It came to pass on another sabbath, He entered the synagogue and taught. There was a man whose right hand was withered. The scribes and Pharisees watched whether He would heal on the sabbath day so they might find an accusation against Him.
Jesus knew their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, Rise up. Stand forth in the midst. The man arose and stood forth. Then Jesus said to them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy it? Then looking around at them, He said to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. As the man did so, his hand was restored whole as the other. They were filled with anger and discussed what they might do to Jesus.
It came to pass in those days, Jesus went up into a mountain to pray.He continued all night in prayer to God. When it was day, He called toHim His disciples and, of them, He chose twelve whom He also namedapostles:
Simon (whom He also named Peter); Andrew, his brother; James and John;Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus;and Simon called Zelotes; Judas, the brother of James; and JudasIscariot, who also was the traitor.
Jesus came down with the company of His disciples and stood in the plain. There was now gathered a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him, and to be healed of their diseases and unclean spirits. The whole multitude sought to touch Him because virtue flowed out of Him and healed them all.
Jesus lifted His eyes to His disciples and said, Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when others hate you, separate you from their company, reproach you, and denounce your name as evil for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! Your reward in heaven is great. Their fathers treated the prophets the same way.
But woe to you who are rich! You have already received your consolation. Woe to you who are full! Later you be hungry. Woe to you who now laugh! You will mourn and weep. Woe to you, when everyone speaks well of you, because the ancestors treated the false prophets in the same way.
I say to you who hear, Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless them that curse you. Pray for those who use you and treat you badly. To one who strikes you on the one cheek, offer also the other. To one who takes away your cloak let him take away your coat also. Give to everyone who asks. From one who takes your goods do not ask for them back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
If ye love only those who love you, what thanks have ye? Sinners also love those who love them. If ye do good only to those who do good to you, what thanks have ye? Sinners do even the same also. And if ye lend only to those from whom ye expect to receive back, what thanks have ye? Sinners also lend to sinners to receive as much again.
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return and your reward shall be great. Ye shall be the children of the Highest for He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful as your Father also is merciful.
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged. Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned. Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosom. With the same measure that ye mete it shall be measured to you again.
Jesus spoke a parable to them, Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master; but everyone that is perfect shall be as his master.
And why behold the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but not perceive the beam that is in thine own eye? How can you say to your brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself does not see the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam from your own eye, and only then shall thou see clearly enough to pull out the mote in thy brother's eye.
For a good tree does not bring forth corrupt fruit; and a corrupt tree does not bring forth good fruit. Every tree is known by its own fruit. Of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush do they gather grapes.
A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth that which is good. An evil man, out of the evil of his heart, brings forth that which is evil. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
And why call me, Lord, Lord, and not do the things I say? Whoever comes to me, hears my sayings, and does them, I will tell you who he is like: He is like a man who built a house on a deep foundation of rock. When the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently on that house and could not shake it for it was founded upon a rock.
But he that hears and does not do the things I say is like a man that is without a foundation for he built a house upon the earth against which the stream beat vehemently. Immediately it fell and the ruin of that house was great.
7 Jesus then went into Capernaum. A centurion whose servant was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. When the centurion heard of Jesus, he sent the elders of the Jews to Him, beseeching that Jesus come and heal his servant. Those who came to Jesus on the centurion's behalf said he was a worthy man who loved the nation and had built a synagogue.
Jesus went with them and, when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say, Lord, do not trouble thyself. I am not worthy that thou should enter under my roof. Neither did I think myself worthy to come to thee. Only say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority. And I have soldiers under me. I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes. And to my servant I say, Do this, and he does it.
When Jesus heard this, He marvelled. He turned around and said to the people that followed Him, I have not found such great faith anywhere in Israel. When those who came to Jesus on behalf of the centurion returned to the house they found the servant healed.
The next day Jesus went to a city called Nain. His disciples and many people were with Him. When He got near the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out. He had been the only son of a widow and many people of the city were with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion and said to her, Weep not. Then Jesus went over and touched the bier. Those who bore him stood still. Then Jesus said, Young man, I say to thee, Arise.
The young man that was dead sat up and began to speak and Jesus delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet is risen up among us. God has visited His people. This story of Him went forth throughout all Judaea, and all the surrounding region.
When the disciples of John told him of these things, John sent two of them to Jesus to ask, Art thou He that should come or do we look for another? At the same time Jesus cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and to many that were blind He gave sight. Then Jesus said to John's disciples, Go and tell John the things ye have seen and heard; how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and to the poor the gospel is preached. Blessed is he, who shall not be offended in me.
Jesus then told the people about John. He said, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? What went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who are gorgeously apparelled and live delicately are in kings' courts.
But what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written: Behold, I send my messenger, who shall prepare thy way before thee. And, I say to you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist, only he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. All the people that heard Him, even the publicans, who received the baptism of John, justified God. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God and were not baptized by him.
The Lord said, Those of this generation are like children sitting in the marketplace, and, calling one to another, saying, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He has a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But wisdom is justified of all her children.
One of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. Jesus went into the Pharisee's house and sat down. When a woman in the city, who was a sinner, heard that Jesus ate at the Pharisee's house, she came with an alabaster box of ointment and stood behind Him at His feet. She was weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and wipe them with her hair. She kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who invited Him saw it, he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is that touches Him. She is a sinner. Then Jesus turned and said, Simon, I have something to say to thee. And he said, Master, say on.
Jesus began, There was a creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred coins, and the other fifty. When they had nothing to pay, he freely forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose it would be he whom he forgave most. Jesus said, Thou has rightly judged.
Jesus turned to the woman, and said to Simon, See this woman? When I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet. But she has washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. When I entered your house, you gave me no kiss. But this woman, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil. But this woman has anointed my feet with ointment.
So I say to thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven for she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. Jesus said to her, Thy sins are forgiven. Those who sat at supper with Him began to wonder, Who is this that forgives sins also? Then Jesus said to the woman, Thy faith has saved thee; go in peace.
8 Afterward, He went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, and the twelve were with Him. A woman, Mary called Magdalene, who had been healed of evil spirits and out of whom went seven devils; and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward, Chuza; and Susanna; and many others provided for and ministered to Him.
When people from many towns were gathered together, He told them a parable. A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell by the wayside. It was trodden down and the fowls of the air devoured it. Some of the seed fell upon rock. As soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. Some of the seed fell among thorns. The thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. Other seed fell on good ground. It sprang up and bore fruit a hundredfold. Then He finished by saying, He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
His disciples asked Him, What might this parable mean? He said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. But, to others, it is given in parables that looking, they might not see, and hearing, they might not understand.
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are they that hear; then the devil comes and takes the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Those on the rock are they, who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. They have no root. For a while they believe but in time of temptation they fall away.
The seed which fell among thorns are they, who, when they have heard, they go forth. But they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life; and they bring no fruit to perfection. The seed on the good ground are they, who with an honest and good heart, have heard the word. They keep it and bring forth fruit with patience.
No man, when he has lighted a candle, covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed. Instead he sets it on a candlestick so those who enter in may see the light. Nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest and nothing is hidden that shall not be known and come to light. Take heed how ye hear: for whoever has understanding, to him more shall be given; and whoever has not, from him shall be taken even that which he seems to have.
Then His mother and His brothers came but could not get near Him through the press of the multitude. Someone said to Him, Thy mother and thy brethren stand outside desiring to see thee. Jesus said to all those gathered, My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of God, and do it.
Now it came to pass. Jesus went into a ship with His disciples. He said, Let us go over to the other side of the lake. They launched forth. As they sailed Jesus fell asleep. There came a windstorm on the lake. The ship filled up with water, and they were in jeopardy. They came and woke Him and said, Master, master, we perish. Jesus arose and rebuked the wind and the raging water. The storm ceased and there was a calm. He said to them, Where is your faith? They wondered, What kind of man is this! He even commands the winds and water and they obey Him.
They arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. Outside the city, a man who had devils for a long time approached Him. He wore no clothes and had no house but lived in the tombs. Oftentimes he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; but he broke the bands, and was driven by the devil into the wilderness.
When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before Him. Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. With a loud voice the man said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. Then Jesus asked him, What is thy name? He said it was Legion, because many devils were entered into him. They besought Jesus not to command them to go out into the nearby deep water.
There was a herd of swine feeding on the mountain. The devils besought Jesus to let them enter into the swine. Jesus allowed them. When the devils went out of the man and entered the swine the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake and were choked.
When those who fed them saw what was done, they fled into the city and told what happened. Many went out to see what was done. They came to Jesus and found the man out of whom the devils departed. He was sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind. The people were afraid. Those who saw it explained how the man possessed with the devils was healed. Then the whole multitude of the country around the Gadarenes besought Jesus to leave.
Jesus went back to the boat. The man who had been possessed by the devils asked to go with Him. But Jesus sent him away. He said, Return to thine own house and show the great things God has done for thee. The man went his way and told the whole city the great things Jesus had done.
It came to pass that Jesus returned and the people gladly received Him. They were all waiting for Him. There came a man named Jairus. He was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus' feet and besought Him to come to his house. His only daughter, about twelve years of age, lay dying. As Jesus started out, the people thronged Him.
A woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years and who had spent all her living on physicians who were unable to heal her, came up behind Him, and touched the border of His garment. Immediately her issue of blood ceased. Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and those with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and you ask, Who touched me? Jesus said, Somebody has touched me for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
When the woman felt she could not hide, she came trembling and, falling down before Him, she declared to Him before all the people why she had touched Him, and how she was healed immediately. Jesus said to her, Daughter, be of good comfort. Thy faith has made thee whole. Go in peace.
While He yet spoke, there came a messenger from the ruler of the synagogue's house. He said, Thy daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Master. But when Jesus heard it, He said, Fear not. Only believe and she shall be made whole.
When He got to the house, He allowed no one to go in, except Peter, James, John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. All wept but He said, Weep not. She is not dead, but sleeps. Those gathered outside laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. He put them all out, and took her by the hand, and said, Maid, arise.
Her spirit returned and she arose straightway. Then He told them to give her food. Her parents were astonished, but He charged them that they tell no one what was done.
9 Then He called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. Jesus said to them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, nor bread, nor money; neither take two coats.
Whatever house ye enter, abide and depart from there. Whoever will not receive you, when ye leave that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them. They departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
Herod, the tetrarch, heard about all this. He was perplexed because some people said it was John the Baptist risen from the dead; and some said Elias had appeared. Others said that one of the prophets of old was risen again. Herod said, I have beheaded John so who is this of whom I hear so much? He wanted to see Him.
When they returned, the apostles told Jesus all that they had done. He took them and went into a private desert place that belonged to the city of Bethsaida. But people soon found out and followed Him. Jesus received them. He spoke to them of the kingdom of God and healed those who had need of healing.
When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, Send the multitude away so they may go into the towns and country nearby to find lodging and get food.
But He said to them, Give ye them to eat. They answered, We have no more than five loaves and two fish unless we go and buy meat for all these people, about five thousand men.
He said to His disciples, Have them sit down in groups of fifty. Then He took the five loaves and two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He blessed them. He broke them and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. They all ate and were full. And twelve baskets of fragmants that remained were taken up.
It came to pass, as Jesus was alone praying, His disciples were nearby and He asked them, Whom do the people say that I am? They answered and said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, one of the prophets of old is risen again.
He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Peter spoke up and said, The Christ of God. Jesus charged them to tell no one of this. He said, The Son of man must suffer many things; and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes; and be slain; and be raised on the third day.
Then He said, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. Whoever will save his life shall lose it. Whoever will lose his life for my sake, shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
Whoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of man shall also be ashamed of him when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels. I tell you, there are some standing here now, who shall not taste of death until they see the kingdom of God.
About eight days after these sayings, He took Peter, John, and James and went up into a mountain to pray. As He prayed, His whole appearance was altered. His raiment was white and glistering. And there talked with Him two men, Moses and Elias, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.
Peter and those with him became heavy with sleep. When they awoke, they saw His glory and the two men that stood with Him. Later, as they departed from Him, Peter, not knowing what to say, said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
But while Peter spoke, a cloud overshadowed them and they became afraid. Then there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son. Hear Him. When the voice was past, Jesus was alone. They kept it close and told no man any of those things which they had seen.
The next day, when they came down from the hill, many people met Him. A man in the group cried out, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son. He is my only child. A spirit takes him and, suddenly, he cries out. It tears and bruises him so that he foams and hardly departs from him. I besought thy disciples to cast him out but they could not.
Jesus said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son here. As the boy approached, the devil threw him down and tore him. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit. He healed the child and delivered him again to his father.
All were amazed at the mighty power of God. Jesus said to His disciples, Let these words sink down into your ears: The Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they did not understand this. It was hid from them that they did not perceive it and they feared asking Him about the saying.
Then there arose a discussion among them about which of them should be the greatest. Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set the child next to Him. He said, Whoever shall receive this child in my name receives me. Whoever shall receive me, receives Him that sent me: for he that is least among you all shall be great.
John said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name. We forbad him because he does not follow with us. Jesus said to him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
And it came to pass, when the time came that Jesus should be received up, He stedfastly set His face toward Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead and they entered into a village of the Samaritans to make a way for Him. But they did not receive Him because He was heading to Jerusalem.
When His disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, Lord, if you will, command that we send fire to come down from heaven and consume them as Elias did? Jesus turned and rebuked them. He said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. The Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
As they went along, a man said, Lord, I will follow wherever you go. Jesus replied, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head. To another, Jesus said, Follow me. But the man said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their dead but you go and preach the kingdom of God.
Then another man said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid farewell to those at my house. Jesus said, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
10 After this the Lord appointed seventy others to go ahead of Him, two by two, to the places He would visit. He said to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. Ask the master to send forth more laborers into his harvest.
Now, go your way. Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes; and salute no one along the way.
Into whatever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. If the Son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon it; if not, it shall return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give; for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Do not go from house to house.
And into whatever city ye enter, from those who receive you, eat such things as are set before you. Heal the sick therein, and say to them, The kingdom of God is come near you.
But, into whatever city ye enter where they do not receive you, go out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaves to us, we wipe off against you and, be ye sure of this, the kingdom of God is come near to you. But I say to you, it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
Woe to thee, Chorazin! woe to thee, Bethsaida! If the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they would have, long ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And Capernaum, exalted to heaven, shall be thrust down to hell. He that hears you hears me; and he that despises you despises me. He that despises me despises Him that sent me.
The seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject to us through thy name. Jesus said to them, I beheld Satan as lightning falls from heaven. Behold, I give you power to tread on serpents, and scorpions, and all of the enemy. Nothing shall, in any way, hurt you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou has hid these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them to babes and, moreso, Father, for it seemed good in thy sight.
All things are delivered to me by my Father. No man knows who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.
Jesus turned to His disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes that see the things that ye see. Many prophets and kings have desired to see these things ye see and have not seen them; and to hear the things ye hear and have not heard them.
Then a lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said to him, What is written in the law? How readest thou? The lawyer answered, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
Jesus said to him, Thou has answered right. Do this and you shall have life. Then, wanting to justify himself, the lawyer asked Jesus, And who is my neighbor? Jesus answered this way, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves who stripped him, wounded him, and left him half dead. By chance, a priest came by. When he saw him, he crossed to the other side. Then, likewise, a Levite came by and looked at him. He also passed by on the other side.
Finally a Samaritan came up and, when he saw him, he had compassion and went to him. He bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine, and set him on his own beast. He brought him to an inn and took care of him.
When he departed the next morning, he took out some money, gave it to the host, and said, Take care of him. Whatever more you spend, I will repay you on my way back.
Now which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell among the thieves? The lawyer answered, He that showed mercy on him. Then Jesus said to him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Later they came to a village where a woman named Martha received Him into her house. She had a sister, Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.
Martha was concerned about the serving of the meal. She came to Jesus and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me. But Jesus said to her, Martha, Martha, thou art concerned and troubled about so many things. But only one thing is needful and Mary has chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her.
11 After Jesus finished some time in prayer, one of His disciples said, Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples. He said to them, When ye pray, say, Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us, day by day, our daily bread. Forgive our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. Let us not fall into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
Jesus said to them, Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight, and say, Friend, lend me three loaves. A friend of mine has come to me, and I have nothing to feed him and, from inside he calls out, Do not bother me. The door is shut and my children are all asleep in bed and I cannot get up and give you anything?
I tell you, Though he might not get up for another, because he is your friend and because of your circumstances, he will get up and give you as much as you need.
So, ask, and it shall be given you; seek and you will find; knock and it shall be opened to you. For every friend that asks, receives; and he that seeks, finds; and to the one that knocks, it shall be opened.
If your son asks for bread, will you give him a stone? If he asks for a fish, will you give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will you offer him a scorpion?
If you, who are sinners, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?
It came to pass, Jesus cast out a devil from a man who previously had been unable to speak. When the devil was gone and the man spoke; the people wondered. But some of them said, He casts out devils by the power of Beelzebub, the chief of the devils. Other people wanted to test Him and wanted Him to produce a sign from heaven.
Jesus knew their thoughts. He said, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to destruction; and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan is also divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?
You say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. If I, by Beelzebub, cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? So judge by them. However, I cast out devils with the finger of God, so, do not doubt that the kingdom of God is upon you.
When a strong man is properly armed, he keeps his palace and his goods are in peace. But when a man stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, the stronger takes all the armor in which he trusted, then divides his goods. One who is not with me is against me, and one who does not gather with me, scatters.
When an unclean spirit leaves a man, he walks through barren places. He seeks rest but can find none. Then the unclean spirit says, I will return to the house out of which I came. When he goes back, he finds it swept and garnished. So he goes and gathers together seven spirits more wicked than himself. They enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
As He spoke these things, a woman in the crowd lifted up her voice and said to Him, Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the breasts that nursed thee. But He said, Yes, but it is better to say, Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.
The crowd drew closer together. Jesus said to them, This is an evil generation. They seek a sign but no sign will be given except the sign of Jonas the prophet.
As Jonas was a sign to the Ninevites, so shall the Son of man be to this generation. The queen of the south will rise up in judgment of this generation. She will condemn them for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, one greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineve will rise up in judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, one greater than Jonas is here.
No one with a lighted candle, puts it in a secret place or under a bushel. It is put on a candlestick so those who come in may see the light. The light of the body is the eye. When your eye is single, your whole body is also full of light. But when your eye is evil, your body is full of darkness.
Take heed, therefore, that the light that is in you be not darkness. If thy whole body is full of light, with no dark parts, the whole shall be full of light, and, like the bright shining of a candle, it gives off the light.
Later, a Pharisee who had invited Him to dinner marvelled that He had not first washed before sitting at the meal. Jesus said to him, You Pharisees make the outside of the cup and the platter clean; but inside they are full of poison and wickedness. Fools, did not He who made what is on the outside, make what is inside also? Give of what you have, then all things will be clean to you.
But woe to you, Pharisees! You tithe mint and rue and all kinds of herbs, and ignore judgment and the love of God. These you ought to have done without ignoring the others also.
Woe to you, Pharisees! You love the best seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are as empty as graves that others walk over and do not see.
One of the lawyers said, Master, in saying this you reproach us also. Jesus said, Woe to you also, ye lawyers! You load men with unbearable burdens and you yourselves do not so much as lay a finger on one of these burdens.
Woe to you! You build shrines to the prophets and your fathers killed them. You bear witness that you sanction the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them and you build their shrines.
The wisdom of God said: I will send them prophets and apostles. Some of them they shall slay and persecute that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation. The blood of Abel to the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple shall be required of this generation.
Woe to you, lawyers! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You entered not in yourselves but prevented any others from entering in. And, as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge and provoke Him to speak of many things. They were laying in wait and trying to catch something He said that they could use against Him.
12 Later, Jesus drew His disciples together and taught them saying, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; nor hidden that shall not be known. Therefore, whatever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have whispered shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. My friends, Be not afraid of those who kill the body because, after that, there is no more they can do. But I will forewarn you who to fear. Fear the one who, after he has killed, has power to cast you into hell. Yes, fear him.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins and not one of them is forgotten by God? Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered by Him. Fear not, then, because you are of more value than many sparrows.
Also, I tell you, Whoever confesses me before men, the Son of man will also confess before the angels of God. But he that denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven.
Now, when they bring you to the synagogues, and before magistrates and powers, take no thought how or what ye shall answer, or what ye shall say. The Holy Spirit shall tell you what to say on the spot.
One of the group said, Master, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. Jesus replied, Who made me a judge or a divider over you? Take heed, and beware of covetousness. A man's life does not consist of the abundance of things he possesses.
Then Jesus spoke a parable to them. He said, The ground of a rich man yielded a plentiful harvest. He wondered and said, What shall I do? I have no room to store my fruit. Finally he said, I will pull down my barns and build larger ones and there will I store my fruit and all my goods. I will say to my soul, Thou has enough goods laid up to last many years. It is time to take ease; eat, drink, and be merry. But God said to him, Thou fool, tonight thy soul shall be required of thee; then to whom shall all those things belong which thou has stored away? So it is with whoever lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
Jesus said to His disciples, Therefore, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; or for the body, what ye shall put on. Life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Consider the ravens. They neither sow nor reap. They have no storehouse or barn. God feeds them. How much better than the fowls are ye? And who of you, by thinking or reasoning, can add to his stature one cubit? If you are not able to do that which is so little, why take thought for the rest?
Consider the lilies and how they grow! They toil not, they spin not; and yet, I say to you, Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these. If God, then, so clothes the grass, which is today in the field and tomorrow cast into the oven; how much more will He clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Seek not what ye shall eat or drink. Neither be of a doubtful mind. For these same things do all the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that ye have need of these things. Instead, seek ye the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you.
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms. Provide yourselves with purses that do not wear out, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches, nor moth corrupts. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Let your loins be girded about and your lights kept burning. Be like those who wait for their lord to return from the wedding that, when he comes and knocks, they are ready to welcome him instantly. Blessed are those servants, who, when the lord comes, He finds ready and waiting.
And consider this, if the good man of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not suffered his house to be broken into. So, be ready because the Son of man comes at an hour when you think not.
Then Peter said to Him, Lord, will you speak more about this parable to us, or even to all? The Lord said, Who, then, is that faithful and wise steward whom his lord shall make ruler over his household to justly give out the portions of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he comes, shall find already doing so. I tell you, he will make him ruler over all that he has.
But if a servant says in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and so begins to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink to excess; the lord of that servant will come in a day when the servant does not look for him and at an hour when he is not aware. His lord will cast him aside and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. That servant, who knew his lord's will but did not prepare or act according to his lord's will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
But he that did not know and committed things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten lightly. To whomever much is given, of him much is required. To whomever much is entrusted, of him even much more will be demanded.
I came to set the earth on fire; and I wish it was already kindled. But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and am I bound until it is accomplished!
Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, No; but rather division. From now on there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Then Jesus said to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, ye say, A shower is coming; and so it is. When ye see the south wind blow, ye say, It is going to be hot; and it comes to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? And why do you not judge, within yourselves, what is right?
When you go with your adversary to court, settle along the way so you may be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. You will not leave there until you have paid every last cent.
13 Among those present were some who said that Pilate mingled blood of the Galilaeans with their sacrifices. Jesus said to them, Do you suppose these Galilaeans were sinners above all other Galilaeans because they suffered such things? I tell you, No: but, unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish. Or the eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed; do you think they were sinners above all men who lived in Jerusalem? I tell you again, No: but, unless you repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Jesus told this parable. A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came out to get some fruit and found none. He said to the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and found none. Cut it down; why have it take up space? His dresser said to him, Lord, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit, all is well, and, if not, then afterward it shall be cut down.
He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. He saw a woman who, for eighteen years, had been bowed over and could not stand upright. When Jesus recognized her, He called her to Him, and said, Woman, thou art loosed from this infirmity. He laid His hands on her and, immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
The ruler of the synagogue, filled with indignation because Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, said to the people, There are six days in which men ought to work. On those days, therefore, come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
The Lord said to the ruler of the synagogue, Thou hypocrite, does not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him to be watered? Here is a woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years. Should she not be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? Upon saying this, Jesus' adversaries were ashamed and the rest of the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.
Then He said, I will tell you what the the Kingdom of God is like. It is like a grain of mustard seed, which was cast into a garden. It grew up and turned into such a great tree that the fowls of the air lodged in its branches. And He said, The kingdom of God is like leaven that is put in a few small measures of meal and, in a while, the whole batch is leavened.
Journeying toward Jerusalem, Jesus stopped and taught in many cities and villages along the way. And a follower came forward and asked, Lord, are there only a few that can be saved? Jesus looked out on the group and replied, Strive to enter in at the strait gate. Many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Once the master of the house is risen up, the door is closed. From outside you will knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open the door to us; but He will answer, I do not know who you are.
Then you will say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou has taught in our streets. But He shall say, I tell you, I do not know you; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when ye see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you are left outside.
They shall come from the east, the west, the north, and the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.
Then one of the Pharisees said to Him, Get out. Leave here for Herod will kill thee. Jesus said, Go and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless, I must walk today and tomorrow and the day following for it cannot be that a prophet perish anywhere but Jerusalem.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and ye would not have it! Behold, your house is left desolate and, verily I say to you, Ye shall not see me until the time comes when ye say, Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.
14 It came to pass, Jesus went to eat at the house of one of the chief Pharisees on the sabbath day. A man was there who had the dropsy. Jesus, observing that He was being carefully watched, said to the lawyers and Pharisees, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? They held their peace.
Jesus healed the afflicted man and then said, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fall into a pit and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? Again, they could not answer Him.
Jesus told a parable. He said, When you are invited to a wedding, do not sit down in the highest room; lest one more honorable than you has been invited. The host would have to come and tell you the room was for someone else and, with shame, you move to the lowest room. Instead, sit down in the lowest room. Then the host may come to you and say, Friend, go up higher. You will, then, have the respect of the other guests. Whoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.
Then Jesus said to his host, When you make a dinner or a supper, do not call your friends, or your brethren, or kinsmen, or rich neighbors; lest they also invite you in return, and you incur an obligation. When you make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. You will be blessed because they cannot repay you; you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.
When one of them that sat at the table with Jesus heard these things, he said, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. Then Jesus told another parable.
He said, A man made a great supper and invited many people. When it was supper time he sent his servant to say to those who were invited, Come. All things are now ready. One after another, each one made an excuse. The first said, I have bought some land and I must go to see it. Please have me excused. Another said, I just purchased five yoke of oxen and I must go to claim them. Please have me excused. Another said, I have just married and cannot come.
The servant returned and reported these things to his lord. Then the master of the house became angry and said, Go out into the streets and lanes of the city. Gather the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind and bring them here.
The servant returned and said, Lord, it is done as you commanded, and there is still room. The lord said, Go out, then, into all the highways and compel them to come in so my house may be filled. For I say to you, None of those who were invited shall taste of my supper.
Now there were great multitudes that followed along with Jesus. He turned around and said to them, If any man comes to me, and does not forsake his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yes, and his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, to see whether you have what is needed to finish it? Lest, after you have laid the foundation, and are not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock you and say, This man began to build but was not able to finish.
Or what king, contemplating war against another king, does not first sit and consult whether he is able, with ten thousand, to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand? If not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends his ambassadors to discuss conditions of peace.
So likewise, any of you that does not forsake all he has, cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt has lost its savour, with what can it be seasoned? It is not fit for the land, yet not ready for the dunghill; so men cast it aside. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.
15 Seeing how Jesus was often surrounded by publicans and sinners who listened closely to His sayings, the Pharisees and scribes murmured, This man receives sinners and even eats with them. Thus, Jesus spoke another parable.
He said, What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me. I have found my sheep which was lost. I say to you, there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repents, than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
What woman, having ten pieces of silver, if she loses one piece, does not light a candle, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me. I have found the piece that was lost. I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.
And He said, A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of my inheritance. The father gave him his portion and the younger son journeyed into a far country.
After he spent everything on riotous living and had nothing left, there arose a mighty famine in that land. He began to be in want and the only work he could get was feeding swine in a countryman's field. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine ate because he had nothing to eat.
When he came to his senses, he said, How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee. I am no longer worthy to be called thy son; but make me one of thy hired servants.
He arose and went to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion. He ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am not worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. Butcher the fatted calf. Let us eat and be merry for my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to celebrate.
The elder son was in the field. As he drew near the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. The servant said, Thy brother is home and thy father has killed the fatted calf because he has received him safe and sound.
The elder son was angry and would not go inside. His father came out and entreated him; but he said to his father, Lo, these many years I have served thee. I have never once disobeyed you. Yet, you never gave me a fatted calf that I might make merry with my friends. But, as soon as he came home, who wasted all you gave him on harlots, you kill a fatted calf for him.
The father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was fitting for us to celebrate and be glad for this, thy brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost and now is found.
16 Jesus said, There was a rich man who had a steward who was accused of wasting the rich man's goods. The master called him and said, How is it that I hear this of thee? Give me an account of your stewardship; for you may no longer be the steward.
The steward thought about his situation, then said to himself, I know what to do so when I am put out of this stewardship, I will find favor in other houses. He called on each of his lord's debtors. He said to the first, How much do you owe to my lord? The first said, A hundred measures of oil. He said, Take your bill and quickly write fifty. He said to another, How much do you owe? The other said, A hundred measures of wheat. He said, Take your bill and quickly write eighty. And so, likewise, the steward did with all his master's debtors. When he gave his accont, the rich man had to commend the unjust steward for his cleverness.
The children of this world are better at dealing with their own generation than the children of light. But, I tell you, use what you have wisely and do good with it and you shall find favor in heavenly houses.
The one who is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much. The one that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much. If you are not trustworthy with worldly goods, who will commit to your trust the true riches? If you have not been faithful in that which belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No servant can serve two masters: either he will hate the one, and love the other; or he will cleave to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
The Pharisees, who were covetous, heard all these things and derided Him. Jesus said to them, Ye are they who justify yourselves before men but God knows your hearts. That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
The law and the prophets lasted up until John. From that time the kingdom of God is proclaimed and every man presses into it. Far easier it is for heaven and earth to pass away than for one letter of the law to fail.
Whoever puts away his wife and marries another, commits adultery. Whoever marries a woman that has been put away from her husband commits adultery.
There was a rich man who wore clothes of purple and fine linen, and who dined sumptuously each day. Lying at his gate, was a poor man named Lazarus. He was covered with sores, and often the dogs came and licked them. He would gladly accept the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.
When the poor man died, he was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and, from hell, he lifted his eyes, in torment, and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his bosom. He cried out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am tormented in this flame.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that you received your good things during your lifetime and Lazarus got the evil things. Now he is comforted, and you are tormented. And, beside all this, there is a great gulf between us that cannot be crossed from either side.
Then the rich man said, Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house. I have five brothers. Let him testify to them so they do not also come into this place of torment.
Abraham answered, They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them. The rich man said, No, father Abraham. Only if one went to them from the dead will they repent. Then Abraham said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded by one who rose from the dead.
17 Then He said to the disciples, It is certain that offences must come: but woe to him, through whom they come! It would be better for him that a millstone were hung around his neck and he be cast into the sea, than to have offended one of these little ones.
Take heed: If thy brother trespasses against thee, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. If he trespasses against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day, repents; forgive him. Then the apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith.
The Lord said, If you have faith even as small as a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this tree, Be thou plucked up by the root and planted in the sea; and it will obey you.
Who among you, when your servant comes in from plowing or feeding cattle, will say, Go and sit down to eat? Instead, you say to him, Wash yourself and change your clothes; prepare and serve me my supper; and then you shall eat and drink. Does the servant deserve thanks because he did what he was obliged to do? Likewise, when you have done all the things which are required of you, say, I am an unprofitable servant. I have done that which was my duty to do.
It came to pass, as Jesus continued toward Jerusalem, He passed through the middle of Samaria and Galilee. As He went into a village, ten lepers met Him. Standing at a distance, they lifted their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. When He saw them, Jesus said, Go show yourselves to the priests. And, it happened that, as they went, they were cleansed.
When one of them, a Samaritan, saw that he was healed, he turned back, and with a loud voice, glorified God. He fell down at Jesus' feet and thanked Him. Jesus said, Were there not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Of the ten, the only one to return thanks to God is the foreigner. Jesus said to him, Arise and go thy way. Thy faith has made thee whole.
When the Pharisees demanded to know when the kingdom of God should come, He answered, The kingdom of God does not come by observation. No one will say, Look here! or, look there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Then He said to the disciples, The days will come, when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of man, but you will not see it. They will say to you, See here; or, see there. Do not go after them or follow them. For just as lightning flashes and lights the heavens from one part to another; so also shall the Son of man be in His day.
But first you must suffer many things, and be rejected by this generation. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son of man. People ate and drank, they married and were given in marriage up until the day that Noah entered the ark when the flood came and destroyed them all.
It was the same in the days of Lot. They ate and drank, bought and sold, planted and built. But the same day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
This is how it shall be on the day when the Son of man is revealed. On that day, he who is up on the housetop, and his belongings downstairs in the house should not go down for them. He who is in the field should not turn back. Remember Lot's wife.
Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life will save it. In that night there will be two sleeping in a bed; one will be taken, the other will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken, and the other left. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken, and the other left. Then they asked Him, Where, Lord? He said to them, Wherever the body is, there will also the vultures be gathered.
18 Jesus told another parable. In a certain city, there was a judge who feared neither God nor man. A widow in that city came to him and said, Avenge me of my adversary. At first, the judge gave her no attention. But afterward he said to himself, Though I do not fear God nor man; I will avenge her because she bothers me and her continual coming to me will wear me out.
The Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge said. Shall God not avenge His own elect, who cry day and night to Him, though He has great patience with them? I tell you, He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?
He spoke this parable to those who trusted in their own righteousness, and despised others: Two men went into the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed, God, I thank thee that I am not like other men who are extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even publicans. I fast twice a week and I give tithes of all that I possess.
The publican, standing far off, would not so much as lift his eyes to heaven, but struck his breast, said, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this second man went home justified, but not the first man, for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
Many people brought infants to Jesus that He would touch them. But when the disciples saw the large crowd, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, Let the little children come to me. Do not forbid them for of such is the kingdom of God. Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no way enter therein.
A certain ruler asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one, that is, God. Know the commandments. Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honor thy father and thy mother.
And he said, All these commandments I have kept from my youth up. Then Jesus said to him, Yet you lack one thing. Sell all you have and give to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.
When he heard this, he was very sorrowful because he was very rich and had many possessions. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, He said, How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Those who heard this asked, Who then can be saved? Jesus answered, The things which are not possible for men are possible for God. And Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. Jesus said to them, Verily I say to you, There is no one who has left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive a great reward in this present time and in life everlasting.
Then Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them, Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem where all things that are written by the prophets about the Son of man will be accomplished. He shall be delivered to the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully treated, and spit on. They will scourge Him and put Him to death. And, on the third day, He shall rise again.
And it came to pass, as He was near Jericho, a blind man sat begging by the wayside. When he was told that Jesus was passing by, he cried, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. When some told him to hold his peace, he cried out again, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
Jesus stopped and commanded that the blind man be brought to Him. Then Jesus said to the man, What do you want me to do for you? The man said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. Jesus said, Receive thy sight. Thy faith has saved thee. And immediately he received his sight and followed Him, glorifying God. The people, also, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
19 In Jericho there was a rich man named Zacchaeus, who was the head of the publicans. When Jesus passed through the town, Zacchaeus wanted to see Him. Zacchaeus was short of stature and could not see Jesus through the press of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a tree to see Jesus as He passed by.
When Jesus came to the place, He looked up, saw him and said, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down. Today I must abide at your house. He hurried down from the tree and received Jesus joyfully. When the people saw this, they all murmured and said that Jesus was gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.
Then Zacchaeus said, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have taken anything from any one by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. Jesus said to him, Today salvation comes to this house, for now you are also a son of Abraham. The Son of man is come to seek and to save those who were lost.
As the people listened to these things, Jesus added a parable, because He was now near Jerusalem and many thought that the kingdom of God should appear immediately.
He said therefore, A nobleman went a great distance to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. He called his ten servants together and delivered over to them ten talents. He said to them, Handle my business until I return. But the citizens hated this nobleman, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man reign over us.
After he received the kingdom, he returned and called the servants to him for an accounting of what they had done with the talents. The first servant said, Lord, thy talent has gained ten more. He said to him, Very good. Because you have been faithful in this little matter, you now have authority over ten cities. The second servant said, Lord, the talent has gained another five. He said likewise to him, You now have authority over five cities.
Then came another servant who said, Lord, here is your talent which I have kept tied up in a cloth for I feared thee because thou art a hard man. You take up what you have not laid down and reap what you have not sown.
He said to this servant, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. If you knew that I was a hard man, taking up what I laid not down, and reaping what I did not sow, why, then, did you not put the talents in the bank, that, on my return, I would get my own back with interest? Give this talent to the servant who gained ten more. To every one who has, more shall be given. And from him who has not, even the little he has shall be taken away from him. And those who are my enemies and say I should reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.
It came to pass, when Jesus was near Bethphage and Bethany not far from Jerusalem, He called two of His disciples and said, Go into the village over there. When you enter you will find a colt whereon no man has ever sat. Loose him and bring him here. If any man asks you why you untie him say, Because the Lord has need of him.
And they that were sent went their way and found everything as He had said to them. As they were loosing the colt, the owners said to them, Why do you loose the colt? They said, The Lord has need of him. And they brought him to Jesus, cast their garments upon the colt, and set Jesus thereon. And as He went, they spread their clothes in the way. When He was near the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen. They called out, Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
Some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said to Him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. Jesus answered, I tell you, if they held their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
When He was near, He beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou had known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because you knew not the time of thy visitation.
Jesus went into the temple and began to cast out those who sold and those who bought; saying to them, It is written: My house is the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.
He taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests, scribes, and ruler of the people sought to destroy Him, but could not find a way to do it because all the people were very glad to hear Him.
20 One day, as Jesus taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, the chief priests and scribes came in with the elders, and said to Him, Tell us by what authority you do these things and who gives you this authority? Jesus said to them, I will ask you something also. Tell me, the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
They discussed it among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven; He will say, Why, then, did you not believe him? And if we say, Of men; the people will stone us for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.
Finally, they told Jesus that they could not tell where it came from. And Jesus said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. Then Jesus told the people a parable.