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man
get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is this not the carpenter's
son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brothers James, Joseph,
Simon, and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did
this man get all these things?" 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus
said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country
and in his own house." 58 And he did not do many mighty works there,
because of their unbelief.
14
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2
and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist, he has risen from
the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him." 3 For Herod had
laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of
Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, 4 because John had said to him, "It is
not lawful for you to have her." 5 And though he wanted to put him to
death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. 6 But
when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced
before them and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give
her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me
here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." 9 And the king was sorry;
but, because of his oaths and his guests, he commanded it to be given to
her; 10 so he sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11 And his head was
brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her
mother. 12 Then his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and
they went and told Jesus.
13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat
to a lonely place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed
him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus went ashore he saw a great
throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. 15 When
it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote
place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go
to the villages and buy themselves some food." 16 Jesus said, "They do
not need to go away. You give them something to eat." 17 They said to
him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." 18 He said, "Bring
them here to me," 19 Then he commanded the multitudes to sit down on
the grass. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to
heaven, he blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the
disciples gave them to the multitudes. 20 And they all ate and were
satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces that
were left over. 21 Now those who ate were about five thousand men,
besides women and children.
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go
before him to the other side, while he dismissed the multitudes. 23 And
after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself
to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this
time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for
the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus
went to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him
walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they
cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take
courage! It is I; do not be afraid." 28 And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it
is you, command me to come to you on the water." 29 So he said,
"Come". Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and
came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and
beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Jesus immediately
reached out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little
faith, why did you doubt?" 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind
ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying,
"Truly you are the Son of God."
34 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent to all that
surrounding region and brought to him all who were sick, 36 and begged
him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as
touched it were made well.
15
1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came
to Jesus and said, 2 "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the
elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat." 3 He answered
them, "And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake
of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your
mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' 5
But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you
might have received from me is a gift to God' 6 he is not to honor his
father with it. Thus you have made the word of God of no effect for the
sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about
you, when he said:
8 'These people honor me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.
9 In vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'"
10 And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and
understand: 11 not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what
comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." 12 Then the disciples came
and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when
they heard this saying?" 13 He answered, "Every plant which my heavenly
Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are
blind guides. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a
pit." 15 But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us." 16 So Jesus
said, "Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet see
that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart,
and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder,
adultery, fornications, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what
defile a man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."
21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the region
of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region
came out and cried to him, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is severely demon-possessed." 23 But he did not answer her
a word. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away,
for she is crying out after us." 24 He answered, "I was sent only to the
lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 But she came and knelt before him,
saying, "Lord, help me!" 26 And he answered, "It is not good to take the
children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 27 "Yes, Lord," she said, "yet
even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28 Then
Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as
you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. 29 And
Jesus went on from there and passed along the Sea of Galilee. And he
went up on the mountain, and sat down there. 30 Then great crowds came
to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and
many others; and they laid them down at his feet, and he healed them. 31
So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed
made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified
the God of Israel.
32 Now Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have
compassion on the multitude, because they have been with me three days
and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest
they faint on the way." 33 Then his disciples said to him, "Where could
we get enough bread in the wilderness to feed such a great crowd?" 34
And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said,
"Seven, and a few small fish." 35 He told the crowd to sit down on the
ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given
thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples
gave them to the crowds. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied; and they
took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over. 38
Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
39 And he sent away the crowds, got into the boat, and went to the region
of Magadan.
16
1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they
asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, "When
it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather; for the sky is red.' 3 And in
the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.'
You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot
interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation
seeks for a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah."
So he left them and departed.
5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten
to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the
leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." 7 And they discussed among
themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread." 8 But Jesus,
aware of this, said, "O men of little faith, why do you discuss among
yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do
you not remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many
baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and
how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you do not understand
that I did not speak to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the
Pharisees and Sadducees." 12 Then they understood that he did not tell
them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees
and Sadducees.
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he
asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And
they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others
Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you
say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of
the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon
Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my
Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, that you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail
against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and
whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you
loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20 Then he strictly charged his
disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
21 From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that he
must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief
priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised on the third day. 22 Peter
took him aside and began to rebuke him saying, "Never, Lord! This shall
never happen to you!" 23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind
me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are not mindful of
the things of God, but the things of men." 24 Then Jesus said to his
disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take
up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 What good
will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or
what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is
to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward
each man according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are
some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of
Man coming in his kingdom."
17
1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his
brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was
transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes
became as white as the light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses
and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good
for us to be here; if you wish, I will make here three tabernaclesóone for
you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking,
behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and a voice from the cloud
said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to
him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were
filled with awe. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Rise.
Don't be afraid." 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one
but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus
commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised
from the dead." 10 And the disciples asked him, "Why then do the scribes
say that Elijah must come first?" 11 Jesus replied, "Elijah is coming first
and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has come already,
and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. So also
the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands." 13 Then the disciples
understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and
kneeling before him said, 15 "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an
epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often
into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not
heal him." 17 Then Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation,
how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him
here to me." 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him,
and the boy was cured from that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to
Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20 So he said to
them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have
faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move
from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to
you."
22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them,
"The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and
they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were
greatly distressed.
24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the half-
shekel tax went up to Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the
temple tax?" 25 He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus
spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do
the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from
others?" 26 And when Peter said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then
the sons are free. 27 Nevertheless, so that we may not offend them, go to
the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when
you open its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it
to them for me and you."
18
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 He called to him a little child, and
put him in the midst of them, 3 and he said, "Truly, I say to you, unless
you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom
of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like
this in my name receives me.
6 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me
to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around
his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world
because of temptations to sin! For temptations must come, but woe to the
man by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot
causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter
life maimed or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the
eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it
away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes
and be thrown into the fire of hell.
10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell
you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in
heaven. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of
them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the
mountains in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it,
truly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-
nine that did not go astray. 14 So it is not the will of your Father who is
in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault,
between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your
brother. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along with
you, so that 'every matter may be established by the word of two or three
witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if
he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and
a tax collector.
18 "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in
heaven. 19 Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about
anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For
where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the
midst of them."
21 Then Peter came to him and said, "Lord, how often shall my
brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus
said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. 23
Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to
settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began the settlement, one
was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And as he was
not able to pay, his master ordered that he be sold, with his wife and
children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant
fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will
pay you everything.' 27 The master of that servant took pity on him,
released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But that servant went out and
found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he
laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you
owe.' 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him,
'Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.' 30 But he refused, and
went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 When his
fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed,
and went and told their master all that had happened. 32 Then his master,
after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you
all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should not you have had mercy
on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?' 34 And in anger his
master delivered him to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back
all he owed. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to each of you, if you
do not forgive your brother from your heart."
19
1 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away
from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And
large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 3 Some Pharisees
came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his
wife for any and every reason?" 4 And he answered them, "Have you not
read that he who made them at the beginning 'made them male and
female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and
mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6
So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined
together, let man not separate." 7 They said to him, "Why then did Moses
command one to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" 8 He
said to them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses permitted
you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I
say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries
another woman commits adultery." 10 The disciples said to him, "If such
is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry." 11 But he
said to them, "Not all men can accept this saying, but only those to whom
it has been given. 12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way from
their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by
men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the
sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept it, let him accept
it."
13 Then little children were brought to him that he might put his
hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus
said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to
such belongs the kingdom of heaven." 15 And he laid his hands on them
and went from there.
16 Now behold, one came up and said to him, "Teacher, what
good thing must I do to have eternal life?" 17 And he said to him, "Why
do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you
want to enter life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to him, "Which
ones?" And Jesus said, "'You shall not murder, you shall not commit
adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, 19 honor
your father and mother, and, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
20 The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What do I still
lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you
possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and
come, follow me." 22 But when the young man heard this, he went away
sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard
for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is
easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of God." 25 When the disciples heard this they were
greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" 26 But Jesus
looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with
God all things are possible." 27 Then Peter answered him, "Behold, we
have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?" 28
Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, at the renewal of all things, when
the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me
will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And
every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or
children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and
inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last
first.
20
1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out
early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had
agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his
vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing
idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard
too, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. 5 Again he went
out about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. 6
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle,
and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?' 7 They
said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go
into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.' 8 And when
evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the
laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the
first.' 9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour,
they each received a denarius. 10 So when the first came, they thought
they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11
And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner,
12 saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you made
them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.' 13
But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you
not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way.
I wish to give to this last man the same as I gave to you. 15 Is it not lawful
for me to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious
because I am generous?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be
last."
17 Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve
disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 "Behold, we are going
up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests
and to the scribes; and they will condemn him to death, 19 and deliver
him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will
be raised on the third day."
20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to him with her sons
and, kneeling down, asked something of him. 21 And he said to her,
"What do you want?" She said to him, "Grant that these two sons of mine
may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." 22
But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking for. Are you
able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are
able." 23 He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my
right or my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has
been prepared by my Father." 24 And when the ten heard it, they were
indignant with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and
said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their
great men exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among
you; but whoever desires to become great among you must be your
servant. 27 And whoever wants to be first among you must be your
slaveó28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many."
29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him.
30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the roadside, when they heard
that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of
David!" 31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be quiet; but they
cried out all the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" 32 And
Jesus stopped and called them, saying, "What do you want me to do for
you? " 33 They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." 34 And Jesus
had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they
received their sight and followed him.
21
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage,
at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go
into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey
tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If any one
says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and he
will send them immediately." 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken
by the prophet, saying:
5 "Tell the daughter of Zion,
'Behold, your King is coming to you,
lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They
brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus
sat on them. 8 And a very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,
while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9
The crowds that went before him and those that followed shouted,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!"
10 And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who
is this?" 11 So the crowds said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth
of Galilee."
12 And Jesus entered the temple of God and drove out all who
sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-
changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And he said to them,
"It is written,
'My house shall be called a house of prayer,'
but you have made it a 'den of robbers.'"
14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he
healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the
wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant; 16 and they said to
him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes.
Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you
have perfected praise'?" 17 Then he left them and went out of the city to
Bethany, and he lodged there.
18 In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he was
hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road he went to it, and found
nothing on it but leaves only. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come
from you again!" And immediately the fig tree withered. 20 And when the
disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither away
so soon?" 21 And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have
faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree,
but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,'
it will be done. 22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if
you have faith."
23 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the
elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, "By
what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this
authority?" 24 Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you one question;
and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I
do these things. 25 The baptism of Johnówhere was it from? From
heaven or from men?" And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If
we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe
him?' 26 But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the multitude; for all
hold that John was a prophet." 27 So they answered Jesus, "We do not
know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I
do these things.
28 "What do you think? A man had two sons; and he went to the
first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' 29 He answered,
'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he went to the
second and said the same thing. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but he did
not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The
first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the
harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you
in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax
collectors and the harlots believed him; and even when you saw it, you
did not afterward repent and believe him.
33 "Hear another parable: there was a landowner who planted a
vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it and built a
tower. And he leased it to vine dressers and went into a far country. 34
When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to
get his fruit. 35 And the tenants took his servants, beat one, killed one,
and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first,
and they did the same to them. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them
saying, 'They will respect my son,' 38 But when the tenants saw the son,
they said to themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize
his inheritance.' 39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and
killed him. 40 Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what
will he do to those tenants?" 41 They said to him, "He will put those
wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the fruits in their seasons." 42 Jesus said to them,
"Have you never read in the Scriptures:
'The stone which the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone;
this was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes'?
43 "Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 [And he who falls on this
stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him
to powder."]
45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables,
they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 But when they tried
to arrest him, they feared the multitudes, because they held him to be a
prophet.
22
1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2 "The
kingdom of heaven is like a king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3
and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding;
but they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants,
saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my
oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and everything is ready. Come to the
wedding.'" 5 But they made light of it and went off, one to his own farm,
another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them
shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army
and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his
servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not
worthy. 9 Go therefore to the highways, and invite to the marriage feast as
many as you find.' 10 And those servants went out into the streets and
gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall
was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he
saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 And he said
to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?'
And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind
him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into the outer darkness;
there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called, but
few are chosen."
15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle
him in his talk. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the
Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the
way of God in truth, and you care for no man; for you do not regard the
position of men. 17 Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay
taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why
are you testing me, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the money for the tax."
And they brought him a denarius. 20 And he said to them, "Whose image
and inscription is this?" 21 They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them,
"Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the
things that are God's." 22 When they heard it, they marveled; and they
left him and went away.
23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no
resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, 24 saying, "Teacher,
Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother must marry
the widow, and raise up children for his brother. 25 Now there were seven
brothers among us. The first one married and died, and having no
children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 So the second also, and the
third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28
Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For
they all had her." 29 But Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because
you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 For in the
resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like
angels in heaven. 31 But as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not
read what was said to you by God, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, and the
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead, but
of the living." 33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were
astonished at his teaching.
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the
Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked
him a question, to test him. 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment
in the Law?" 37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38
This is the great and first commandment. 39 And the second is like it:
'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two
commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked
them, 42 "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" They
said to him, "The son of David." 43 He said to them, "How is it then that
David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord', saying,
44 'The Lord said to my Lord,
"Sit at my right hand,
till I put your enemies under your feet"'?
45 If David then calls him 'Lord,' how is he his son?" 46 And no one was
able to answer him a word, nor from that day did any one dare to ask him
any more questions.
23
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The
scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 So you must observe and
do whatever they tell you. But do not do what they do; for they preach,
but do not practice. 4 They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay
them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with
their finger. 5 But they do all their works to be seen by men; for they
make their phylacteries broad and the tassels of their garments long. 6
And they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the
synagogues, 7 and greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men,
'Rabbi.' 8 But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one
Master, and you are all brethren. 9 And do not call anyone on earth your
'Father,' for you have one Father, he who is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to
be called 'Teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11 He who is
greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself
will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you
shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither enter
yourselves, nor do you allow those who would enter to go in.
15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you
travel land and sea to win a single proselyte, and when he becomes one,
you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If any one swears by the
temple, it is nothing; but if any one swears by the gold of the temple, he is
bound by his oath.' 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or
the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, 'If anyone
swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift that
is on it, he is bound by his oath.' 19 You blind men! For which is greater,
the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 Therefore, he who
swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And he who
swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And he
who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by him who sits
on it.
23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay
tithe of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier
matters of the Law, justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have
done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, who strain out
a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you
cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of
extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside
of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe to
you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed
tombs which outwardly appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead
men's bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear
righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you build
the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30
And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not
have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' 31 Thus
you witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered
the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt. 33 You
serpents! You brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to
hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes. Some
of them you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your
synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 that on you may come
all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous
Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered
between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all this will come
upon this generation.
37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone
those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your
children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you
were not willing! 38 Behold, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I
tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord.'"
24
1 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples
came up to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he
answered them, "You see all these things, do you not? Truly, I say to you,
there will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown
down."
3 Now as he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to
him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will this be? And what will be the
sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" 4 And Jesus answered
them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my
name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6 And you will
hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed; for all
these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will
rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be
famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning
of birth pains. 9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you
to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And
then many will fall away, and will betray one another, and hate one
another. 11 And many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12
And because wickedness will increase, the love of most will grow cold.
13 But he who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the
kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all
nations, and then the end will come.
15 "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination
of desolation,' spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader
understand) 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17
Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his
house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.
19 But woe for those who are pregnant and for those who are nursing
babies in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on
the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not
been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22
And if those days had not been shortened, no flesh would be saved; but
for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 Then if any one
says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it.
24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and
wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you
beforehand. 26 So if they say to you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do
not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27 For
as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will
the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 Wherever the carcass is, there the
eagles will be gathered together.
29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from heaven,
and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all
the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he
will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather
together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the
other.
32 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its branch
becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.
33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right
at the door. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till
all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my
words will not pass away.
36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels
of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah
were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days
before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not
know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one
will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the
mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do
not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the
owner of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was
coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be
broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is
coming at an hour you do not expect.
45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master
has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46
Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so
doing. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48
But if that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying
away a long time,' 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants, and
to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will
come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not
aware of, 51 and he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the
hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
25
1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of
them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their
lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took oil in their flasks
with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered
and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry: 'Behold, the bridegroom!
Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their
lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for
our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise replied, 'No, there may not be
enough for both us and you; go rather to those who sell oil and buy some
for yourselves.' 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and
those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was
shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open
to us!' 12 But he replied, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13
Therefore keep watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
14 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his
servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five
talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his
ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 He who had received the five
talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more.
17 So also, he who had the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who
had received the one talent went and dug in the ground, and hid his
master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants
came and settled accounts with them. 20 So he who had received the five
talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Master, you delivered
to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents.' 21 His master
said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful
over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the
joy of your master.' 22 He also who had received the two talents came and
said, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two
more talents.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful
servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler
over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.' 24 Then he who had
received the one talent came and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard
man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not
scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the
ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master answered him,
'You wicked and lazy servant! You knew that I reap where I have not
sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Then you ought to
have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would
have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent
from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to every one
who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him
who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the
worthless servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.'
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels
with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will
be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another as a
shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will put the sheep
on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to
those on his right hand, 'Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was
hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a
stranger and you took me in, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was
sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37 Then the
righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed
you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger
and take you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick
or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 And the King will answer them,
'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren,
you did it to me.'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left hand, 'Depart from me,
you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his
angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and
you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not take me in,
naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit
me.' 44 Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or
thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to
you?' 45 Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do
it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46 And they will
go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
26
1 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his
disciples, 2 "You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of
Man will be delivered up to be crucified." 3 Then the chief priests and the
elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, who was
called Caiaphas, 4 and they plotted to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.
5 But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be a riot among the
people."
6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the
leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive
perfume, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. 8 But when
the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste? 9 For
this perfume might have been sold for a high price and given to the poor."
10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the
woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have
the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 For in pouring
this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I
say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what she
has done will also be told in memory of her."
14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went
to the chief priests 15 and said, "What are you willing to give me if I
deliver him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.
16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
17 Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the
disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to prepare for you
to eat the Passover?" 18 He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and
say to him, 'The Teacher says, my time is at hand; I will keep the Passover
at your house with my disciples.'" 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had
directed them; and they prepared the Passover. 20 When evening had
come, he sat at the table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he
said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." 22 And they were
very sorrowful, and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?"
23 He answered, "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will
betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes just as it is written of him, but woe to
that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better
for that man if he had not been born." 25 Then Judas, who was betraying
him, answered, "Rabbi, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said it."
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and
broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my
body." 27 Then he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them,
saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I
will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I
drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." 30 And when they had
sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of
me this night; for it is written,
'I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." 33 Peter
declared to him, "Even if all fall away because of you, I will never fall
away." 34 Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, this very night, before
the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." 35 Peter said to him,
"Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you." And so said all the
disciples.
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called
Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and
pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and
he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul
is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me." 39
And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, "O my Father, if
it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as
you will." 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and
he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch
and pray, so that you will not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak." 42 Again, a second time, he went away
and prayed, "O my Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink it,
your will be done." 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for
their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them, went away again, and prayed
the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to the disciples
and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is
at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."
47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve,
and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests
and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign,
saying, "The one I kiss is the man; seize him." 49 And at once he went up
to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. 50 Jesus said to
him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then they came up and laid hands on
Jesus and seized him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus
stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high
priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back
in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do
you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me
more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then could the Scriptures
be fulfilled, that it must happen in this way?" 55 At that hour Jesus said
to the crowds, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and
clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did
not seize me. 56 But all this has taken place, that the Scriptures of the
prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.
57 And those who had seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas
the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. 58 But
Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high
priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the end. 59 Now
the chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony against
Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though
many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said,
"This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it
in three days.'" 62 And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no
answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" 63 But
Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I charge you
under oath by the living God: tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of
God." 64 Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. But I say to you,
hereafter you will see the Son of Man
sitting at the right hand of the Power,
and coming on the clouds of heaven."
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken
blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have
heard his blasphemy. 66 What do you think?" They answered, "He is
worthy of death." 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their
fists; and others slapped him, 68 saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is
the one who struck you?"
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant
girl came to him and said, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." 70 But
he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking
about." 71 And when he went out to the gateway, another girl saw him
and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." 72
But again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man!" 73 After a
little while those who stood by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you are
also one of them, for your accent betrays you." 74 Then he began to
invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And
immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word Jesus
had said, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." So he
went out and wept bitterly.
27
1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the
people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound
him, and led him away and delivered him to Pilate the governor.
3 When Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned, he
repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests
and the elders, 4 saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood."
And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" 5 Then he threw down
the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged
himself. 6 But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not
lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are the money of blood." 7
So they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury
strangers in. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to
this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet,
saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on
whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave
them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me."
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked
him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" So Jesus said to him, "It is as you
say." 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he
made no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many
things they testify against you?" 14 But he gave him no answer, not even
to a single charge; so that the governor wondered greatly.
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for
the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And at that time they
had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered,
Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas
or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew it was out of envy that
they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat,
his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man,
for I have suffered greatly today in a dream because of him." 20 But the
chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas
and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered them, "Which of the two do
you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!" 22 Pilate said to
them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all
said, "Let him be crucified!" 23 And he said, "Why, what evil has he
done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!" 24 When
Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was starting,
he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am
innocent of this man's blood. See to it yourselves." 25 And all the people
answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" 26 Then he released
Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to
be crucified.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the
Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around him. 28 And they
stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and when they had twisted
a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand.
And they bowed the knee before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail,
King of the Jews!" 30 And they spat on him, and took the reed and struck
him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they took the robe
off him, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32 Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by
name, and they compelled him to carry his cross. 33 And when they came
to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull), 34 they
offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he
would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his
garments among them by casting lots; 36 and sitting down, they kept
watch over him there. 37 And they put up over his head the charge written
against him:
THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on
the left. 39 And those who passed by hurled insults at him, wagging their
heads 40 and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in
three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the
cross." 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked
him, saying, 42 "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King
of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in
him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for
he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" 44 And the robbers who were crucified
with him also reviled him in the same way.
45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was
darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out
with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?" 47 When some of those standing there
heard this, they said, "This man is calling Elijah." 48 Immediately one of
them ran and took a sponge, filled it with wine vinegar and put it on a
reed, and offered it to him to drink. 49 The rest said, "Let him alone; let
us see if Elijah will come to save him." 50 And Jesus cried out again with
a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the
temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the
rocks were split; 52 the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the
saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs
after his resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus,
saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified,
and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" 55 And many women were
also there, looking on from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee,
ministering to him; 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the
mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
57 And when it was evening, there came a rich man from
Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself also become a disciple of
Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate
ordered it to be given to him. 59 When Joseph took the body, he wrapped
it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had
hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb,
and departed. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there
opposite the tomb.
62 The next day, the one after the day of Preparation, the chief
priests and the Pharisees gathered to Pilate 63 and said, "Sir, we
remember how that deceiver said, while he was still alive, 'After three
days I will rise again.' 64 Therefore order that the tomb be made secure
until the third day, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away,
and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception
will be worse than the first." 65 Pilate said to them, "You have a guard;
go your way, make it as secure as you know how." 66 So they went and
made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
28
1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to
dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And
behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended
from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat
on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as
snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
5 But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you
seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he has risen, as he
said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his
disciples that he has risen from the dead. And behold, he is going before
you to Galilee; there you will see him. Behold, I have told you." 8 So they
departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his
disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Hail!" And they came
to him and took hold of his feet and worshipped him. 10 Then Jesus said
to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee; and
there they will see me."
11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard went
into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had
happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted
together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 and said,
"Tell them, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we
were asleep.' 14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy
him and keep you out of trouble." 15 So they took the money and did as
they were instructed; and this story has been spread among the Jews to
this day.
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain
which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw him, they
worshipped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them,
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go
therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to
observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age."
Matthew, page 2
The Gospel According to Mark
1
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
"Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way";
3 "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.'"
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness, and preaching a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the land of Judea, and the
people from Jerusalem, went out to him and they were all baptized by him
in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with
camel's hair, and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts
and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, "After me comes One who is
mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop
down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit."
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was
baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately coming up out of the
water, he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him
like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son,
with whom I am well pleased."
12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13
And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was
with the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee,
preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the
kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."
16 And as he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and
Andrew his brother casting a net into the Sea; for they were fishermen. 17
And Jesus said to them, "Come follow me, and I will make you become
fishers of men." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed
him. 19 When he had gone a little farther from there, he saw James the
son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending
their nets. 20 And immediately he called them; and they left their father
Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him.
21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the
Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were
astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority,
and not as the scribes. 23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with
an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, "Let us alone! What have
we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Did you come to destroy us? I
know who you areóthe Holy One of God!" 25 But Jesus rebuked him,
saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" 26 And the unclean spirit,
convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And
they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying,
"What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the
unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28 And at once his fame spread
everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and
John, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew. 30 Now Simon's
mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about
her. 31 So he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and
immediately the fever left her. And she served them. 32 Now at evening,
when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick and those
who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city was gathered together
at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases,
and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak,
because they knew him.
35 Now in the morning, a long while before daylight, he rose
and went out to a solitary place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and
those who were with him searched for him, 37 and when they found him,
they said to him, "Everyone is looking for you." 38 And he said to them,
"Let us go on to the next towns, so I may preach there also; for that is
why I have come." 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in
their synagogues and casting out demons.
40 Then a leper came to him, imploring him, kneeling down to
him and saying to him, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." 41
And Jesus, moved with compassion, put out his hand and touched him,
and said to him, "I am willing; be clean." 42 And immediately the leprosy
left him, and he was made clean. 43 And he strictly warned him and sent
him away at once, 44 and he said to him, "See that you say nothing to
anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing
what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." 45 But he went out and
began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could
no longer openly enter a town, but was outside in the deserted places; and
people came to him from every quarter.
2
1 And when he entered Capernaum after some days, it was heard
that he was home. 2 And many gathered together, so that there was no
longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And he preached the
word to them. 3 Then they came to him, bringing a paralytic carried by
four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd,
they made an opening in the roof above him; and when they had broken
through, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are
forgiven." 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, reasoning in their
hearts, 7 "Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who
can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 And immediately, when Jesus
perceived in his spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, he said
to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which
is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise,
take up your pallet and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of
Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"óhe said to the paralytic, 11
"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." 12 And he rose, and
immediately took up the pallet and went out in the sight of them all; so
that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw
anything like this!"
13 Then he went out again beside the sea; and all the crowd
came to him, and he taught them. 14 As he passed by, he saw Levi the son
of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, "Follow me." So
he rose and followed him. 15 And as he sat at table in Levi's house, many
tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for
there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees,
when they saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his
disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 And
when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of
a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous,
but sinners."
18 Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And
people came and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples
of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 19 And Jesus said to
them, "Can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? As
long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the
days will come, when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and
then they will fast in that day.
21 "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; if
he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, and the tear is made
worse. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the
wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the wineskins are
ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins."
23 One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as
they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 And
the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful
on the Sabbath?" 25 But he said to them, "Have you never read what
David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those who were with
him: 26 how he entered the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high
priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful to eat, except
for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?" 27 And
he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the
Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
3
1 He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had
a withered hand. 2 And they watched him closely, to see whether he
would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he
said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come here." 4 Then he said
to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life
or to kill?" But they kept silent. 5 And he looked around at them with
anger, grieved at the hardness of their hearts, and said to the man,
"Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6
Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians
against him, how they might destroy him.
7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great
multitude from Galilee followed; also from Judea 8 and Jerusalem and
Idumea and beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon, a great
multitude, when they heard how many things he was doing, came to him.
9 And he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him because of
the crowd, lest they should crush him. 10 For he had healed many, so that
all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11 And whenever
the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out,
"You are the Son of God." 12 But he strictly ordered them not to make
him known.
13 And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those he
himself wanted. And they came to him. 14 Then he appointed twelve, that
they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach, 15 and
to have authority to cast out the demons: 16 Simon, to whom he gave the
name Peter; 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James,
to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder"; 18
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of
Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who
betrayed him.
20 Then he went home; and the crowd came together again, so
that they could not even eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they
went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." 22 And
the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by
Beelzebub, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons." 23 So
he called them to himself and said to them in parables: "How can Satan
cast out Satan? 24 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 has risen up against himself, and is divided,
he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 No one can enter a strong
man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man.
And then he will plunder his house. 28 Truly, I say to you, all sins will be
forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but
whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is
guilty of an eternal sin"ó30 because they said, "He has an unclean
spirit."
31 Then his brothers and his mother came. And standing outside
they sent to him, and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him;
and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking
for you." 33 And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" 34
And he looked at those who sat in a circle around him, and said, "Here
are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my
brother, and sister, and mother."
4
1 Again he began to teach by the sea. and a very large crowd
gathered around him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea;
and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 Then he taught
them many things by parables, and said to them in his teaching: 3 "Listen!
A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed the seed, some fell along the
path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Some fell on rocky ground,
where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it
had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun came up it was scorched, and
because it had no root it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns
and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 But other
seed fell on good soil and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and
produced thirtyfold, sixty, and a hundred." 9 And he said, "He who has
ears to hear, let him hear."
10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve
asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, "To you has been
given the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those outside everything is
in parables; 12 so that
'seeing they may see but not perceive,
and hearing may hear but not understand;
lest they should turn again, and be forgiven.'"
13 And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?
How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the
word. 15 And these are the ones along the path where the word is sown.
When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that
was sown in them. 16 And these likewise are the ones sown on rocky
ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17
and they have no root in themselves, but endure for only a time. Then,
when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word,
immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among
thorns; they are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of this world,
the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and
choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 But these are the ones
sown on good soil, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit
thirtyfold, sixty, and a hundred."
21 And he said to them, "Is a lamp brought to be put under a
basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? 22 For there is
nothing hidden, except to be revealed; nor is anything secret, but that it
should come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
24 Then he said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the
measure you use, it will be measured to you; and more will be given you.
25 For whoever has, to him will more be given; and whoever does not
have, from him even what he has will be taken away."
26 And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should
scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day,
and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28
All by itself the earth produces grainófirst the blade, then the head, then
the full kernel in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts
in the sickle, because the harvest has come."
30 And he said, "With what shall we compare the kingdom of
God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed
which, when it is sown on the ground, is the smallest of all seeds in the
earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all
shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make
nests in its shade."
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they
were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable he did not speak to them.
And when they were alone, he explained everything to his own disciples.
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us
go over to the other side." 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him along,
just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 And
a great storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was
already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. And they
woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care if we perish?" 39
Then he rose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!"
And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them,
"Why are you so afraid? Have you no faith?" 41 And they were filled with
awe, and said to one another, "Who is this? Even the wind and the sea
obey him!"
5
1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the
Gerasenes. 2 And when he had come out of the boat, there met him out of
the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 who lived among the tombs; and
no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often
been bound with shackles and chains. But the chains he wrenched apart,
and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to
subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he
was always crying out, and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he
saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and worshipped him. 7 And crying out
with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of
the Most High God? I implore you by God, do not torment me." 8 For he
had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" 9 Then Jesus
asked him, "What is your name?" And he replied, "My name is Legion,
for we are many." 10 And he begged him eagerly not to send them out of
the country.
11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside.
12 So all the demons begged him, "Send us to the swine, that we may
enter them." 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came
out, and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand,
rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea. 14
So those who fed the swine fled, and told it in the city and in the country.
And people went out to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they
came to Jesus, and saw the man who had been possessed sitting there,
clothed and in his right mind, the man who had had the legion; and they
were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it told the people what had
happened to the demon-possessed man, and about the swine. 17 Then
they began to plead with Jesus to depart from their region. 18 And as he
was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged
him that he might be with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go
home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you,
and how he has had mercy on you." 20 And he went away and began to
proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and all men
marveled.
21 And when Jesus had crossed over again by the boat to the
other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22
Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name. And seeing
him, he fell at his feet, 23 and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, "My
little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her,
so that she may be healed, and live." 24 So Jesus went with him.
And a great crowd followed him and thronged around him. 25
And there was a woman who had endured a flow of blood for twelve
years, 26 and she had suffered much under many physicians, and had
spent all that she owned, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27
When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and
touched his garment. 28 For she said, "If I touch even his clothes, I shall
be made well." 29 And immediately the bleeding stopped; and she felt in
her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, immediately
knowing in himself that power had gone out from him, turned around in
the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?" 31 And his disciples said
to him, "You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, 'Who
touched me?'" 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But
the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down
before him in fear and trembling and told him the whole truth. 34 And he
said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be
healed of your disease."
35 While he was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the
synagogue's house who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the
Teacher any further?" 36 But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the
ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe." 37 And he
allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John the brother
of James. 38 When they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue,
he saw a tumult, and people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he
came in, he said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep? The
child is not dead, but sleeping." 40 And they laughed at him. But after he
put them all outside, he took the child's father and mother and those who
were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the
hand and said to her, "Talitha cumi!" which means, "Little girl, I say to
you, arise." 42 Immediately the girl stood up and walked (she was twelve
years of age). And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 He
strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give
her something to eat.
6
1 He went away from there and came to his own country, and his
disciples followed him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, he began to
teach in the synagogue. And many who heard him were astonished,
saying, "Where did this man get these things? And what wisdom is this
which is given to him, that such mighty works are performed by his
hands! 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James
and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us?" And
they took offense at him. 4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not
without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in
his own house." 5 Now he could do no mighty work there, except that he
laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled
because of their unbelief. Then he went around the villages teaching.
7 And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out
two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He
commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staffóno bag,
no bread, no money in their beltsó9 but to wear sandals and not put on
two tunics. 10 And he said to them, "Where you enter a house, stay there
until you leave that place. 11 And if any place will not receive you and
they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your
feet for a testimony against them." 12 So they went out and preached that
people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed
with oil many that were sick and healed them.
14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become well
known. Some said, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and
that is why these powers are at work in him." 15 But others said, "It is
Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old."
16 But when Herod heard, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he
has been raised from the dead!" 17 For Herod himself had sent and had
John arrested, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his
brother Philip's wife; because he had married her. 18 For John had said to
Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19 And
Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could
not, 20 for Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a
righteous and holy man. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and
yet he heard him gladly. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his
birthday gave a banquet for his high officers and military commanders and
the leading men of Galilee. 22 And when the daughter of Herodias came
in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to
the girl, "Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you." 23 And
he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my
kingdom." 24 So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?"
And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!" 25 Immediately she came
in with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once
the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26 And the king was
exceedingly sorry; but, because of his oaths and his guests, he did not
want to refuse her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner and
gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28
and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave
it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his
body, and laid it in a tomb.
30 The apostles gathered to Jesus, and told him all that they had
done and taught. 31 And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a
lonely place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going,
and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they went away in the boat
to a lonely place by themselves. 33 But many saw them going, and knew
them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of
them. 34 When Jesus went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had
compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
So he began to teach them many things. 35 When it was late in the day,
his disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already
the hour is late. 36 Send them away, so they can go to the surrounding
country and villages and buy themselves something to eat." 37 But he
answered them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to him,
"Shall we 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 found out they said, "Five, and two fish." 39
Then he commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the
green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, of hundreds and fifties. 41
And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and
blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before
the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all
ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken
pieces and of the fish. 44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about
five thousand men.
45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go
before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
46 And after he had left them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47
When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was
alone on land. 48 And he saw the disciples straining at the oars, for the
wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he came to
them, walking on the sea. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when
they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried
out; 50 for they all saw him, and were terrified. But immediately he spoke
to them and said, "Take courage! It is I; do not be afraid." 51 Then he
climbed into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were
completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves,
because their hearts were hardened.
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret
and anchored there. 54 And when they got out of the boat, immediately
the people recognized him, 55 and ran about that whole region, and began
to carry those who were sick around on pallets to wherever they heard he
was. 56 Wherever he entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid
the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even
the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched him were made well.
7
1 Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had
come from Jerusalem gathered together to him, 2 they saw some of his
disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3
(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their
hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they
come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash themselves.
And there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of
cups and pitchers and copper vessels. ) 5 The Pharisees and the scribes
asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of
the elders, but eat with impure hands?" 6 And he said to them, "Well did
Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites; as it is written:
'This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.
7 In vain they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'
8 You let go of the commandment of God, and hold on to the tradition of
men." 9 And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the
commandment of God, in order to keep your tradition! 10 For Moses said,
'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or
mother, let him be put to death.' 11 But you say that if a man says to his
father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from
me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12 then you no longer let
him do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of
God through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such
things you do."
14 And he called all the people to him again, and said to them,
"Hear me, everyone, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside a man
which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of
a man are what defile him." 17 When he had left the crowd and entered
the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 So he said to
them, "Are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever
enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it does not enter his
heart but his stomach, and so passes on?" (Thus he declared all foods
clean.) 20 And he said, "What comes out of a man is what defiles a man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, come evil thoughts,
fornications, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit,
lewdness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come
from within, and they defile a man."
24 From there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and
Sidon. And he entered a house, and did not want anyone to know it; yet
he could not be hidden. 25 But a woman whose little daughter was
possessed by an unclean spirit heard about him, and she came and fell at
his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth. And
she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to
her, "Let the children first be fed, for it is not right to take the children's
bread and throw it to the dogs." 28 But she answered him, "Yes, Lord, yet
even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29 Then he said
to her, "For this saying you may go your way; the demon has left your
daughter." 30 She went home, and found her child lying on the bed, and
the demon gone.
31 Then he departed from the region of Tyre, and went through
Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis. 32 Then
they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his
speech, and they begged him to put his hand on him. 33 And he took him
aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and
touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven he sighed and said to
him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." 35 And [immediately] his ears
were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke
plainly. 36 And he commanded them to tell no one; but the more he
charged them, the more widely they proclaimed it. 37 And they were
astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He even
makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."
8
1 In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they
had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him, and said to them, 2 "I
have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me
three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to
their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come a
long distance." 4 And his disciples answered him, "How can one feed
these men with bread here in the desert?" 5 And he asked them, "How
many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven." 6 So he commanded the
crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and
having given thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set
before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 They also had a
few small fish; and having blessed them, he commanded that these also
should be set before them. 8 They ate, and were satisfied; and they took
up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 9 About four
thousand men were present. And having sent them away, 10 he
immediately got into the boat with his disciples, and went to the region of
Dalmanutha.
11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking
from him a sign from heaven, to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his
spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to
you, no sign shall be given to this generation." 13 And he left them, and
getting into the boat again he departed to the other side.
14 Now the disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had
only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying,
"Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of
Herod." 16 And they discussed it with one another, saying, "It is because
we have no bread." 17 Being aware of it, Jesus said to them, "Why do you
discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or
understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see,
and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I
broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many 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 pieces did you take up?" And they said, "Seven." 21 He said to them,
"Do you not yet understand?"
22 And they came to Bethsaida; and some people brought a
blind man to him, and begged him to touch him. 23 So he took the blind
man by the hand and led him out of the village. And when he had spit on
his eyes and put his hands on him, he asked him "Do you see anything?"
24 And he looked up and said, "I see men; but they look like trees,
walking." 25 Then he put his hands on his eyes again and made him look
up. And he was restored, and saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him
away to his home, saying, "Do not even go into the village."
27 And Jesus went on with his disciples, to the villages of
Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do men
say that I am?" 28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say
Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 And he asked them, "But
who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." 30
And he charged them to tell no one about him.
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer
many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the
scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly
about this. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But
when he had turned around and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter,
and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of
God, but the things of men." 34 And he called to him the multitude with
his disciples, and said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him
deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever desires
to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the
gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole
world, and forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his
soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous
and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man will also be ashamed when
he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
9
1 And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you that there are some
standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of
God come with power." 2 After six days Jesus took with him Peter and
James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling,
exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth could bleach them. 4 And
there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with
Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. And
let us make three tabernaclesóone for you, one for Moses, and one for
Elijah." 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. 7
And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the
cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!" 8 Suddenly, when they
looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them
to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the
dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what the
rising from the dead meant. 11 And they asked him, "Why do the scribes
say that Elijah must come first?" 12 Then he said to them, "Elijah does
come first and restores all things. And how is it written of the Son of
Man, that he must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13
But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they
wished, as it is written of him."
14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd
around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 Immediately, when they
saw him, all the people were greatly amazed, and ran to him and greeted
him. 16 And he asked them, "What are you discussing with them?" 17
And one of the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you,
who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down;
he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your
disciples to cast out the spirit, but they could not." 19 He answered him,
"O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I
bear with you? Bring him to me." 20 And they brought the boy to him.
And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he
fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus
asked his father, "How long has he been like this?" And he said, "From
childhood. 22 And it has often thrown him both into the fire and into the
water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have pity on us and help
us." 23 Jesus said to him, "If you can, all things are possible to him who
believes." 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I
believe; help my unbelief!" 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came
running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb
and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him
again." 26 And the spirit cried out, convulsed him terribly, and came out.
And the boy was like a corpse; so that many of them said, "He is dead."
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28
And when he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately,
"Why could we not cast it out?" 29 And he said to them, "This kind can
only come out by prayer."
30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee,
and he did not want anyone to know it. 31 For he was teaching his
disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into
the hands of men. They will kill him, and when he is killed, after three
days he will rise." 32 But they did not understand the saying, and they
were afraid to ask him.
33 And they came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he
asked them, "What were you discussing on the road?" 34 But they kept
silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the
greatest. 35 And he sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If
anyone desires to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." 36
And he took a little child, and put him in the midst of them. And taking
him in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever receives one of these little
children in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not
me but him who sent me."
38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons
in your name and we forbade him, because he was not one of us." 39 But
Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who does a miracle in my name
can soon afterward speak evil of me. 40 For he who is not against us is
for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to
drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, will by no means lose
his reward.
42 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to
sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his
neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin,
cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to
go into hell, to the fire that shall never be quenched. 45 And if your foot
causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with
two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin,
pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye
than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where 'their worm does
not die, and the fire is not quenched.' 49 For every one will be salted with
fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season
it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
10
1 Then he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond
the Jordan. And crowds gathered to him again; and again, as his custom
was, he taught them. 2 The Pharisees came and in order to test him asked,
"Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" 3 He answered them, "What
did Moses command you?" 4 They said, "Moses permitted a man to write
a certificate of divorce, and to put her away." 5 But Jesus said to them,
"Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6
But from the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 7
'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to
his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer
two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man
separate." 10 In the house his disciples also asked him again about this
matter. 11 So he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries
another commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband
and marries another man, she commits adultery."
13 And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch
them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was
indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; and do not
hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to
you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will
not enter it." 16 And he took them in his arms, put his hands on them and
blessed them.
17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and
knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to
inherit eternal life?" 18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me
good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments:
'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false
witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" 20 And he said
to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." 21 Then
Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing;
go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22 But he fell sad at this word,
and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How
hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And
the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the
kingdom of God." 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to
him, "Then who can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With
men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with
God." 28 Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left everything and
followed you." 29 Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who
has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or
lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a
hundredfold now in this timeóhouse and brothers and sisters and
mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to
come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last
first."
32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was
walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed
were afraid. And he took the twelve aside again and began to tell them
what was to happen to him. 33 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem;
and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; 34
and they will mock him, and spit on him, and scourge him, and kill him.
And after three days he will rise."
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and
said, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask." 36 And he
said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" 37 And they said to
him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and the other at your left, in
your glory." 38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are
asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the
baptism I am baptized with?" 39 They said to him, "We are able." So
Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with
the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my
right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it
has been prepared." 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be
indignant with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to himself and
said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the
Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over
them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever wants to become
great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first
among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not 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 with
his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of
Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 And when he heard that
it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of
David, have mercy on me!" 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be
quiet, but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
49 So Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man,
saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." 50 And throwing aside
his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, "What
do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master,
let me receive my sight." 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your
faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and
followed Jesus on the road.
11
1 And when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and
Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 2 and said
to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter
it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and
bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The
Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.'" 4 They went
away and found a colt tied at the door outside in the open street, and they
untied it. 5 And some of those who stood there said to them, "What are
you doing, untying the colt?" 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to,
and they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw
their garments on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their garments
on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the
fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed cried out,
"Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming!
Hosanna in the highest!"
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem, and went into the temple. And when he had
looked round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany
with the twelve.
12 On the next day, when they came from Bethany, he was
hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if
he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but
leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, "May no
one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it.
15 So they came to Jerusalem. And Jesus entered the temple and
began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and
overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who
sold doves. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry merchandise
through the temple. 17 And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written,
'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'?
But you have made it a den of robbers."
18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and sought a way to
destroy him; for they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished
at his teaching. 19 When evening came, they went out of the city.
20 In the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree
withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi,
look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered." 22 And Jesus
answered them, "Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says
to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt
in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be
done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever
you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so
that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
27 Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in
the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him. 28
And they said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things?
Who gave you this authority to do them?" 29 Jesus said to them, "I will
ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I
do these things. 30 The baptism of Johnówas it from heaven or from
men? Answer me." 31 And they reasoned among themselves, "If we say,
'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 32 But
if we say, 'From men'"óthey feared the people, for all held that John was
a real prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus
said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
12
1 Then he began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a
vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a
tower. And he leased it to vine dressers and went into a far country. 2 At
harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants, to collect from them some of
the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they took him and beat him, and sent him
away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent to them another servant, and they
wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. 5 And he sent
another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and
some they killed. 6 He still had one left to send, a beloved son. He sent
him to them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 7 But those tenants
said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the
inheritance will be ours.' 8 So they took him and killed him, and cast him
out of the vineyard. 9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will
come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have
you not read this Scripture:
'The stone which the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone;
11 this was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes'?"
12 And they sought to arrest him, but feared the multitude, for they knew
he had spoken the parable against them. So they left him and went away.
13 Then they sent to him some of the Pharisees and the
Herodians, to catch him in his words. 14 When they came, they said to
him, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and care about no man; for you
do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it
lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Should we pay them, or should
we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why do you put
me to the test? Bring me a denarius, and let me look at it." 16 And they
brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is
this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." 17 Jesus said to them, "Render to
Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
And they were amazed at him.
18 Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came
to him; and they asked him a question, saying: 19 "Teacher, Moses wrote
for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child,
the man must take the wife, and raise up children for his brother. 20 Now
there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no
children. 21 And the second took her, and he died; leaving behind no
children. And the third likewise. 22 So the seven had her and left no
children. Last of all the woman died also. 23 In the resurrection, whose
wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife." 24 Jesus said to them,
"Is not this why you are wrong, that you do not know the Scriptures nor
the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither
marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as
for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the
passage about the bush, how God said to him, '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 of the living; you are greatly mistaken."
28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing
with one another, and seeing that he had answered them well, asked him,
"Which commandment is the first of all?" 29 Jesus answered, "The first
is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. 30 And you shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all
your mind, and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'You shall
love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater
than these." 32 And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you
have well said that God is one, 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 strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all
whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." 34 And when Jesus saw that he
answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of
God." And after that no one dared to ask him any question.
35 And Jesus said, while he taught in the temple, "How is it that
the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 36 David himself,
speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
till I put your enemies under your feet."'
37 Therefore David himself calls him 'Lord'; how is he then his son?"
And the common people heard him gladly.
38 And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like
to go around in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places
39 and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts,
40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers.
They will receive the greater condemnation."
41 And Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the
multitude putting money into the treasury. Many people who were rich
put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came, and put in two copper
coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him, and
said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than
all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For they all put in out of
their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in everythingóall she had
to live on."
13
1 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to
him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful
buildings!" 2 And Jesus said to him, "Do you see all these great
buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another, that will
not be thrown down."
3 Now as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple,
Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 "Tell us, when will
this be? And what will be the sign when these things are all to be
fulfilled?" 5 And Jesus began to say to them: "Take heed that no one
deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and will
deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be
alarmed; such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation
will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be
earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles.
These are the beginning of birth pains. 9 But watch out for yourselves, for
they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the
synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for my sake,
for a testimony to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all
nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you up, do not
worry beforehand what you are to say. But say whatever is given you in
that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Brother will
betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up
against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by
all men for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
14 "When you see 'the abomination of desolation' standing
where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are
in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let him who is on the housetop not go
down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. 16 And
let him who is in the field not go back to get his cloak. 17 But woe for
those who are pregnant and those who are nursing babies in those days!
18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will
be tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation
which God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had
not shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the sake of the
elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 Then if anyone says to
you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, he is there!' do not believe it.
22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and
wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 But take heed; see, I
have told you all things beforehand.
24 "But in those days, after that tribulation,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars will fall from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great
power and glory. 27 And then he will send out his angels, and gather his
elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of
heaven.
28 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its branch
becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.
29 So also, when you see these things happening, you know that it is
near, right at the door. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass
away before all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass
away, but my words will not pass away.
32 "But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the
angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch;
for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on
a journey, when he leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each
with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35
Watch thereforeófor you do not know when the master of the house will
come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the
morningó36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I
say to you, I say to all: Watch!"
14
1 It was now two days before the Passover and the feast of
Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking
how to arrest him by stealth, and kill him. 2 But they said, "Not during
the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people."
3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,
as he sat at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of
pure nard, very costly. And she broke the flask and poured it over his
head. 4 But there were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why
was this ointment wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than
three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her
sharply. 6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She
has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with
you, and whenever you will, you can do good to them; but you will not
always have me. 8 She has done what she could. She has come
beforehand to anoint my body for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you,
wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done
will also be told in memory of her."
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief
priests to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it they were glad,
and promised to give him money. So he sought an opportunity to betray
him.
12 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed
the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go
and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 13 And he sent two of his
disciples, and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of
water will meet you; follow him. 14 And wherever he enters, say to the
owner of the house, 'The Teacher says, where is my guest room, where I
may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 15 He will show you a large
upper room, furnished and ready; make preparations for us there." 16 So
the disciples set out and went to the city, and found it just as he had told
them; and they prepared the Passover. 17 And when it was evening he
came with the twelve. 18 And as they were at table eating, Jesus said,
"Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with
me." 19 They began to be sorrowful, and to say to him one by one, "Is it
I?" 20 He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who dips bread into
the dish with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes just as it is written of him,
but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have
been better for that man if he had not been born."
22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke
it, and gave it to them and said, "Take; this is my body." 23 Then he took
the cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all
drank from it. 24 And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink of
the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of
God." 26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of
Olives.
27 And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away; for it is
written:
'I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.'
28 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." 29 Peter
said to him, "Even if all fall away, I will not." 30 Jesus said to him,
"Truly, I say to you that this very night, before the rooster crows twice,
you will deny me three times." 31 But he spoke more vehemently, "If I
have to die with you, I will not deny you!" And they all said the same.
32 They went to a place which was called Gethsemane; and he
said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I pray." 33 And he took Peter, James
and John with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34
And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; stay here,
and watch." 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed
that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said,
"Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from
me; yet not what I will, but what you will." 37 Then he came and found
them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you
not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into
temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 39 And
again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And when he
came again, he found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy; and they
did not know what to answer him. 41 Then he came the third time and
said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour
has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of
sinners. 42 Rise, let us go; see, my betrayer is at hand."
43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came,
one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the
chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given
them a signal, saying, "The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him and lead
him away under guard." 45 And when he came, he went up to him at once,
and said, "Rabbi!" and he kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him and
seized him. 47 And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck
the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to
them, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to
capture me? 49 Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you
did not seize me. But the scriptures must be fulfilled." 50 Then they all
forsook him and fled.
51 And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen
cloth around his body. And they seized him, 52 and he left the linen cloth
and fled from them naked.
53 And they led Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests
and the elders and the scribes were assembled. 54 But Peter followed him
at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with
the guards and warmed himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and
the whole council sought testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but
they found none. 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their
testimonies did not agree. 57 Then some stood up and bore false witness
against him, saying, 58 "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that
is made with hands, and in three days I will build another not made with
hands.'" 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree. 60 And the high
priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to
make? What is it that these men testify against you?" 61 But he was silent
and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the
Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" 62 And Jesus said, "I am.
And you will see the Son of Man
sitting at the right hand of the Power,
and coming with the clouds of heaven."
63 The high priest tore his clothes and said, "Why do we need any more
witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" And
they all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit
on him, and to blindfold him, and to beat him, and to say to him,
"Prophesy!" And the guards received him with slaps in the face.
66 Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant
girls of the high priest came. 67 And when she saw Peter warming
himself, she looked at him, and said, "You also were with the Nazarene,
Jesus." 68 But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what
you mean." And he went out into the gateway. 69 And the servant girl saw
him again, and began to say to those who stood by, "This is one of them."
70 But again he denied it. And after a little while again those standing
near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them; for you are a Gallilean."
71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not
know this man of whom you speak." 72 And immediately the rooster
crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had said to
him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And
he broke down and wept.
15
1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation
with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus,
led him away, and delivered him to Pilate. 2 Then Pilate asked him, "Are
you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "It is as you say." 3
And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 And Pilate again
asked him, "Have you no answer to make? See how many things they
bring against you." 5 But Jesus still made no answer, so that Pilate was
amazed.
6 Now at the feast he was accustomed to release for them one
prisoner whom they requested. 7 And with the rebels in prison, who had
committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8
And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he had always
done for them. 9 But Pilate answered them, "Do you want me to release to
you the King of the Jews?" 10 For he knew it was out of envy that the
chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred
up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And
Pilate again said to them, "Then what shall I do with the man whom you
call the King of the Jews?" 13 And they cried out again, "Crucify him!"
14 And Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they
shouted all the more, "Crucify him!" 15 So Pilate, wanting to satisfy the
crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had
scourged him, to be crucified.
16 The soldiers led him away into the palace (that is, the
Praetorium) and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they
clothed him in a purple cloak, and they twisted a crown of thorns and put
it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 19
Then they struck him on the head with a reed and spat on him; and falling
on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked
him, they took the purple robe off him, and put his own clothes on him.
Then they led him out to crucify him.
21 Then they compelled a certain man, Simon of Cyrene, the
father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and
passing by, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place called
Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). 23 Then they offered him
wine mingled with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And when they
crucified him,
they divided his garments,
casting lots for them
to determine what each man should take.
25 And it was the third hour, when they crucified him. 26 And the
inscription of the charge written against him read:
THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on
his left. 29 And those who passed by hurled insults at him, wagging their
heads, and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it
in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!" 31 So
also the chief priests mocked him among themselves with the scribes, and
said, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the
King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and
believe." Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.
33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over
the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried
out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"ówhich means,
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 35 When some of those
standing near heard this, they said, "Behold, he is calling Elijah." 36 And
one ran and filled a sponge full of wine vinegar, put it on a reed, and
offered it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see if Elijah will come to
take him down." 37 And with a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38 Then
the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 So when the
centurion, who stood opposite him, saw that he cried out like this and
breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" 40 There
were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary
Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and
Salome, 41 who also followed him and ministered to him when he was in
Galilee; and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
42 Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation
Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a
prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of
God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body
of Jesus. 44 Pilate marveled that he was already dead; and summoning the
centurion, he asked him if he was already dead. 45 And when he learned
from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. 46
Then he bought fine linen, took him down, and wrapped him in the linen.
And he laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and
rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary
the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
16
1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the
mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and
anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the
tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they asked each other, "Who will roll
away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" 4 But when they
looked up, they saw that the stone, though it was very large, had been
rolled away. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on
the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were alarmed. 6 But he
said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was
crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.
7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to
Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." 8 So they went out
quickly and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had
gripped them. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
9 Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he
appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven
demons. 10 She went and told those who had been w
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