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Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a book to read:
¶1. The record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
¶2. Abraham fathered Isaac; and Isaac fathered Jacob; and Jacob fathered Judas and his brothers;
3. and Judas fathered Pharez and Zarah by Tamar; and Pharez fathered Hesrom; and Hesrom fathered Aram;
4. and Aram fathered Amminadab; and Amminadab fathered Naason; and Naason fathered Salmon;
5. and Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab; and Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth; and Obed fathered Jesse;
6. and Jesse fathered David the King; and David the King fathered Solomon by the wife of Uriah;
7. and Solomon fathered Rehoboam; and Rehoboam fathered Abijah; and Abijah fathered Asa;
8. and Asa fathered Jehoshaphat; and Jehoshaphat fathered Joram; and Joram fathered Uzziah;
9. and Uzziah fathered Jotham; and Jotham fathered Ahaz; and Ahaz fathered Hezekiah;
10. and Hezekiah fathered Manasseh; and Manasseh fathered Amon; and Amon fathered Josiah;
11. and Josiah fathered Jechoniah and his brothers about the time of the deportation to Babylon.
12. After the deportation to Babylon, Jechoniah fathered Salathiel; and Salathiel fathered Zerubabbel;
13. and Zerubabbel fathered Abiud; and Abiud fathered Eliakim; and Eliakim fathered Azor;
14. and Azor fathered Sadok; and Sadok fathered Achim; and Achim fathered Eliud;
15. and Eliud fathered Eleazar; and Eleazar fathered Matthan; and Matthan fathered Jacob;
16. and Jacob fathered Joseph, the husband of Mariam[1], of whom[2] was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17. So, all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the Babylonian deportation to the Messiah, fourteen generations.
¶18. This is how the birth of Jesus came about. After his mother Mariam was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child by the holy Spirit.
19. Now, Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to make her a public spectacle, resolved to divorce her in secret.
20. But when he had considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mariam as your wife because that which is conceived in her is of the holy Spirit,
21. and she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus[3], for he will save his people from their sins."
22. This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled:
23. "Behold, a virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel (which is translated, 'God with us')."
24. And when Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife,
25. but he did not know her until she had given birth to her firstborn son, and he called his name Jesus.
¶1. Now, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the King, behold, Magi from the East came to Jerusalem,
2. saying, "Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and we have come to pay him homage."
3. But having heard of this, King Herod was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him,
4. and when he had gathered together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them as to where the Messiah should be born.
5. And they told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it was written by the prophet,
6. 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means least among the rulers in Judah, for out of you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"
7. Then Herod called the Magi privately and ascertained from them the precise time of the star's appearance.
8. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go, and make diligent search for the child, and when you have found him, bring me a report so that I, too, may come and do him homage."
9. Upon hearing the King, they went, and behold, the star that they had seen in the east went before them until it came and stood over where the child was.
10. And seeing the star, they rejoiced with a very great joy.
11. And when they had entered the house, they saw the child with Mariam his mother, and falling down, they did him homage. And they opened their treasure chests and presented gifts to him of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12. And being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.
¶13. And after they departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Rise up. Take the child and his mother and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to seek the child, to kill it."
14. And he arose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt,
15. and he was there until the death of Herod, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: "Out of Egypt, I called my son."
¶16. When Herod learned he had been fooled by the Magi, he became enraged, and he issued orders to do away with all the male children in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding areas, from two years old and under, according to the time which he ascertained from the Magi.
17. Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
18. "A voice was heard in Ramah, great lamentation and weeping and mourning, Rachel crying for her children, and she refused to be comforted because they are not."
¶19. Now, after Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream in Egypt,
20. saying, "Rise up. Take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead."
21. And when he arose, he took the child and his mother and went into the land of Israel.
22. But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in the place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he returned to the region of Galilee.
23. And he came and settled in a city called Nazareth. Thus was fulfilled what was said by the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."
¶1. In those days, John the Baptizer appeared, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2. and saying, "Repent! The kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
3. This is what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet: "A voice crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord! Make His paths straight!'"
4. This John had his clothing of camel hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5. Then began Jerusalem and all Judea, as well as the whole region around Jordan, to go out to him
6. and were being baptized in the Jordan by him, confessing their sins.
7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he told them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8. Bear fruit worthy of repentance!
9. And don't think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones!
10. Already, the ax is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree, therefore, not bearing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire!
11. I baptize you with water upon repentance, but after me is coming one who is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove. He will baptize you with holy Spirit!
12. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean what he has threshed, and gather his wheat into the storehouse, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire!"
¶13. Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
14. But John tried to stop him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?"
15. Jesus answered and said to him, "Let it be for now, for it is right that we fulfill all righteousness this way." Then he allowed him to be baptized.
16. And after he was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God, in the form of a dove, descending and coming upon him.
17. And behold, a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
¶1. Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the Accuser[4].
2. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry.
3. And the Tempter came to him and said, "Since you are a son of God[5], command these stones to become loaves of bread."
4. But he answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.'"
5. Then the Accuser carried him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
6. and he said to him, "Since you are a son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, 'He will command His angels concerning you, and they will bear you up with their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"
7. Jesus told him, "It is also written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
8. Again, the Accuser carried 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 things will I give you if you fall down and worship me."
10. Then Jesus told him, "Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, 'The Lord your God shall you worship, and Him only shall you serve.'"
11. Then the Accuser left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.
¶12. Now, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested,[6] he departed into Galilee,
13. and leaving Nazareth, he went and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
14. so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:
15. "O land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles!
16. The people who sit in darkness saw a great light, and for those sitting in the region and shadow of death, a light has dawned."
¶17. From that time, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent! The kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
18. And walking beside 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'll make you fishers of men."
20. And they, immediately leaving the nets, followed him.
21. And going on from there, he saw two other brothers, Jacobus[7] the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
22. And they, immediately leaving the boat and their father, followed him.
¶23. And Jesus traveled about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
24. And news about him spread throughout Syria, and they brought him all who were sick with various diseases or tormented with pains, and the demon-possessed, and lunatics, and paralytics, and he healed them.
25. And large multitudes followed him from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
¶1. And seeing the multitudes, he went up on the mountain, and after 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 they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7. Blessed are they who show mercy, for they shall be shown mercy.
8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
10. Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11. Blessed are you, when people revile and persecute you, and say every evil thing against you falsely, for my sake.
12. Rejoice, and be glad! Your reward is great in heaven, for that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
¶13. "You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor, with what will it be salted? It's good for nothing but to be cast out and trampled on by men.
14. You are the light of the world; a city set on a hill can't be hidden.
15. Nor do people light a candle and then place it under a bushel, but on a lampstand, and then it gives light to all who are in the house.
16. Let your light shine like that before men so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
¶17. "Don't think that I've come to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18. Truly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one iota or serif of the law will by any means pass away until all things have come to pass.
19. So, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches men to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20. For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
¶21. "You've heard that it was said to those of ancient time, 'You shall not murder,' and 'Whoever commits murder will be liable to the judgment.'
22. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother without cause will be liable to the Judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!'[8] will be accountable to the Council, and whoever says, 'You fool!' is in danger of fiery Gehenna[9].
23. So, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24. leave your gift there before the altar and go your way; be reconciled to your brother first, and then come offer your gift.
25. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are in the way with him, lest your adversary hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
26. Truly, I tell you, you will by no means come out of there until you've paid the last penny.
¶27. "You've heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
28. But I say to you that every man who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and cast it away from you! It's better for you that one of your members perish, and not that your whole body be cast into Gehenna.
30. Or if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you! It's better for you that one of your members perish, and not that your whole body be cast into Gehenna.
¶31. "It's been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce,'
32. but I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except in the case of immorality, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman is committing adultery.
¶33. "Again, you've heard that it was said to those in the past, 'You shall not forswear yourself, but you shall pay your vows to the Lord.'
34. But I say to you, do not swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne,
35. nor by the earth, for it is His footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36. Don't even swear by your own head, for you can't make one hair white or black.
37. But let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'. Whatever is more than these comes from evil.
¶38. "You've heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'
39. But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. On the contrary, whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.
40. And to him who would sue you to take away your tunic, give him your cloak, too.
41. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go on with him two.
42. Give to him who asks you, and don't turn him away who wants to borrow from you.
¶43. "You've heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44. But I say to you, love your enemies; bless those who curse you; do good to those who hate you; and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
45. so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun to rise upon the evil and the good, and sends rain upon the just and the unjust.
46. Now, if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't even tax collectors do that?
47. And if you greet only your friends, what are you doing more than others? Don't even tax collectors do like that?
48. So, be perfect, just as your Father who is in heaven is perfect."
¶1. "Beware not to do your alms before men, to be seen by them; otherwise, you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2. So, whenever you give alms, don't sound a trumpet before you the way the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets so that they might be honored by men. Truly, I tell you, they have their reward.
3. But when you are giving alms, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing
4. so that your almsgiving might be in secret. And then your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you in the open."
¶5. "And when you pray, don't be like the hypocrites, for they like standing up to pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly, I tell you, they have their reward.
6. But when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have locked your door to pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you in the open.
7. And when you pray, don't rattle on like the Gentiles. They think that with their many words they will gain a hearing.
8. Don't be like them; your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
¶9. "So then, you pray like this: 'Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name.
10. Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11. Give us today our daily bread,
12. and forgive us our debts even as we forgive our debtors.
13. And don't lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One. The kingdom, and the power, and the glory are yours forever. Amen.'
¶14. "You see, if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,
15. but if you don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
¶16. "When you fast, don't be like the gloomy-faced hypocrites who disfigure their faces so that they might appear to men to be fasting. Truly, I tell you, they have their reward.
17. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face
18. so that you don't appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in secret, and then your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
¶19. "Don't lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay ruin, and where thieves break in and steal,
20. but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay ruin, and where thieves don't break in or steal.
21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, if your eye is single, your whole body will be full of light;
23. but if your eye is evil, your whole body will be dark. Therefore, if the light that is in you becomes darkness, how great that darkness will be!
24. No one can serve two masters; either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon.
25. That is why I say to you, don't be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26. Observe the birds of the air, that they neither sow nor reap, nor do they gather into barns, and yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you more valuable than they?
27. Who among you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan?
28. And so, why do you worry about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither labor nor spin,
29. but I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.
30. And if God clothes like this the grass of the field which is here today, but tomorrow is thrown into a furnace, how much more you, little-faiths?
31. So, don't worry, saying, 'What are we going to eat?' or 'What are we going to drink?' or 'What are we going to wear?'
32. The Gentiles seek after all these things, but your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34. So, don't worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient to the day is its trouble."
¶1. "Stop judging, so that you won't be judged,
2. for with what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and by what measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
3. Why do you look at the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the log in your own eye?
4. Or how will you tell your brother, 'Let me take the splinter out of your eye,' and behold, a log is in your own eye?
5. Hypocrite! Take the log out of your eye first, and then you'll see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother's eye!
¶6. "Don't give what is holy to dogs, and don't cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them with their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
¶7. "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall 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. What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10. Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
11. If you, then, being evil, know 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. Whatever you want men to do to you, do likewise to them, for this is the law and the prophets.
¶13. "Enter by the strait gate because the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter by it.
14. How strait the gate and narrow the road that leads to life! And few there are who find it.
¶15. "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16. You'll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes? or figs from thistles?
17. Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18. A good tree can't bear bad fruit; neither can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19. Every tree that doesn't bear good fruit is cut down and cast into a fire.
20. So then, by their fruit, you will know them.
¶21. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord! Lord! Haven't we prophesied in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and performed many miracles in your name?'
23. Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you. Go away from me, you who work lawlessness!'
¶24. "Everyone, then, who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on rock,
25. and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it didn't fall, for it was founded on rock.
26. And everyone who hears these words of mine but does not do them will be likened to a foolish man who built his house on sand,
27. and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was its fall."
¶28. And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, the multitudes were astonished at his doctrine,
29. for he taught them as one with authority, and not as the scribes.
¶1. After he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him,
2. and behold, a leper came and bowed before him, saying, "Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean."
3. And Jesus stretched forth his hand and touched him, saying, "I do want to. Be clean!" And his leprosy was immediately cleansed.
4. And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one! But go! Show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."
¶5. Now, when he had entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him, pleading with him,
6. and saying, "Sir, my boy is lying at home paralyzed, terribly tormented."
7. And Jesus said to him, "I will come heal him."
8. And the centurion answered and said, "Sir, I am not worthy for you to enter under my roof. But just speak the word, and my boy will be healed.
9. For I, myself, am also 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 slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."
10. When Jesus heard this, he marveled, and he said to those who were following him, "Truly, I tell you, I have not found in Israel such great faith.
11. And I tell you that many will come from east and west, and will dine with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,
12. but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place!"
13. Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! And as you have believed, let it be to you." And his boy was healed in that hour.
¶14. And when Jesus went into the home of Peter, he saw his mother-in-law was laid down, burning with fever,
15. and he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she arose and began to wait on him.
16. And when it was dusk, they brought to him many demon-possessed people, and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
17. so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: "He took our sicknesses and bore our diseases."
¶18. Now, when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave order to depart to the other side.
19. And one scribe approached and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
20. But Jesus said to him, "The foxes have dens, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head."
21. Then another of his disciples said to him, "Master, allow me first to leave and bury my father."
22. But Jesus said to him, "You follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead."
¶23. And when he had boarded the boat, his disciples followed him.
24. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves, but he was sleeping.
25. And the disciples went to him and got him up, saying, "Master, save us! We're about to die!"
26. But he said to them, "Why are you afraid, little-faiths?" Then, getting up, he rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
27. And the men were amazed, saying, "What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"
¶28. And when he had come to the other side, to the territory of the Gergesenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so extremely fierce that no one could travel along that road.
29. And behold, they cried aloud, saying, "What have we to do with you, Jesus, son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"
30. Now, at a distance from them, a herd of many swine were feeding.
31. And the demons began pleading with him, saying, "If you cast us out, O let us go into the herd of swine!"
32. And he said to them, "Go!" Then they came out, and went into the herd of swine. And behold, the entire herd of swine rushed down the steep slope into the sea and perished in the waters.
33. And the herdsmen fled, and when they went into the city, they reported everything, especially the things concerning those possessed by demons.
34. And behold, the whole city came out to meet with Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their borders.
¶1. And so, having boarded the boat, he crossed over and came to his own city.
2. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, laid on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, told the paralytic, "Take heart, son. Your sins are forgiven."
3. And behold, some of the scribes said within themselves, "This man is blaspheming!"
4. But knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts?
5. For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?
6. But that you might know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins — " then he said to the paralytic, "Get up! Take up your bed, and go to your house."
7. And he got up and went away to his house.
8. Now, when the multitude saw this, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
¶9. And as Jesus was passing on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax station, and he said to him, "You follow me." And he rose up and followed him.
10. And it came to pass that as he was reclining for a meal in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and reclined with Jesus and his disciples.
11. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with tax collectors and sinners?"
12. But Jesus, hearing that, told them, "Those who are well don't need a doctor, but those who are sick.
13. But go learn what it means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
¶14. The disciples of John then approached him, saying, "Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?"
15. And Jesus said to them, "Can the bridegroom's attendants mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken from them, and then, they'll fast.
¶16. No one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth onto an old garment because the patch tears away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.
17. Neither do they pour new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wineskins burst, and the wine is spilled and the wineskins are ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
¶18. While he was saying these things to them, behold, a certain ruler came and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter is even now dead. But, come! Lay your hand on her, and she will live!"
19. So Jesus rose up, and he followed him, and his disciples.
20. And behold, a woman who had suffered from bleeding twelve years came up from behind and touched the tassel of his garment.
21. For she was saying within herself, "If I just touch his garment, I'll be healed."
22. Then, Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, "Take heart, daughter. Your faith has made you whole." And the woman was made whole from that hour.
23. And when Jesus went into the ruler's home and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion,
24. he told them, "Go away. The little girl isn't dead, but is asleep." And they laughed at him.
25. And when the crowd was put out, he went in and took her hand, and the little girl rose up.
26. And this report spread throughout all that region.
¶27. And as Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying out and saying, "Have mercy on us, O son of David!"
28. And when he had entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I can do this?" They said to him, "Yes, sir."
29. Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith, let it be to you!"
30. And their eyes were opened. But Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See to it that no one knows!"
31. Nevertheless, when they went out, they spread his fame throughout that region.
¶32. Now, as they were leaving, behold, they brought to him a man who was dumb, being demon-possessed,
33. and after the demon was cast out, the dumb man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, "The like has never been seen in Israel!"
34. But the Pharisees were saying, "He is casting out demons by the ruler of demons."
¶35. And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
36. And seeing the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them because they were weary and downcast, like sheep with no shepherd.
37. At that time, he told his disciples, "The harvest is certainly great, but the workers, few.
38. So then, pray to the Lord of the harvest, that He might send workers out into His harvest."
¶1. And when he had called for his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.
2. Now, these are the names of the twelve apostles:
First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; Jacobus, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3. Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; Jacobus, the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, who is called Thaddeus;
4. Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
¶5. These twelve Jesus sent out, after he had charged them, saying, "Don't go out to the way of the Gentiles, and don't go into a city of the Samaritans.
6. Go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7. And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
8. Heal the sick; cleanse the lepers; cast out demons. Freely you've received; freely give.
9. Don't provide for yourselves gold, or silver, or copper in your belts,
10. neither a bag for the road, nor two tunics, nor shoes, nor staves, for the workman is worthy of his fare.
11. Into whatever city or village you enter, inquire as to who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave.
12. And when you enter into a house, greet it.
13. And if the household is indeed worthy, your peace will come upon it, but if it is unworthy, your peace will return to you.
14. And whoever will not receive you or hear your words, when you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet.
15. Truly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that city.
¶16. "Behold, I'm sending you away as sheep in the midst of wolves; so, be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
17. Beware of men, for they'll hand you over to the courts, and they'll flog you in their synagogues,
18. and you'll be brought before governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them, and to the Gentiles.
19. But when they hand you over, don't be anxious about how or what you'll speak, for it will be given to you in that hour what you are to say.
20. For it isn't you who speak, but your Father's Spirit in you that speaks.
¶21. "Brother will betray brother to death, and father, child, and children will rise up against parents and kill them.
22. You'll be hated by everyone because of my name, but he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.
23. When they persecute you in one city, flee to another; for truly, I tell you, it is certain that you'll not finish with the cities of Israel before the Son of man comes.
24. A disciple is not above the teacher, neither is a slave above his master.
25. It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a slave like his master. If men have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household?
26. So, don't be afraid of them, for there's nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or secret that will not be made known.
¶27. "What I say to you in the dark, speak in the light, and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops!
28. Don't be afraid of those who kill the body but can't kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
29. Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? And yet, not one of them falls to the ground without the consent of your Father.
30. Even the hairs of your head are all numbered to you!
31. So, don't be afraid. You're more valuable than many sparrows.
¶32. "Whosoever confesses me[10] before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.
33. But whoever denies me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.
¶34. "Don't suppose that I came to bring peace on earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35. I came to divide 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 members 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 after 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 the One who sent me.
41. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward.
42. And whoever gives to one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, I tell you truly, he will by no means lose his reward."
¶1. And it came to pass, when Jesus finished charging his twelve disciples, he passed on from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
¶2. Now, while in prison, having heard of the works of Christ, John sent two of his disciples
3. and said to him, "Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for a different man?"
4. Then, Jesus answered and said to them, "Go tell John what you are hearing and seeing:
5. the blind receive sight, and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor are given good news.
6. And blessed is whoever is not offended in me."
¶7. As these men took their leave, Jesus began to say to the multitudes about John, "What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
8. But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft garments? Behold, those who wear soft things are in the houses of kings!
9. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.
10. For this is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you!'
11. Truly, I tell you, among those born of women, there has not arisen a greater man than John the Baptizer; and yet, the least one in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12. The kingdom of heaven is being earnestly sought, from the days of John the Baptizer until now, and the forceful are seizing upon it.[11]
13. All the prophets and the law prophesied until John,
14. and if you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah who is to come.
15. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
¶16. To what, now, shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in marketplaces and calling out to their playmates,
17. and saying, 'We piped for you, but you didn't dance! We sang a dirge for you, but you didn't mourn.'
18. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they are saying, 'He has a demon.'
19. And the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold! A gluttonous man and a drunkard! A friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children."
¶20. Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles were performed because they did not repent.
21. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22. Nevertheless, I tell you, it will be more tolerable in the Day of Judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you!
23. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted up to heaven! You shall be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done among those in Sodom, they would have remained until this day.
24. Nevertheless, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the Day of Judgment than for you!"
¶25. At that time, Jesus answered and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them to babes.
26. Yes, Father, for such was pleasing in your sight.
¶27. "All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one really knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone really know the Father except the Son and he to whom the Son may choose to reveal Him.
28. Come to me, all who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest!
29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls,
30. for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
¶1. During that time, Jesus went on the Sabbath through the grain fields, and his disciples grew hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat them.
2. But when the Pharisees saw it, they told him, "Behold! Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath!"
3. Then he said to them, "Haven't you read what David did when he was hungry, he and those with him,
4. how he entered into the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which wasn't lawful for him to eat, nor for those with him, but only for the priests?
5. Or haven't you read in the law that on the Sabbath day, the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless?
6. But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
7. If you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.
8. The Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath."
¶9. And going on from there, he went into their synagogue,
10. and behold, a man was there with a withered hand. And they put a question to him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?", that they might bring an accusation against him.
11. And he said to them, "What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it should fall into a pit on the Sabbath, would not take hold of it and lift it up?
12. And how much more valuable is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
13. At that point, he told the man, "Stretch out your hand!" And he stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other one.
14. But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.
¶15. Now, when Jesus learned of this, he withdrew from there, and large crowds followed him, and he healed them all,
16. and he charged them, that they not make him known,
17. so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:
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 decree judgment for the Gentiles.
19. He will not quarrel, nor will he cry aloud, 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, until he send forth justice in victory.
21. And in his name will the Gentiles hope."
¶22. At that time, a demon-possessed man was brought to him, blind and dumb, and he healed him, so that the blind and dumb man both spoke and saw.
23. And all the people were amazed and said, "Isn't this the Son of David?"[12]
24. But when the Pharisees heard that, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons."
25. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
26. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
27. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges.
28. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you!
29. How can anyone enter into the house of the strong man and plunder his goods, except he first bind the strong man? 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. So then, I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
32. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him, but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this present world or in the one to come.
33. Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.
34. Offspring of vipers! How can you, being evil, say good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
35. The good man takes out good things from the good treasure, and the evil man takes out evil things from the evil treasure.
36. I tell you, every worthless thing that men may say, they will give account for it in the Day of Judgment.
37. By your words will you be justified, and by your words will you be condemned."
¶38. Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."
39. But he answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given to it, other than the sign of Jonah the prophet.
40. For as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
41. The men of Nineveh will stand up in the Judgment against this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
42. The Queen of the South will rise up in the Judgment against 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 the unclean spirit comes out of a man, it travels through waterless places seeking rest, and it does not find it.
44. Then it says, 'I'll go back to my house that I came out of.' And when it comes, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean, and put in order.
45. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they come in and dwell there. And so, the last state of that man is worse than the first. That's how it will be with this evil generation."
¶46. All the while that he was speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and brothers had been standing outside, wanting to speak to him.
47. Someone said to him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers have been standing outside wanting to speak to you."
48. But he answered and said to the one who had spoken to him, "Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?"
49. And extending his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Behold, my mother and my brothers!
50. For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."
¶1. That same day, Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea,
2. and such large crowds were gathered around him that he boarded a boat to sit in, and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
¶3. And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower went out to sow.
4. And during his sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and gobbled them up.
5. But other fell on rocky places where they didn't have much soil, and they immediately sprang up, since they had no depth of soil.
6. But after the sun arose, they were scorched, and because they had no root, they withered.
7. But other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them out.
8. But other fell onto good soil and bore fruit, some a hundredfold, and some sixty, and some thirty.
9. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
¶10. And the disciples approached and said to him, "Why do you talk to them in parables?"
11. Then he answered and said to them, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to those, it is not given.
12. Whoever has, to him will be given, and he'll have an abundance, but whoever doesn't have, even what he has will be taken from him.
13. This is why I speak to them in parables, so that 'seeing, they do not see, and hearing, they do not hear, nor do they understand.'
14. And in them is Isaiah's prophecy fulfilled which says, 'You shall hear, but you will not understand, and you shall see, but you will not perceive,
15. for the heart of this people is hardened, and they hear with dull ears and they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand in their heart, and repent, and I heal them.'
16. Your eyes are blessed because they see, and your ears, because they hear.
17. Truly, I tell you that many prophets and righteous men longed to see the things you're seeing, and didn't see them, and to hear the things you're hearing, and didn't hear them.
¶18. So, learn the parable of the sower.
19. Everyone who hears the word of the kingdom and doesn't understand, the Evil One comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one who received the seed along the path.
20. But the one who receives seed in rocky places, he is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,
21. yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he's offended.
22. But as for the one who receives seed among the thorns, he is the one who hears the word, but the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
23. But as for the one who receives seed in good soil, he is the one who hears the word and understands, who indeed bears fruit and produces, this one a hundredfold, that one sixty, and another thirty."
¶24. Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,
25. but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away.
26. And when the crop sprouted and produced fruit, then the tares also appeared.
27. And the landowner's slaves came to him and said, 'Master, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did the tares come from?'
28. He said to them, 'An enemy did this.' Then the slaves said to him, 'So, do you want us to go out and pull them up?'
29. But he said, 'No, lest in gathering up the tares, you uproot the wheat with them.
30. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest-time, I will tell the reapers, "Gather up the tares first and bind them into bundles to burn them up; then, gather the wheat into my storehouse." ' "
¶31. Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field,
32. which indeed is the smallest of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is the greatest of garden herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
¶33. Another parable he spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures[13] of flour until it was all leavened."
¶34. All these things Jesus spoke to the multitudes in parables, and without a parable, he would not speak to them,
35. so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world."
¶36. When he had sent the crowds away, Jesus went home. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain for us the parable of the tares of the field."
37. He answered and said to them, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of man;
38. the field is the world; as for the good seed, these are the children of the kingdom; the tares are the children of the Evil One;
39. the enemy who sowed them is the Accuser; the harvest is the close of this age; and the reapers are angels.
40. Just as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be at the close of this age.
41. The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and those who do lawlessness,
42. and they will cast them into the furnace of fire. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!
43. Then will the righteous shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
¶44. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid, and in his joy, he goes and sells whatever he has and buys that field.
¶45. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls,
46. who, when he found one pearl of great value, went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
¶47. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and it gathered some of every sort,
48. which, after it was full, they drew onto the shore, and when they sat down, they collected the good ones into vessels, but threw the bad ones away.
49. So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will go forth and separate the evil from among the righteous,
50. and they will cast them into the furnace of fire. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!"
¶51. Jesus said to them, "Did you understand all these things?" They said to him, "Yes, Master."
52. He said to them, "Therefore, every scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out from his storeroom new and old things."
¶53. And it came to pass that when Jesus ended these parables, he moved on from there,
54. and when he came to his hometown, he taught them in their synagogue, and they were astonished and said, "Where'd he get this wisdom and miracles?
55. Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother called Mariam, and his brothers, Jacobus, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56. And his sisters, aren't they all with us? So, where'd he get all these things?"
57. And they were offended in him. Then Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown, and in his own home."
58. And he did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.
¶1. At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus,
2. and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptizer. He has risen from the dead, and that is why the miracles work in him."
3. For Herod, having arrested John, had bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,
4. for John kept telling him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."
5. And he would have put him to death, but he feared the people because they held him as a prophet.
6. Then, when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and she pleased Herod
7. so much that he swore with an oath to grant her whatever she asked.
8. And she, at the urging of her mother, said, "Give me here, on a platter, the head of John the Baptizer."
9. And the king was sad, but because of the oaths, and those feasting with him, he ordered that it be granted.
10. And he sent and beheaded John in the prison.
11. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother.
12. And his disciples came and took the body away, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
¶13. After Jesus heard the report, he withdrew from there by boat to a deserted place by himself; but when the multitudes heard of that, they followed him on foot from the cities.
14. And when Jesus came out, he saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, and he healed their sick.
¶15. Then, when evening was come, his disciples came to him, saying, "This is a isolated place, and the time is now past. Send the multitudes away so they may go to the villages and buy food for themselves.
16. But Jesus said to them, "They don't need to leave; you give them something to eat."
17. But they told him, "We don't have anything here but five loaves and two fish!"
18. He said, "Bring them here to me."
19. And after giving order for the multitudes to be seated for a meal on the grass, when he had taken the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up toward heaven, blessed them, and when he broke the loaves, he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples, to the multitudes.
20. And they all ate and were filled. And they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve small baskets full.
21. Now, those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
¶22. And immediately, Jesus had the disciples to board the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side while he dismissed the crowds.
23. And after he sent the crowds away, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Then, when evening was come, he was there alone.
24. By this time, the boat was in the middle of the sea, being battered by waves because the wind was against them.
25. But in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
26. And when the disciples saw him on the sea, walking, they were terrified and said, "It's a ghost!" And they cried out in fear.
27. But immediately, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart! It's me! Don't be afraid."
28. Peter answered him and said, "Master, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water!"
29. And he said, "Come!" So, Peter came down out of the boat and walked on the water to go to Jesus.
30. But when he saw the fierce wind, he was frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Master, save me!"
31. And Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and took hold of him, and he said to him, "Little-faith, why did you waver?"
32. And when they boarded the boat, the wind ceased.
33. Then those who were in the boat came and bowed before him, saying, "You really are God's Son!"
¶34. And when they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret,
35. and when the men of that place recognized him, they sent word all around that area, and they brought to him all who were sick.
36. And they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment, and as many as touched it were made completely whole.
¶1. At that time, the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came up to Jesus and said,
2. "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they eat bread!"
3. He answered and said to them, "And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
4. God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'He who curses father or mother shall be put to death!'
5. But you! You say, 'He is innocent, whoever says to his father or his mother, "Whatever I have by which you might have been helped is a donation for the temple," ' and he does not honor his father or his mother at all!
6. And so, you nullify God's commandment for the sake of your tradition!
7. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you when he said,
8. 'This people draws near to me with their mouth, and with their lips they honor me, but their heart is far from me.
9. In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines commandments of men.'"
¶10. Then he called the multitude to him and told them, "Listen, and understand!
11. It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth! That defiles a man!"
12. Then his disciples came to him and said, "Did you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard that?"
13. But he answered and said, "Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted.
14. Leave them! They are blind guides of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."
15. Then Peter answered and said to him, "Explain this parable to us."
16. But Jesus said, "Are you still without understanding, too?
17. Don't you yet see that everything that goes into the mouth passes on to the belly and then is discharged into the latrine?
18. But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart; those things defile a man!
19. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, immoral acts, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.
20. These are the things that defile a man. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."
¶21. And when Jesus left there, he withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.
22. And behold, a Canaanite woman from those parts came and began crying out to him, saying, "Have mercy on me, sir, O son of David! My daughter is badly demon-possessed."
23. But he answered her not a word. Then his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Make her go away! She's crying after us!"
24. He answered and said, "I am sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
25. Then she came and prostrated herself before him, saying, "Sir, help me!"
26. But he answered and said, "It's not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
27. Then she said, "That's right, Master. And yet, the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
28. Jesus then answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour.
¶29. And going on from there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up on a mountain and sat down there.
30. And large crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the dumb, the deformed, and many others, and they laid them at Jesus' feet, and he healed them.
31. And the people marveled when they saw the dumb speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.
¶32. Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I feel compassion for the people because they've continued with me for three days now, and they don't have anything to eat, and I don't want to send them away hungry, or they might give out on the way."
33. And his disciples said to him, "Where in such a desolate place are we to find enough bread to satisfy such a large multitude?"
34. And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish."
35. Then he gave order for the crowds to sit down on the ground.
36. And then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and after he gave thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples, to the multitude,
37. and they all ate and were filled. Then they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full.
38. Now, those eating were four thousand men, besides women and children.
39. And after sending the people away, he boarded the boat and went to the region of Magdala.
¶1. And the Pharisees and Sadducees came up to him, and testing him, they asked him to show them a sign out of heaven.
2. But he answered and said to them, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.'
3. And in the morning, 'Today will be stormy, for the sky is red and lowering.' Hypocrites! You certainly understand how to read the face of the sky, but you can't read the signs of the times!
4. An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet." And he left them and went away.
¶5. Now, when his disciples came to the other side, they had forgotten to bring bread.
6. Then Jesus told them, "Watch out, and be wary of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees."
7. Then they began talking among themselves, saying, "We didn't bring bread."
8. But when Jesus knew this, he said to them, "Little-faiths, why are you saying to one another that you didn't bring bread?
9. Don't you yet know, or remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many little baskets you took up?
10. Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many large baskets you took up?
11. How is it that you don't understand I wasn't talking to you about bread when I told you to be wary of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?"
12. Then they understood that he was not saying to be wary of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
¶13. After Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, "Who are men saying that I, the Son of man, am?
14. And they said, "Some say John the Baptizer; others, Elijah; but some others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15. He said to them, "And you? Who do you say I am?"
16. Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!"
17. And Jesus answered him, "You are a blessed man, Simon bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal that to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
18. And I tell you that you are Peter[14], and upon this rock I will build my Assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
19. And 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 straitly commanded his disciples that they should tell no one that he is Jesus the Messiah.
¶21. From that time, Jesus started showing his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and leading priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day, be raised up.
22. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid,[15] Master! This shall never happen to you!"
23. But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You're a stumbling block to me! Your mind isn't on the things of God, but the things of men."
¶24. Jesus then said to his disciples, "If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
26. For how does a man benefit if he should gain the whole world, but his soul is forfeited? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
27. The Son of man will come in the glory of his Father, with His angels, and then will he render to each one according to what he has done.
28. Truly, I tell you, there are some standing here that will not taste of death until they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom!"
¶1. And after six days, Jesus took Peter, and Jacobus, and his brother John, and he led them up on a high mountain by themselves,
2. and he was transformed before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as the light.
3. And, behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.
4. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here. If you want, we will make three tabernacles here; you one, and Moses one, and one for Elijah!"
5. While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and then, behold, a voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!"
6. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were very afraid.
7. But Jesus came over and touched them, and said, "Get up, and don't be afraid."
8. And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus, alone.
9. And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of man is raised from the dead."
10. And his disciples questioned him, saying, "Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah has to come first?"
11. Jesus answered and said to them, "Elijah certainly is coming first, and he will restore all things.
12. But I tell you that Elijah already came, and they didn't recognize him, but did with him whatever they pleased, and likewise, the Son of man will also suffer at their hands."
13. Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them about John the Baptizer.
¶14. And when they came to the multitude, a man approached him, kneeling down before him, and saying,
15. "Sir, have mercy on my son, for he's an epileptic, and he is suffering terribly. Often, he falls into fire, and often into water.
16. And I brought him to your disciples, but they weren't able to heal him."
17. Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation! How long shall I be with you! How long shall I put up with you! Bring him here to me!"
18. And Jesus rebuked it, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was healed from that hour.
¶19. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, "Why couldn't we cast it out?"
20. Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief. Truly, I tell you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there!' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.
21. But this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting."
¶22. While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus told them, "The Son of man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men,
23. and they will kill him, but on the third day, he will be raised." And they were very sad.
¶24. When they went to Capernaum, those who collected double-drachma[16] went up to Peter and said, "Does not your Teacher pay the double-drachma?"
25. He said, "Yes." But when he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "Simon, what do you think? From whom do kings of the earth take customs or poll-tax? From their children or from others?"
26. Peter said to him, "From others." Jesus said to him, "Well, then, the children are free.
27. But lest we be a stumbling block to them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you've opened its mouth, you'll find a stater;[17] take that and give it to them for me and you."
¶1. At that time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Really, who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2. And when Jesus had called a little child to him, he stood it in their midst,
3. and he said, "Truly, I tell you, unless you are converted and become like little children, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4. Whoever humbles himself like this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,
5. and whoever receives one such child in my name, receives me.
6. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin — it is better for him that a millstone be hung on his neck and he be drowned in the depth of the sea.
7. Woe to the world because of stumbling-blocks! It is necessary for stumbling-blocks to come, but woe to that man by whom the stumbling-block comes!
¶8. If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, chop them off and cast them from you. It's better for you to enter into life lame or maimed than to be cast into the eternal fire with two hands or two feet.
9. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and cast it from you. It's better for you to enter into life with one eye, than to be cast into fiery Gehenna with two eyes.
¶10. Beware that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven, their angels are always watching the face of my Father who is in heaven.
11. For the Son of man came to save that which has been lost.
12. What do you think? If a certain man had a hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray, doesn't he leave the ninety and nine and go up on the mountains to search for the one that wandered away?
13. And if he finds it, I tell you truly that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety and nine that are not gone astray.
14. Just 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 won your brother.
16. But if he doesn't listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two witnesses, or three, every word might be established.
17. And if he won't listen to them, speak to the Assembly; and if he won't listen to the Assembly either, let him be just like a Gentile or a publican to you.
¶18. Truly, I tell 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 tell you truly that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything at all that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.
20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there, in their midst."
¶21. Then Peter came to him and said, "Master, how many times shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?"
22. Jesus said to him, "I do not tell you seven times, but seventy times seven.
23. For the kingdom of heaven is like a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants,
24. and when he began to settle them, one man was brought to him who owed him a zillion talents.
25. And when he could not repay the debt, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife and children and whatever he owned, and payment to be made.
26. Then, falling down, the servant prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Master, be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.'
27. And moved with compassion, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
28. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii[18], and he grabbed him and choked him, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'
29. And his fellow slave, falling down at his feet, pleaded with him, saying, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay you.'
30. But he would not; instead, he went and threw him into prison until he repaid the debt.
31. And when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were very sad, and they came and reported to their master all that had taken place.
32. Then, when his master had summoned him, he said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you that entire debt when you begged me.
33. And should you not have shown mercy to your fellow servant, the same way I showed mercy to you!'
34. Then his master, furious, turned him over to the torturers until he repaid all that was owed him.
35. This is how my heavenly Father will also deal with you unless each of you, from your hearts, forgives his brother their trespasses."
¶1. And it came to pass, when Jesus finished these sayings, he left Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan,
2. and large multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.
3. And the Pharisees came up to him, testing him, and saying to him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"
4. But he answered and said to them, "Haven't you read that He who made them in the beginning 'made them male and female'?
5. And He said, 'For this reason shall a man forsake his father and mother and be joined with his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.'
6. So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. So then, what God has joined together, let not man separate."
7. They said to him, "Why, then, did Moses command the husband to give her a certificate of separation, and divorce her?"
8. He said to them, "Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts, but in the beginning, it wasn't like that.
9. And I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another woman is committing adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman is committing adultery."
10. His disciples said to him, "If that's the way it is for a man with wife, it's better not to marry."
11. But he said to them, "Not everyone attains to this state; just those to whom it is given.
12. 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 made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who can attain to it, let him attain to it."
¶13. At that time, little children were brought to him, that he might lay hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.
14. Then Jesus said, "Let the children come, and don't stop them from coming to me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
15. And when he had laid hands on them, he went on from there.
16. And behold, a man approached him and said, "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
17. But he said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except One, that is, God. But if you would enter into life, keep the commandments.
18. He said to him, "Which?" 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, "I have kept all these things from my youth. What do I yet lack?"
21. Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go away, sell your possessions, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and then come follow me."
22. But the young man, upon hearing this saying, went away feeling heavy, for he had many possessions.
¶23. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I tell you that a rich man will hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24. Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
25. Then having heard this, his disciples were utterly astounded, saying, "Well then, who can be saved?"
26. And with an intense look, Jesus said to them, "With men, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible."
27. Then Peter answered and said to him, "Behold, we've left everything and followed you! So, what will happen to us?"
28. Jesus said to them, "Truly, I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man sits down on his glorious throne, you, yourselves, shall also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29. And everyone who has left homes, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake shall receive a hundredfold, and then shall inherit eternal life.
30. Many who are first shall be last, and the last, first."
¶1. "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard,
2. and when he agreed with the workers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3. Then, going out about the third hour[19], he saw others standing idle in the market place,
4. and he said to them, 'You go into the vineyard, too, and whatever is right, I will give you'.
5. So, off they went. About the sixth and the ninth hour, he went out again and did the same.
6. And going out about the eleventh hour, he found other men standing idle, and he said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?'
7. They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He told them, 'Go into the vineyard, too, and whatever is right, you'll receive.'
8. Then, when evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his steward, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.'
9. When those who were hired about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.
10. And when the first came, they assumed that they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius.
11. And when they received it, they began to murmur against the householder,
12. saying, 'These last worked one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden and heat of the day!'
13. Then he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
14. Take what belongs to you, and go! I want to give to this last the same as to you.
15. Is it not legal for me to do what I will with what is mine? Is your eye evil because I am good?'
16. Thus, the last shall be first and the first last, for many are called but few are chosen."
17. And as Jesus went up to Jerusalem, on the way, he took the twelve disciples off by themselves and said to them,
18. "Behold, we're going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death
19. and turn him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify him, and on the third day, he'll rise again."
¶20. At that time, the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached him with her sons, bowing down and asking something of him.
21. He said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right hand and one on your left, in your kingdom."
22. But Jesus answered and said, "You don't know what you're asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I'm baptized with?" They said to him, "We are able!"
23. And he said to them, "You will surely drink my cup, and you will be baptized with the baptism that I'm baptized with, but to sit on my right or my left isn't mine to give; it's for those for whom it is prepared by my Father."
24. And when the ten heard this, they were indignant against the two brothers.
25. But Jesus called them near and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men bear heavy rule over them.
26. It is not to be that way among you; on the contrary, whoever would be great among you shall be your minister,
27. and whoever wants to be first among you, let him become your slave,
28. just as the Son of man didn't come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
¶29. As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him,
30. and behold, two blind men sitting beside the road heard that Jesus was passing by, and they cried out, saying, "Sir, have mercy on us! O Son of David!"
31. But the crowd rebuked them, to make them quiet, but they cried out even more, saying, "Sir, have mercy on us! O Son of David!"
32. And Jesus stopped, and called them, and he asked, "What do you want me to do for you?"
33. They said to him, "Sir, that our eyes might be opened."
34. And Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
¶1. And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethsphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2. telling them, "Go to the village that's before you, and immediately, you'll find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.
3. And if anyone says something to you, then you say, 'The Master has need of them.' Then, immediately, he will send them."
4. (All this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying,
5. "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold! Your King is coming to you, lowly and mounted on a donkey and a colt, the foal of an ass.")
6. So, the disciples went, and they did just as Jesus had instructed them.
7. They brought the donkey and the colt, and they laid their garments on them, and he sat upon them.
8. Most of the multitude strewed their own garments in the road, but others began cutting branches off the trees and spreading them in the road.
9. Then the crowds who were going before him, and those following, kept on crying out, saying, "Hosannah to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosannah in the highest!"
10. And when he had entered into Jerusalem, all the city was shaken, saying, "Who is this man?"
11. The multitudes kept saying, "This is Jesus, the prophet, who is from Nazareth in Galilee!"
¶12. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and he cast out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those selling 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 thieves!' "
14. Then the lame and the blind in the temple came to him, and he healed them.
15. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonders he performed, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosannah to the Son of David!" They were indignant,
16. and they said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of children and infants, you have perfected praise?'"
17. And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.
¶18. Early in the morning, as he was returning to the city, he grew hungry,
¶19. and seeing a lone fig tree by the road, he went to it, but he found nothing on it, but leaves only. And he told it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered up at once.
20. When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither up so quick?"
21. Then Jesus answered and told them, "Truly, I tell you, if you have faith and do not waver, you will not only do that to a fig tree, but if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and cast into the sea!' it will happen.
22. Everything — whatever — you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive."
¶23. And after he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him while he was teaching, saying, "By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority?"
24. Jesus answered and said to them, "I will also ask you one thing, which if you tell me, then I'll also tell you by what authority I do these things.
25. The baptism of John — where was it from? Was it from heaven or from men?" Then they began deliberating among themselves, saying, "If we say 'from heaven', he will say to us, 'Why, then, didn't you believe him?'
26. But if we say 'from men', we fear the multitude, for they all hold John as a prophet."
27. And so, answering Jesus, they said, "We do not know." And he began saying to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
28. But what do you think? A man had two children, and he went up to the first and said, 'Child, go and work today in my vineyard.'
29. And the child answered and said, 'I don't want to.' But later, he was sorry, and went.
30. Then he came to the second and said the same thing, and the second answered and said, 'I will go, sir.' And yet, he didn't go.
31. Which of the two did the father's will?" They said to him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I tell you that tax collectors and harlots shall go into the kingdom of God before you.
32. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him, but the tax collectors and harlots did believe him. And you, when you saw that, didn't repent afterwards and believe him.
¶33. "Listen to another parable. There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard, and he hedged it all around, and dug a wine-press in it, and built a watchtower, and leased it to vine-dressers, and then went on a journey.
34. Now, when the season for the fruit was at hand, he dispatched his servants to the tenants to receive his fruit.
35. And the vine-dressers seized his servants; one they beat, and one they killed, and one they stoned.
36. Again, he dispatched other servants, more than the first, and they treated them the same way.
37. Then, finally, he dispatched his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
38. But the vine-dressers, seeing the son, said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come on! Let's kill him and seize his inheritance!'
39. And they seized him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
40. So now, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"
41. They said to him, "He will brutally destroy those wicked men, and he will lease his vineyard to other tenants who will render to him the fruits in their seasons."
42. Jesus asked them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures, 'The stone that the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?
43. That's why I tell you that the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and be given to a nation that will yield its fruit.
44. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but whoever it falls on, it will crush him."
45. And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was talking about them.
46. And though wanting to arrest him, they feared the multitudes because they held him as a prophet.
¶1. And Jesus answered again and spoke to them in parables, saying,
2. "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a wedding for his son,
3. and he sent his servants out to call those who were invited to the festivities, but they didn't want to come.
4. Again, he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet!"'
5. But they cared nothing for it and went away, one to his field, another to his business,
6. and when the rest seized his servants, they abused and killed them.
7. When the king heard that, he was enraged, and sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned up their city.
8. Then he told his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.
9. Go, therefore, to where the roads exit the city and invite whoever you find to the wedding feast.'
10. Then those servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone, whoever they found, both bad and good, and the wedding banquet was filled with guests.
11. But when the king came in to view the guests, he saw there a man not wearing 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 his ministers, 'Bind his feet and hands, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness.' In that place, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth!
14. Many are called, but few are chosen."
¶15. At that time, the Pharisees went and took counsel together as to how they might entrap him in conversation.
16. And they sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and you teach the way of God truthfully, and are partial to no one, for you do not regard the status of men.
17. Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay tax to Caesar, or not?"
18. But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
19. Show me the coin for the tax." And they brought a denarius to him.
20. And he said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?"
21. They said to him, "Caesar's." Then he told them, "So, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
22. When they heard this, they were dumbfounded, and they left him and went away.
¶23. On that day, Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up to him and put a question to him,
24. saying, "Teacher, Moses said, 'If someone dies without having children, his brother is to marry his wife and raise up seed for his brother.'
25. Now, there were among us seven brothers, and after the first one married, he passed away, and having no offspring, he left his wife to his brother.
26. Likewise also the second, and the third, down to the seventh.
27. And after all of them died, the woman died, too.
28. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her."
29. Then Jesus answered and said to them, "You are deceived, not knowing the scriptures or the power of God.
30. In the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels of God in heaven.
31. But concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven't you read what was spoken to you by God,
32. 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."
33. When the multitudes heard that, they were astonished at his doctrine.
¶34. Then the Pharisees, upon hearing that he silenced the Sadducees, came together for the same purpose.
35. And one of them, an expert in the law, put a question to him, testing him, and saying,
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 first and great commandment.
39. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
40. On these two commandments hang the whole law and the prophets.
¶41. And while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus put a question to them,
42. saying, "What do you think about the Messiah? Who's son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David."
43. He said to them, "How is it, then, that David, by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord', saying,
44. 'The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool'?
45. Now, if David calls him 'Lord', how is he his son?"
46. And no one could answer him a word, neither dared anyone, from that day, to question him any more.
¶1. At that time, Jesus said to the people and to his disciples,
2. saying, "The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses' seat.
3. So, whatsoever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but do not do according to their deeds, for they say, and don't do.
4. They tie up burdens, heavy and hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves won't move them with so much as their finger.
5. They do all their works to be seen by men: they broaden their phylacteries; they make the tassels of their garments large;
6. they love the place of honor at feasts, and the seats of honor in the synagogues,
7. and salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi! Rabbi!'
8. But as for you, do not be called 'Rabbi', for one is your Teacher, the Messiah, and you all are brothers.
9. And call no one on earth your Father, for one is your Father, who is in heaven.
10. And do not be called instructors, for one is your instructor, the Messiah.
11. He who is greatest among you will be your servant.
12. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
¶13. "Woe to you scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You devour widows' houses, and for show, make long prayers! For this, you shall receive greater damnation.
14. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven before men, for you yourselves don't go in, and you don't let them enter who are going in.
¶15. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You compass land and sea to make one convert, and when he is made, you make him twice as sure of Gehenna[20] as you are.
¶16. Woe to you — blind guides! — who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound.'
17. Fools and blind! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?
18. And you say, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is upon the altar, he is bound.'
19. Fools and blind! Which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
20. He who swears by the altar, swears by it and everything on it!
21. And he who swears by the temple, swears by it and the One who dwells in it!
22. And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and Him who sits on it!
¶23. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You tithe on mint, and dill, and cummin, but you've left off the weightier matters of the law: justice, and mercy, and faith. You must do these things and not leave those off !
24. You blind guides, who strain at a gnat and swallow down a camel!
¶25. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but inside, they are full of greed and injustice.
26. You blind Pharisee! Clean first what is inside the cup and dish so that the outside of them may also be clean.
¶27. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You're like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear to be so very lovely, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.
28. And so are you! Outwardly, you appear very righteous to men, but inwardly, you're full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
¶29. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You erect the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,
30. and you say, "If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the murder of the prophets."
31. Thus you bear witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets!
32. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers!
33. You snakes! You offspring of vipers! How can you escape the damnation of Gehenna!
34. For this reason, behold, I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, and some of them you'll kill and crucify, and some of them you'll flog in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,
35. so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous to the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
36. Truly, I tell you that all these things shall come upon this generation!
¶37. O Jerusalem! Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How many times I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not!
38. Behold! Your house is left to you, desolate.
39. I tell you, you will by no means see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
¶1. And then Jesus went out and was leaving the temple, and his disciples came to him to point out to him the temple buildings.
2. But Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly, I tell you, there is not to be in this place one stone left upon another that is not torn down."
¶3. Then, as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, his disciples approached him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world?"
4. And Jesus answered and said to them, "Take heed, lest someone deceive you.
5. For many shall come, using my name, saying that I am the Messiah[21], and they shall deceive many.
6. And you'll hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you're not troubled, for all these things must happen, but the end is not yet.
7. Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines, and epidemics, and earthquakes in various places.
8. But all these things are the beginning of sorrows.
9. After that, they'll turn you over to persecution, and they'll kill you; you'll be hated by all nations because of my name.
10. And during that time, many wi
ll be offended, and betray one another, and hate one another.
11. And many false prophets will arise, and they'll deceive many.
12. And because of a great increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold,
13. but he who endures until the end, the same shall be saved.
14. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the earth for a witness to all nations; and then, the end will come.
¶15. "When you see the abomination of desolation that was spoken of through Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place (let him who is reading understand),
16. then let those in Judea flee for the mountains,
17. let not him who is on the housetop come down to take things out of his house,
18. and let not the one in the field turn back to get his garments left behind.
19. And woe to those who are with child and those who are nursing in those days!
20. And pray that your flight is not in winter, nor on a Sabbath.
21. For at that time, there will be great tribulation such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will be.
22. And except those days be shortened, no flesh will be saved. But for the elect's sake, those days will be shortened.
23. At that time, if anyone tells you 'Behold! Here is the Messiah!', or 'Here!', don't believe it.
24. For false messiahs and false prophets shall rise, and they will perform great signs and miracles, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
25. Behold, I have told you ahead of time.
26. So, if they say to you, 'Behold! He is in the wilderness!', do not go out there; or 'Behold! He is in the secret chambers!', do not believe it.
27. As lightning comes out of the east and flashes to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of man be.
28. Where the corpse is, there the vultures will be gathered together.
¶29. "But immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
30. And then the sign of the Son of man shall appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will then mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming upon clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31. And with a great sound of a trumpet, he'll send his angels, and they'll gather his elect from the four winds, from one extremity of heaven to the other.
¶32. "Now, learn a parable from the fig tree. As soon as its branch becomes tender, and it puts forth leaves, you know that summer's near.
33. Likewise, you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the gates.
34. Truly, I tell you, this generation shall not pass away until all these things take place.
35. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall never pass away.
36. But of that day and hour, no one knows, except my Father alone, not even the angels of heaven.
37. As the days of Noah were, so also shall the coming of the Son of man be.
38. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the ark,
39. and they didn't know until the flood came and carried them all away, so also will be the coming of the Son of man.
40. At that time, two men will be in the field; one who is taken away, and one who is left behind.
41. Two women will be grinding in the mill; one is taken away, and one, left behind.
42. Watch, then, for you don't know in what hour your Master is coming.
43. But this thing you know, that if the steward of the house had known in which watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
44. Then, you also be ready, for at an hour you don't expect, the Son of man is coming.
45. Who, then, is a faithful and prudent servant, whom his master put in charge over his servants, to give them food at the appropriate time?
46. Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing, when he comes.
47. Truly, I tell you that he will set him over all his possessions.
48. But if that evil servant should say in his heart, 'My master is delaying his arrival,'
49. and should begin to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunkards,
50. the master of that servant will show up on a day that he does not expect, and in an hour that he does not know,
51. and he will cut him off [22] and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. In that place, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth!"
¶1. "The kingdom of heaven at that time will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2. Five of them were wise, and the other five, foolish.
3. Those who were foolish took their lamps without taking oil with them,
4. but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6. But in the middle of the night, a loud cry was made, 'Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet him!'
7. At that, all those virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
8. Then the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out!'
9. But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there not be enough for us and you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy some for yourselves.'
10. And while they were gone away to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and then the door was shut.
11. Later, the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord! Lord! Open up for us!'
12. But he answered and said, 'Truly, I tell you, I do not know you.'
13. Watch, therefore, for you don't know the day or the hour.
¶14. "The kingdom of heaven is like a man about to go on a journey, who summoned his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
15. To one, he gave five talents, and to another, two, and to another, one, to each according to his ability, and then he departed at once on the journey.
16. The one who received the five talents went and worked with them and made another five talents.
17. Likewise, the one who had two talents gained two more.
18. But the one who received the one talent went and dug in the earth and hid his master's silver.
19. After a long time, the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20. The one who received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. Behold, I gained another five talents besides them.'
21. His master then told him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a little; I will give you charge over many things. Come into the joy of your master!'
22. And he who received two talents also approached and said, 'Master, you entrusted to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides those.'
23. His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a little; I will give you charge over many things. Come into the joy of your master!'
24. Then, the one who had received one talent approached and said, 'Master, I knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter,
25. and I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the earth. Here, you have what is yours.'
26. Then his master answered and told him, 'You wicked and lazy servant! You knew that I reap where I did not sow, and I gather where I did not scatter.
27. You ought to have deposited my silver with the bankers so that at my coming, I would receive what is mine with interest.
28. Take from him the talent, and give it to the one who has the ten talents!
29. To everyone who has, it shall be given, and he will have an abundance, and from him who doesn't have, even what he has shall be taken from him.
30. Now, cast out the unprofitable servant into outer darkness!' There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place!
¶31. "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, he will then sit on the throne of his glory,
32. and all nations will be gathered before him. And he'll separate them from one another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
33. and he'll put the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.
34. Then the king will say to those on his right hand, 'Come, O 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 to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in;
36. naked, and you clothed me; sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.'
37. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and fed you? Or thirsty, and gave you drink?
38. When did we see you a stranger and take you in? Or naked, and gave you clothes?
39. And when did we see you sick or in prison, and came to you?'
40. And the king will answer and say to them, 'Truly, I tell you that as often as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
41. Then he'll say to those on the left, 'Go away from me, you cursed, into the eternal flame that is prepared for the Accuser and his angels.
42. For I was hungry, and you did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and you did not give me to 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, these will answer saying, '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 will he answer them, saying, 'Truly, I tell you that as often as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'
46. And these will go away to everlasting punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
¶1. And it came to pass, when Jesus finished all these sayings, that he told his disciples,
2. "You know that after two days is the Passover, and then the Son of man will be handed over to be crucified."
3. At that same time, the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered in the palace of the chief priest named Caiaphas,
4. and they took counsel together as to how they might take Jesus with guile and kill him.
5. But they said, "Not during the feast, that there not be an uproar among the people."
6. Now, Jesus being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
7. and there came to him a woman with an alabaster bottle containing expensive perfume, and she poured it upon his head as he reclined at the table.
8. But when his disciples saw it, they became indignant, saying, "Why has she made this waste?
9. This perfume might have been sold for a lot of money and given to the poor!"
10. When Jesus knew it, he said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? She's done a good work for me.
11. You always have the poor with you, but you don't always have me.
12. She poured this perfume on my body to prepare me for the burial.
13. Truly, I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what she's done shall also be spoken of, in memory of her."
14. Then one of the twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
15. and said, "What will you give me, and I will give him over to you?" And they made a deal with him for thirty pieces of silver.
16. And from that time, he started looking for an opportunity to betray him.
¶17. Now, on the first day of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, "Where do you want us to get ready for you to eat the Passover?"
18. He said, "Go into the city to such and such a 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. And so, the disciples did as Jesus directed them, and they made ready the Passover.
20. Then, when it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve,
21. and as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I tell you that one of you will betray me."
22. And being very grieved, they began, each one of them, to say to him, "I'm not the one, am I, Master?"
23. He answered and said, "One who dipped his hand with me in the bowl, he will betray me.
24. The Son of man is going away, just as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It were good for him if that man had not been born."
25. Then Judas, the one who betrayed him, answered and said, "I'm not the one, am I, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You, yourself, said it."
26. Now, while they were eating, when Jesus had taken the bread and offered thanks, he broke it and began giving it to the disciples, and said, "Take and eat. This is my body."
27. And when he had taken the cup and given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "All of you drink of it,
28. for this is my blood, which is for a new covenant, and is shed for the forgiveness of sins for many.
29. But I tell you that from this moment, I will no longer drink of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it with you in a new way in the kingdom of my Father."
¶30. And after they sang a song of praise, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
¶31. Jesus said to them at that time, "Tonight, all of you shall be offended in me, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.'
32. But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
33. Then Peter answered and said to him, "Though all shall be offended in you, I shall never be offended!"
34. Jesus told him, "Truly, I tell you that, this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
35. Peter said to him, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!" Then all the disciples also spoke the same way.
¶36. Jesus then went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
37. And then, taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to feel grieved and distressed.
38. At that point, Jesus said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me."
39. Then, going on a little farther, he fell on his face, praying, and saying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."
40. And then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "How is it that you weren't able to watch with me one hour?
41. Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak."
42. Again, a second time he went away and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cup cannot pass from me unless I drink it, your will be done."
43. And when he came back, he found them sleeping again, for their eyes were heavy.
44. And leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing.
45. Then he came to his disciples and said to them, "Sleep later and get your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46. Get up. Let's go! Behold, the one who betrays me is near."
¶47. And while he was yet speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a large multitude sent by the chief priests and elders of the people, with swords and clubs.
48. Now, the one who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, "Whoever I shall kiss is the man. Arrest him."
49. And he immediately went up to Jesus, and said, "Hello, Rabbi." And he kissed him affectionately.
50. Then Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" At that moment, they came forward, laid hands on Jesus, and arrested him.
51. And, behold, one of those with Jesus reached with his hand, pulled out his sword, and, striking the servant of the high priest, took off his ear.
52. Jesus then told him, "Put your sword back in its place! All who take up a sword shall die by a sword!
53. Do you think that I can't call on my Father right now, and He will send me more than twelve legions of angels?
54. But then, how would the scriptures be fulfilled? It has to be this way!"
55. In that hour, Jesus said to the crowds, "Did you come out as against a bandit, with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day, I sat with you, teaching in the temple, and you didn't arrest me.
56. But all this has happened so that the scriptures from the prophets might be fulfilled." At that, all the disciples forsook him and fled.
¶57. Then those who arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
58. But Peter was following him from a distance, as far as the high priest's courtyard, and going on in, he sat with the officers to see the end.
59. Now, the chief priests, and the elders, and the Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death,
60. but they found none; though many false witnesses came forward, they found none.
61. Finally, two false witnesses came forth and said, "This man said, 'I have power to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it within three days.'"
62. And when the high priest had risen, he said to him, "Do you answer nothing? What is it that these men testify against you?"
63. But Jesus was silent. And the high priest answered and said to him, "I adjure you by the living God that you tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God!"
64. Jesus told him, "You said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, hereafter you'll see the Son of man seated on the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."
65. At this, the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has blasphemed! What further need have we of witnesses? Behold! You have now heard his blasphemy!
66. What do you think?" And they answered and said, "He is worthy of death!"
67. At that, they spat in his face and beat him, but others slapped him in the face,
68. saying, "Prophesy to us, O Messiah! Who is it that hit you?"
¶69. Now, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard when a servant-girl came up to him saying, "You were also with Jesus the Galilean."
70. But he denied it before them all, saying, "I don't know what you're talking about."
71. But after he went out to the entranceway, another girl saw him, and she said to those who were there, "This man was also with Jesus the Nazarene."
72. And he again denied it, with an oath, saying, "I don't know the man!"
73. Then, a little while later, those standing there came up and said to Peter, "Surely, you yourself are also one of them, for even your accent gives you away."
74. At that, he began to bind himself under a curse and to swear, "I don't know the man!" And immediately, a rooster crowed.
75. And Peter was reminded of the saying Jesus had spoken to him: "Before a rooster crows, three times will you deny me." And he went outside, and wept bitterly.
¶1. Now, when morning had come, all the chief priests and elders of the people reached a decision against Jesus, to put him to death,
2. and after tying him up, they led him away and handed him over to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
¶3. Then, when Judas, the one who betrayed him, saw that he was condemned, he changed his mind and returned the silver pieces to the high priests and the elders,
4. saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!" But they said, "What is that to us? You see to that."
5. And he threw the silver pieces down in the temple and ran off, and went and hanged himself.
6. The high priests, taking the silver pieces, said, "It is not lawful to put these coins into the temple treasury, since it is blood-money."
7. So when they had taken counsel, they used them to buy the potter's field as a burial ground for foreigners.
8. Therefore, to this day, that field is called "The Field of Blood".
9. Then was fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And I received thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one who had been priced, on whom the sons of Israel set a price,
10. and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."
¶11. Now, Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying, "You? You are the king of the Jews?" Jesus said to him, "You are saying it."
12. And when charges were brought against him by the high priests and elders, he answered nothing.
13. Upon that, Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?"
14. And yet, he did not answer him with even one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
15. Now, at each feast,[23] the governor, by custom, released to the people one prisoner, whom they wanted,
16. and at that time, they had a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.
17. So, when they were gathered together, Pilate told them, "Whom do you wish that I release to you? Barabbas or Jesus, who is called Messiah?"
18. (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.)
19. And as he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man! I have suffered much in a dream because of him."
20. But the chief priests and elders convinced the people that they should ask for Barabbas, and that they should kill Jesus.
21. Then the governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two would you have me release to you?" And they said, "Barabbas!"
22. Pilate said to them, "What, then, shall I do with Jesus, who is called Messiah?" They all said to him, "Let him be crucified!"
23. But the governor said, "Why? What evil did he do?" But they began crying out even more, saying, "Let him be crucified!"
24. Seeing that he was getting nowhere and that the uproar was becoming greater, Pilate took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man! You yourselves see!"
25. And all the people, answering, said, "His blood be on us and on our children!"
26. At that, he released Barabbas to them, but he handed Jesus over to be crucified, after he had him flogged.
¶27. At that point, the governor's soldiers, having taken Jesus to the praetorium[24], gathered the entire company around him,
28. and when they had stripped him naked, they put a scarlet robe on him.
29. And weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
30. And they spat on him, and took the reed and beat him on his head.
31. And when they had mocked him, they removed the robe from him and put his clothes on him, and then led him out to crucify him.
¶32. Now, as they were going out, they found a Cyrenian man named Simon, whom they forced to carry his cross.
33. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means, "Place of a Skull"),
34. they gave him wine mixed with bitters, but after tasting it, he would not drink.
35. Then, when they had crucified him, they divided up his garments, casting lots for them.
36. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.
37. And above his head they placed the charge against him, written: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."
38. At the same time, two thieves were crucified with him, one on the right, and one on the left.
39. And those passing by were reviling him, wagging their heads
40. and saying, "He who is going to tear down the temple and in three days raise it up, save yourself ! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"
41. And likewise the high priests, with the scribes and the elders and the Pharisees, were mocking him, saying,
42. "He saved others; himself, he cannot save! If he is the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him!
43. He trusted in God; let Him deliver him now, if He will have him! Didn't he say, 'I am the Son of God'? "
44. And the thieves who were crucified with him were reviling him the same way.
¶45. Now, from the sixth hour, darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour.
46. Then, about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli! Eli! Lema sabachthani?" (This means, "My God! My God! Why did you forsake me?")
47. Then, when some of those standing there heard that, they said, "He's calling for Elijah!"
48. And immediately, one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, when he had put it on a reed, he gave him a drink.
49. But the others were saying, "Wait! Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."
50. Then Jesus, again crying out with a loud voice, let go the spirit.
51. And, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom, and the earth shook, and the rocks were split apart,
52. and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of saints who had fallen asleep were raised,
53. and after his resurrection, they came out of the tombs and entered into the holy city, and they were seen by many.
54. Now, the captain and those who were guarding Jesus with him, seeing the earthquake and the other things that happened, were very frightened and said, "This really was a god's son!"
55. And there were many women there, looking on from a distance, who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him,
56. among whom was Maria the Magdalene, and Maria the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
¶57. Now, when evening was come, a rich man named Joseph from Arimathea came, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus.
58. This man approached Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate then commanded that the body be given him.
59. And when he had taken the body, Joseph wrapped it up in a clean linen cloth
60. and laid it in his new sepulcher that he had hewn in a rock, and after rolling a great stone to the entrance of the sepulcher, he went away.
61. And Maria the Magdalene and the other Maria were there, and they sat down opposite the tomb.
¶62. The next day, that is, after the Preparation, the high priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate,
63. saying, "Sir, we remember that while he was alive, that deceiver said, 'After three days, I will arise.'
64. Therefore, command that the sepulcher be guarded until the third day, lest his disciples come at night and steal him away, and then tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and so, the last delusion be worse than the first."
65. Pilate said to them, "You may have a guard. Go make it as secure as you can."
66. Then they went with a guard and made the sepulcher secure, sealing the stone.
¶1. Then, after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Maria the Magdalene came with the other Maria to see the tomb.
2. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven. And when he came, he rolled the stone away from the entrance and sat on top of it.
3. His appearance was as lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4. Those keeping guard trembled for fear of him, and became like dead men.
5. But the angel answered and said to the women, "Don't be afraid. I know that you're looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
6. He's not here, for he is risen, just as he said. Come see the place where the Master was laid.
7. And quickly now, go tell his disciples, 'He is raised from the dead, and, behold, he's going ahead of you into Galilee. There you'll see him.' Behold, I have told you."
8. And leaving the sepulcher quickly, with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples.
9. But as they went to carry the message to his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Good morning!"[25] And they came near and held his feet, and prostrated themselves before him.
10. Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid. Go on your way, and carry the message to my brothers that they should leave for Galilee, and they will see me there."
¶11. Now, while they were on their way, behold, some of the guard went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.
12. And when they had gathered with the elders and taken counsel, they gave the soldiers a substantial amount of silver,
13. and said, "You say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him as we slept.'
14. And if this is heard by the governor, we will persuade him and keep you from trouble."
15. So, taking the money, they did as they were instructed. And this rumor is spread by the Jews to this day.
¶16. Then the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
17. And when they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some had their doubts.
18. And Jesus drew near and spoke to them, saying, "All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me.
19. Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,
20. teaching them to keep everything that I command you. And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the world." Amen.
End of the Gospel of Matthew
[1] Or, Mary.
[2] The Greek word translated "of whom" is feminine and, therefore, refers to Mariam, not to Joseph.
[3] The name means, "Savior".
[4] The Greek word is usually translated "Devil", but that word carries much baggage from Christian mythology and can be misleading. "Accuser" more accurately reflects Satan's character and heavenly office. For more on the office Satan held in heaven, see my book, God Had a Son before Mary Did.
[5] There is no "the" before the word "son" here, though most translations add one. If Satan did actually say "the son of God", then he could have meant that phrase only as the Jews meant it, that is, as another name for the Messiah. No one, including Satan, yet knew about the pre-existent Son of God, now walking on earth as the man, Jesus.
[6] Or, "that John had been betrayed".
[7] Often translated "James". How "Jacobus" became "James" in English is not known, but even in the earliest English translations, those of Wycliff and Tyndall, it is already done.
[8] This is a term of abuse.
[9] Gehenna does not refer to hell but to the Lake of Fire, the final, eternal destination of the damned described in Revelation 19:20; 20:10, 14-15.
[10] Or, "Whosoever confesses in me before men, I will also confess in him". Also, Luke 12:8.
[11] Or, "The kingdom of heaven is being treated violently from the days of John the Baptizer until now, and the violent are seizing upon it."
[12] Some manuscripts have, "Isn't this the Messiah, the Son of David?".
[13] A dry "measure" equals about one-third of a bushel.
[14] The name Peter means "rock".
[15] Or, "God have mercy on you!"
[16] This was a temple tax, not a Roman tax.
[17] A stater was worth four drachmas. This amount would pay the two drachma temple tax required of Jesus and of Peter.
[18] A denarius was what workers earned for a day's labor.
[19] Nine o'clock in the morning.
[20] Literally, "twice as much the son of Gehenna".
[21] See also Mark 13:6 and Luke 21:8. Teachers who "use Jesus' name, saying that I am the Messiah," are (1) proclaiming Jesus to be the Messiah, not themselves, and (2) claiming authority from him to teach their false doctrines.
[22] Literally "cut in two ".
[23] It is unclear whether this refers to every feast of the Jews or only to every Passover feast.
[24] That is, the governor's headquarters.
[25] This is a casual greeting meaning something like "Hello, there!", or even "Shalom!".