1Chapter
The Messiah’s Herald
1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way. 3A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Prepare the way for the Lord;
make his paths straight!
4John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.
7He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
4John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.
7He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism of Jesus
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.”
The Temptation of Jesus
12Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.
Ministry in Galilee
14After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God: 15“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
The First Disciples
16As he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea —for they were fishermen. 17“Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” 18Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19Going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat putting their nets in order. 20Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Driving Out an Unclean Spirit
21They went into Capernaum, and right away he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. 22They were astonished at his teaching because he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not like the scribes.
23Just then a man with an unclean spirit was in their synagogue. He cried out, 24“What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25Jesus rebuked him saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26And the unclean spirit threw him into convulsions, shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.
27They were all amazed, and so they began to ask each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28At once the news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.
23Just then a man with an unclean spirit was in their synagogue. He cried out, 24“What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25Jesus rebuked him saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26And the unclean spirit threw him into convulsions, shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.
27They were all amazed, and so they began to ask each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28At once the news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.
Healings at Capernaum
29As soon as they left the synagogue, they went into Simon and Andrew’s house with James and John. 30Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31So he went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32When evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were sick and demon-possessed. 33The whole town was assembled at the door, 34and he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
32When evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were sick and demon-possessed. 33The whole town was assembled at the door, 34and he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Preaching in Galilee
35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying. 36Simon and his companions searched for him, 37and when they found him they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38And he said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come.”
38And he said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come.”
A Man Cleansed
39He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. 40Then a man with leprosy came to him and, on his knees, begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.” 42Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43Then he sternly warned him and sent him away at once, 44telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45Yet he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news, with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.
2Chapter
The Son of Man Forgives and Heals
1When he entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word to them. 3They came to him bringing a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. 5Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts: 7“Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8Right away Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’? 10But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he told the paralytic— 11“I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.”
12Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
6But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts: 7“Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8Right away Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’? 10But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he told the paralytic— 11“I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.”
12Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
The Call of Levi
13Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14Then, passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him.
15While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him. 16When the scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
17When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
15While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him. 16When the scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
17When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
A Question about Fasting
18Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. People came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
19Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. 20But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. 21No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth, and a worse tear is made. 22And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. No, new wine is put into fresh wineskins.”
19Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. 20But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. 21No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth, and a worse tear is made. 22And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. No, new wine is put into fresh wineskins.”
Lord of the Sabbath
23On the Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to make their way, picking some heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
25He said to them, “Have you never read what David and those who were with him did when he was in need and hungry — 26how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the bread of the Presence —which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests —and also gave some to his companions?” 27Then he told them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. 28So then, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
25He said to them, “Have you never read what David and those who were with him did when he was in need and hungry — 26how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the bread of the Presence —which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests —and also gave some to his companions?” 27Then he told them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. 28So then, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
3Chapter
1Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a shriveled hand. 2In order to accuse him, they were watching him closely to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3He told the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand before us.” 4Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5After looking around at them with anger, he was grieved at the hardness of their hearts and told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against him, how they might kill him.
Ministering to the Multitude
7Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea, 8Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to him because they heard about everything he was doing. 9Then he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, so that the crowd wouldn’t crush him. 10Since he had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch him. 11Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” 12And he would strongly warn them not to make him known.
The Twelve Apostles
13Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him. 14He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, to send them out to preach, 15and to have authority to drive out demons. 16He appointed the Twelve: To Simon, he gave the name Peter; 17and to James the son of Zebedee, and to his brother John, he gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder” ); 18Andrew; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, 19and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
A House Divided
20Jesus entered a house, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat. 21When his family heard this, they set out to restrain him, because they said, “He’s out of his mind.”
22The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
23So he summoned them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand but is finished. 27But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
28“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter. 29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” — 30because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
22The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
23So he summoned them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand but is finished. 27But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
28“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter. 29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” — 30because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
True Relationships
31His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent word to him and called him. 32A crowd was sitting around him and told him, “Look, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside asking for you.”
33He replied to them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34Looking at those sitting in a circle around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
33He replied to them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34Looking at those sitting in a circle around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
4Chapter
The Parable of the Sower
1Again he began to teach by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around him. So he got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was by the sea on the shore. 2He taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them, 3“Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow. 4As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly, since the soil wasn’t deep. 6When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn’t produce fruit. 8Still other seed fell on good ground and it grew up, producing fruit that increased thirty, sixty, and a hundred times.” 9Then he said, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”
Why Jesus Used Parables
10When he was alone, those around him with the Twelve asked him about the parables. 11He answered them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables 12so that
they may indeed look,
and yet not perceive;
they may indeed listen,
and yet not understand;
otherwise, they might turn back
and be forgiven.”
The Parable of the Sower Explained
13Then he said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand all of the parables? 14The sower sows the word. 15Some are like the word sown on the path. When they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them. 16And others are like seed sown on rocky ground. When they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy. 17But they have no root; they are short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately fall away. 18Others are like seed sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, 19but the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20And those like seed sown on good ground hear the word, welcome it, and produce fruit thirty, sixty, and a hundred times what was sown.”
Using Your Light
21He also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand? 22For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light. 23If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.” 24And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and more will be added to you. 25For whoever has, more will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
The Parable of the Growing Seed
26“The kingdom of God is like this,” he said. “A man scatters seed on the ground. 27He sleeps and rises night and day; the seed sprouts and grows, although he doesn’t know how. 28The soil produces a crop by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the full grain on the head. 29As soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to describe it? 31It’s like a mustard seed that, when sown upon the soil, is the smallest of all the seeds on the ground. 32And when sown, it comes up and grows taller than all the garden plants, and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky can nest in its shade.”
Using Parables
33He was speaking the word to them with many parables like these, as they were able to understand. 34He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, he explained everything to his own disciples.
Wind and Waves Obey Jesus
35On that day, when evening had come, he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” 36So they left the crowd and took him along since he was in the boat. And other boats were with him. 37A great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?”
39He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”
39He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”
5Chapter
Demons Driven Out by Jesus
1They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. 2As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him. 3He lived in the tombs, and no one was able to restrain him anymore—not even with a chain — 4because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had torn the chains apart and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.
6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him. 7And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you before God, don’t torment me!” 8For he had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
9“What is your name?” he asked him. “My name is Legion,” he answered him, “because we are many.” 10And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region.
11A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. 12The demons begged him, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” 13So he gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.
14The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. 15They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16Those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs. 17Then they began to beg him to leave their region.
18As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged him earnestly that he might remain with him. 19Jesus did not let him but told him, “Go home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.” 20So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.
6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him. 7And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you before God, don’t torment me!” 8For he had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
9“What is your name?” he asked him. “My name is Legion,” he answered him, “because we are many.” 10And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region.
11A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. 12The demons begged him, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” 13So he gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.
14The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. 15They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16Those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs. 17Then they began to beg him to leave their region.
18As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged him earnestly that he might remain with him. 19Jesus did not let him but told him, “Go home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.” 20So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.
A Girl Restored and a Woman Healed
21When Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the sea. 22One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet 23and begged him earnestly, “My little daughter is dying. Come and lay your hands on her so that she can get well and live.” 24So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against him.
25Now a woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years 26had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse. 27Having heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothing. 28For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I’ll be made well.” 29Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
30Immediately Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?”
31His disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing against you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’”
32But he was looking around to see who had done this. 33The woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34“Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed from your affliction.”
35While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?”
36When Jesus overheard what was said, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” 37He did not let anyone accompany him except Peter, James, and John, James’s brother. 38They came to the leader’s house, and he saw a commotion—people weeping and wailing loudly. 39He went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40They laughed at him, but he put them all outside. He took the child’s father, mother, and those who were with him, and entered the place where the child was. 41Then he took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum” (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up” ). 42Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. (She was twelve years old.) At this they were utterly astounded. 43Then he gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and told them to give her something to eat.
25Now a woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years 26had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse. 27Having heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothing. 28For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I’ll be made well.” 29Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
30Immediately Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?”
31His disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing against you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’”
32But he was looking around to see who had done this. 33The woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34“Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed from your affliction.”
35While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?”
36When Jesus overheard what was said, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” 37He did not let anyone accompany him except Peter, James, and John, James’s brother. 38They came to the leader’s house, and he saw a commotion—people weeping and wailing loudly. 39He went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40They laughed at him, but he put them all outside. He took the child’s father, mother, and those who were with him, and entered the place where the child was. 41Then he took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum” (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up” ). 42Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. (She was twelve years old.) At this they were utterly astounded. 43Then he gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and told them to give her something to eat.
6Chapter
Rejection at Nazareth
1He left there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands? 3Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended by him.
4Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” 5He was not able to do a miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6And he was amazed at their unbelief. He was going around the villages teaching.
4Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” 5He was not able to do a miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6And he was amazed at their unbelief. He was going around the villages teaching.
Commissioning the Twelve
7He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits. 8He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff—no bread, no traveling bag, no money in their belts, 9but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt. 10He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. 11If any place does not welcome you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 12So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
John the Baptist Beheaded
14King Herod heard about it, because Jesus’s name had become well known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that’s why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15But others said, “He’s Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet, like one of the prophets from long ago.”
16When Herod heard of it, he said, “John, the one I beheaded, has been raised!”
17For Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. 18John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
21An opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet for his nobles, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee. 22When Herodias’s own daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23He promised her with an oath: “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
24She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” “John the Baptist’s head,” she said.
25At once she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter immediately.” 26Although the king was deeply distressed, because of his oaths and the guests he did not want to refuse her. 27The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison, 28brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29When John’s disciples heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.
16When Herod heard of it, he said, “John, the one I beheaded, has been raised!”
17For Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. 18John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
21An opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet for his nobles, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee. 22When Herodias’s own daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23He promised her with an oath: “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
24She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” “John the Baptist’s head,” she said.
25At once she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter immediately.” 26Although the king was deeply distressed, because of his oaths and the guests he did not want to refuse her. 27The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison, 28brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29When John’s disciples heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.
Feeding of the Five Thousand
30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught. 31He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
32So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place, 33but many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they ran on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.
34When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.
35When it grew late, his disciples approached him and said, “This place is deserted, and it is already late. 36Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat.”
37“You give them something to eat,” he responded. They said to him, “Should we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”
38He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39Then he instructed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42Everyone ate and was satisfied. 43They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish. 44Now those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men.
32So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place, 33but many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they ran on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.
34When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.
35When it grew late, his disciples approached him and said, “This place is deserted, and it is already late. 36Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat.”
37“You give them something to eat,” he responded. They said to him, “Should we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”
38He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39Then he instructed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42Everyone ate and was satisfied. 43They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish. 44Now those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men.
Walking on the Water
45Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46After he said good-bye to them, he went away to the mountain to pray. 47Well into the night, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Very early in the morning he came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them. 49When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out, 50because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke with them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, 52because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.
Miraculous Healings
53When they had crossed over, they came to shore at Gennesaret and anchored there.
54As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized him. 55They hurried throughout that region and began to carry the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56Wherever he went, into villages, towns, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch just the end of his robe. And everyone who touched it was healed.
54As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized him. 55They hurried throughout that region and began to carry the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56Wherever he went, into villages, towns, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch just the end of his robe. And everyone who touched it was healed.
7Chapter
The Traditions of the Elders
1The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him. 2They observed that some of his disciples were eating bread with unclean —that is, unwashed—hands. 3(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, keeping the tradition of the elders. 4When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they have washed. And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and dining couches. ) 5So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders, instead of eating bread with ceremonially unclean hands?”
6He answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands.
8Abandoning the command of God, you hold on to human tradition.” 9He also said to them, “You have a fine way of invalidating God’s command in order to set up your tradition! 10For Moses said: Honor your father and your mother; and Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death. 11But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or mother: Whatever benefit you might have received from me is corban’” (that is, an offering devoted to God), 12“you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13You nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many other similar things.”
14Summoning the crowd again, he told them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”
17When he went into the house away from the crowd, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18He said to them, “Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don’t you realize that nothing going into a person from the outside can defile him? 19For it doesn’t go into his heart but into the stomach and is eliminated” (thus he declared all foods clean ). 20And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, 22adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, self-indulgence, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”
6He answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands.
8Abandoning the command of God, you hold on to human tradition.” 9He also said to them, “You have a fine way of invalidating God’s command in order to set up your tradition! 10For Moses said: Honor your father and your mother; and Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death. 11But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or mother: Whatever benefit you might have received from me is corban’” (that is, an offering devoted to God), 12“you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13You nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many other similar things.”
14Summoning the crowd again, he told them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”
17When he went into the house away from the crowd, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18He said to them, “Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don’t you realize that nothing going into a person from the outside can defile him? 19For it doesn’t go into his heart but into the stomach and is eliminated” (thus he declared all foods clean ). 20And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, 22adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, self-indulgence, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”
A Gentile Mother’s Faith
24He got up and departed from there to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but he could not escape notice. 25Instead, immediately after hearing about him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at his feet. 26The woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she was asking him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, because it isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
28But she replied to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
29Then he told her, “Because of this reply, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.” 30When she went back to her home, she found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.
28But she replied to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
29Then he told her, “Because of this reply, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.” 30When she went back to her home, she found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.
Jesus Does Everything Well
31Again, leaving the region of Tyre, he went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis. 32They brought to him a deaf man who had difficulty speaking and begged Jesus to lay his hand on him. 33So he took him away from the crowd in private. After putting his fingers in the man’s ears and spitting, he touched his tongue. 34Looking up to heaven, he sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”). 35Immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak clearly. 36He ordered them to tell no one, but the more he ordered them, the more they proclaimed it.
37They were extremely astonished and said, “He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
37They were extremely astonished and said, “He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
8Chapter
Feeding Four Thousand
1In those days there was again a large crowd, and they had nothing to eat. He called the disciples and said to them, 2“I have compassion on the crowd, because they’ve already stayed with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a long distance.”
4His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread here in this desolate place to feed these people?”
5“How many loaves do you have?” he asked them. “Seven,” they said. 6He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves, he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. So they served them to the crowd. 7They also had a few small fish, and after he had blessed them, he said these were to be served as well. 8They ate and were satisfied. Then they collected seven large baskets of leftover pieces. 9About four thousand were there. He dismissed them. 10And he immediately got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
4His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread here in this desolate place to feed these people?”
5“How many loaves do you have?” he asked them. “Seven,” they said. 6He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves, he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. So they served them to the crowd. 7They also had a few small fish, and after he had blessed them, he said these were to be served as well. 8They ate and were satisfied. Then they collected seven large baskets of leftover pieces. 9About four thousand were there. He dismissed them. 10And he immediately got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod
11The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, demanding of him a sign from heaven to test him. 12Sighing deeply in his spirit, he said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13Then he left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side.
14The disciples had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15Then he gave them strict orders: “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. 17Aware of this, he said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact you have no bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Do you have hardened hearts? 18Do you have eyes and not see; do you have ears and not hear? And do you not remember? 19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of leftovers did you collect?” “Twelve,” they told him.
20“When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you collect?” “Seven,” they said.
21And he said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”
14The disciples had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15Then he gave them strict orders: “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. 17Aware of this, he said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact you have no bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Do you have hardened hearts? 18Do you have eyes and not see; do you have ears and not hear? And do you not remember? 19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of leftovers did you collect?” “Twelve,” they told him.
20“When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you collect?” “Seven,” they said.
21And he said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”
Healing a Blind Man
22They came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. 23He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”
24He looked up and said, “I see people—they look like trees walking.”
25Again Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly. 26Then he sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”
24He looked up and said, “I see people—they look like trees walking.”
25Again Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly. 26Then he sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”
Peter’s Confession of the Messiah
27Jesus went out with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”
28They answered him, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”
29“But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” 30And he strictly warned them to tell no one about him.
28They answered him, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”
29“But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” 30And he strictly warned them to tell no one about him.
His Death and Resurrection Predicted
31Then he began to teach them that it was necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and rise after three days. 32He spoke openly about this. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning around and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are not thinking about God’s concerns but human concerns.”
Take Up Your Cross
34Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it. 36For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life? 37What can anyone give in exchange for his life? 38For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
9Chapter
1Then he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”
The Transfiguration
2After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transfigured in front of them, 3and his clothes became dazzling—extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them. 4Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6because he did not know what to say, since they were terrified.
7A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him!”
8Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10They kept this word to themselves, questioning what “rising from the dead” meant.
11Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
12“Elijah does come first and restores all things,” he replied. “Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written about him.”
7A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him!”
8Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10They kept this word to themselves, questioning what “rising from the dead” meant.
11Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
12“Elijah does come first and restores all things,” he replied. “Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written about him.”
The Power of Faith over a Demon
14When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing with them. 15When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran to greet him. 16He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about?”
17Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak. 18Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”
19He replied to them, “You unbelieving generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” 20So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21“How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father. “From childhood,” he said. 22“And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’? Everything is possible for the one who believes.”
24Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
25When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you: Come out of him and never enter him again.”
26Then it came out, shrieking and throwing him into terrible convulsions. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.” 27But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
28After he had gone into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29And he told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer.”
17Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak. 18Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”
19He replied to them, “You unbelieving generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” 20So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21“How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father. “From childhood,” he said. 22“And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’? Everything is possible for the one who believes.”
24Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
25When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you: Come out of him and never enter him again.”
26Then it came out, shrieking and throwing him into terrible convulsions. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.” 27But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
28After he had gone into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29And he told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer.”
The Second Prediction of His Death
30Then they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but he did not want anyone to know it. 31For he was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after he is killed, he will rise three days later.” 32But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.
Who Is the Greatest?
33They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. 35Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.” 36He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37“Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me.”
In His Name
38John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”
39“Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me. 40For whoever is not against us is for us. 41And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ —truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.
39“Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me. 40For whoever is not against us is for us. 41And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ —truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.
Warnings from Jesus
42“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away —it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
43“And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire. 45And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49For everyone will be salted with fire. 50Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
43“And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire. 45And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49For everyone will be salted with fire. 50Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
10Chapter
The Question of Divorce
1He set out from there and went to the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Then crowds converged on him again, and as was his custom he taught them again.
2Some Pharisees came to test him, asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
3He replied to them, “What did Moses command you?”
4They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away.”
5But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts. 6But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. 7For this reason a man will leave his father and mother 8and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
10When they were in the house again, the disciples questioned him about this matter. 11He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12Also, if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
2Some Pharisees came to test him, asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
3He replied to them, “What did Moses command you?”
4They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away.”
5But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts. 6But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. 7For this reason a man will leave his father and mother 8and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
10When they were in the house again, the disciples questioned him about this matter. 11He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12Also, if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
Blessing the Children
13People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.
The Rich Young Ruler
17As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. 19You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.”
20He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.”
21Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. 19You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.”
20He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.”
21Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
Possessions and the Kingdom
23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”
24The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
26They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?”
27Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”
28Peter began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”
29“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, 30who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time —houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions —and eternal life in the age to come. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
24The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
26They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?”
27Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”
28Peter began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”
29“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, 30who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time —houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions —and eternal life in the age to come. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
The Third Prediction of His Death
32They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, but those who followed him were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him. 33“See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34and they will mock him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him, and he will rise after three days.”
Suffering and Service
35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you.”
36“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.
37They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.”
38Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
39“We are able,” they told him. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. 40But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John. 42Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 43But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
36“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.
37They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.”
38Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
39“We are able,” they told him. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. 40But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John. 42Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 43But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
A Blind Man Healed
46They came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me, Son of David!”
49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up; he’s calling for you.” 50He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabboni,” the blind man said to him, “I want to see.”
52Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.” Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.
49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up; he’s calling for you.” 50He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabboni,” the blind man said to him, “I want to see.”
52Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.” Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.
11Chapter
The Triumphal Entry
1When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.’”
4So they went and found a colt outside in the street, tied by a door. They untied it, 5and some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6They answered them just as Jesus had said; so they let them go.
7They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their clothes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields. 9Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!
11He went into Jerusalem and into the temple. After looking around at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
4So they went and found a colt outside in the street, tied by a door. They untied it, 5and some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6They answered them just as Jesus had said; so they let them go.
7They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their clothes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields. 9Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!
11He went into Jerusalem and into the temple. After looking around at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
The Barren Fig Tree Is Cursed
12The next day when they went out from Bethany, he was hungry. 13Seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to find out if there was anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season for figs. 14He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And his disciples heard it.
Cleansing the Temple
15They came to Jerusalem, and he went into the temple and began to throw out those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. 17He was teaching them: “Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!”
18The chief priests and the scribes heard it and started looking for a way to kill him. For they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was astonished by his teaching.
19Whenever evening came, they would go out of the city.
18The chief priests and the scribes heard it and started looking for a way to kill him. For they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was astonished by his teaching.
19Whenever evening came, they would go out of the city.
The Barren Fig Tree Is Withered
20Early in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. 21Then Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”
22Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God. 23Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for —believe that you have received it and it will be yours. 25And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.”
22Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God. 23Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for —believe that you have received it and it will be yours. 25And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.”
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
27They came again to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came 28and asked him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do these things?”
29Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; then answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30Was John’s baptism from heaven or of human origin? Answer me.”
31They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 32But if we say, ‘Of human origin’”—they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was truly a prophet. 33So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
29Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; then answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30Was John’s baptism from heaven or of human origin? Answer me.”
31They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 32But if we say, ‘Of human origin’”—they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was truly a prophet. 33So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
12Chapter
The Parable of the Vineyard Owner
1He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug out a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went away. 2At harvest time he sent a servant to the farmers to collect some of the fruit of the vineyard from them. 3But they took him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 4Again he sent another servant to them, and they hit him on the head and treated him shamefully. 5Then he sent another, and they killed that one. He also sent many others; some they beat, and others they killed. 6He still had one to send, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7But those tenant farmers said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 9What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill the farmers and give the vineyard to others. 10Haven’t you read this Scripture:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone. 11This came about from the Lord
and is wonderful in our eyes?”
12They were looking for a way to arrest him but feared the crowd because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. So they left him and went away.
12They were looking for a way to arrest him but feared the crowd because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. So they left him and went away.
God and Caesar
13Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to Jesus to trap him in his words. 14When they came, they said to him, “Teacher, we know you are truthful and don’t care what anyone thinks, nor do you show partiality but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
15But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” 16They brought a coin. “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them. “Caesar’s,” they replied.
17Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.
15But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” 16They brought a coin. “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them. “Caesar’s,” they replied.
17Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.
The Sadducees and the Resurrection
18Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and questioned him: 19“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife behind but no child, that man should take the wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 20There were seven brothers. The first married a woman, and dying, left no offspring. 21The second also took her, and he died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22None of the seven left offspring. Last of all, the woman died too. 23In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be, since the seven had married her?”
24Jesus spoke to them, “Isn’t this the reason why you’re mistaken: you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. 26And as for the dead being raised—haven’t you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God said to him: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? 27He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken.”
24Jesus spoke to them, “Isn’t this the reason why you’re mistaken: you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. 26And as for the dead being raised—haven’t you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God said to him: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? 27He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken.”
The Primary Commands
28One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?”
29Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”
32Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, teacher. You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one else except him. 33And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question him any longer.
29Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”
32Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, teacher. You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one else except him. 33And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question him any longer.
The Question about the Messiah
35While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36David himself says by the Holy Spirit:
The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies under your feet.’
37David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How, then, can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.
37David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How, then, can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.
Warning against the Scribes
38He also said in his teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who want greetings in the marketplaces, 39the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. 40They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”
The Widow’s Gift
41Sitting across from the temple treasury, he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. 42Then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. 43Summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had —all she had to live on.”
13Chapter
Destruction of the Temple Predicted
1As he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!”
2Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.”
2Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.”
Signs of the End of the Age
3While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4“Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”
5Jesus told them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many. 7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be alarmed; these things must take place, but it is not yet the end. 8For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
5Jesus told them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many. 7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be alarmed; these things must take place, but it is not yet the end. 8For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
Persecutions Predicted
9“But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them. 10And it is necessary that the gospel be preached to all nations. 11So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.
12“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.
The Great Tribulation
14“When you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. 15A man on the housetop must not come down or go in to get anything out of his house, 16and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat. 17Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!
18“Pray it won’t happen in winter. 19For those will be days of tribulation, the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning of creation, which God created, until now and never will be again. 20If the Lord had not cut those days short, no one would be saved. But he cut those days short for the sake of the elect, whom he chose.
21“Then if anyone tells you, ‘See, here is the Messiah! See, there!’ do not believe it. 22For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.
18“Pray it won’t happen in winter. 19For those will be days of tribulation, the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning of creation, which God created, until now and never will be again. 20If the Lord had not cut those days short, no one would be saved. But he cut those days short for the sake of the elect, whom he chose.
21“Then if anyone tells you, ‘See, here is the Messiah! See, there!’ do not believe it. 22For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.
The Coming of the Son of Man
24“But in those days, after that tribulation: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; 25the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27He will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
28“Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 29In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that he is near—at the door.
30“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
30“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
No One Knows the Day or Hour
32“Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son —but only the Father.
33“Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming.
34“It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. 35Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. 36Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping. 37And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”
33“Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming.
34“It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. 35Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. 36Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping. 37And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”
14Chapter
The Plot to Kill Jesus
1It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a cunning way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2“Not during the festival,” they said, “so that there won’t be a riot among the people.”
The Anointing at Bethany
3While he was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured it on his head. 4But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this perfume been wasted? 5For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they began to scold her.
6Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing for me. 7You always have the poor with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have me. 8She has done what she could; she has anointed my body in advance for burial. 9Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him.
6Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing for me. 7You always have the poor with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have me. 8She has done what she could; she has anointed my body in advance for burial. 9Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him.
Preparation for Passover
12On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare the Passover so that you may eat it?”
13So he sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 15He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” 16So the disciples went out, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
13So he sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 15He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” 16So the disciples went out, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
Betrayal at the Passover
17When evening came, he arrived with the Twelve. 18While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”
19They began to be distressed and to say to him one by one, “Surely not I?”
20He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping bread in the bowl with me. 21For the Son of Man will go just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.”
19They began to be distressed and to say to him one by one, “Surely not I?”
20He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping bread in the bowl with me. 21For the Son of Man will go just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.”
The First Lord’s Supper
22As they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” 23Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
26After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
26After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Peter’s Denial Predicted
27Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away, because it is written:
I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.
28But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
29Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away, I will not.”
30“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
31But he kept insisting, “If I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And they all said the same thing.
28But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
29Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away, I will not.”
30“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
31But he kept insisting, “If I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And they all said the same thing.
The Prayer in the Garden
32Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.” 35He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36And he said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.” 37Then he came and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake one hour? 38Stay awake and pray so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39Once again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing. 40And again he came and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to him. 41Then he came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. See, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”
Judas’s Betrayal of Jesus
43While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44His betrayer had given them a signal. “The one I kiss,” he said, “he’s the one; arrest him and take him away under guard.” 45So when he came, immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46They took hold of him and arrested him. 47One of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear.
48Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture me? 49Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”
50Then they all deserted him and ran away. 51Now a certain young man, wearing nothing but a linen cloth, was following him. They caught hold of him, 52but he left the linen cloth behind and ran away naked.
48Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture me? 49Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”
50Then they all deserted him and ran away. 51Now a certain young man, wearing nothing but a linen cloth, was following him. They caught hold of him, 52but he left the linen cloth behind and ran away naked.
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
53They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes assembled. 54Peter followed him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the servants, warming himself by the fire.
55The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any. 56For many were giving false testimony against him, and the testimonies did not agree. 57Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, 58“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’” 59Yet their testimony did not agree even on this.
60Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 61But he kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62“I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
63Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? 64You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death.
65Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying, “Prophesy!” The temple servants also took him and slapped him.
55The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any. 56For many were giving false testimony against him, and the testimonies did not agree. 57Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, 58“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’” 59Yet their testimony did not agree even on this.
60Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 61But he kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62“I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
63Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? 64You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death.
65Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying, “Prophesy!” The temple servants also took him and slapped him.
Peter Denies His Lord
66While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s maidservants came. 67When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”
68But he denied it: “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about.” Then he went out to the entryway, and a rooster crowed.
69When the maidservant saw him again, she began to tell those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”
70But again he denied it. After a little while those standing there said to Peter again, “You certainly are one of them, since you’re also a Galilean.”
71Then he started to curse and swear, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”
72Immediately a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
68But he denied it: “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about.” Then he went out to the entryway, and a rooster crowed.
69When the maidservant saw him again, she began to tell those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”
70But again he denied it. After a little while those standing there said to Peter again, “You certainly are one of them, since you’re also a Galilean.”
71Then he started to curse and swear, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”
72Immediately a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
15Chapter
Jesus Faces Pilate
1As soon as it was morning, having held a meeting with the elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin, the chief priests tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.
2So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.”
3And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4Pilate questioned him again, “Aren’t you going to answer? Look how many things they are accusing you of!” 5But Jesus still did not answer, and so Pilate was amazed.
2So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.”
3And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4Pilate questioned him again, “Aren’t you going to answer? Look how many things they are accusing you of!” 5But Jesus still did not answer, and so Pilate was amazed.
Jesus or Barabbas
6At the festival Pilate used to release for the people a prisoner whom they requested. 7There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder during the rebellion. 8The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom. 9Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?” 10For he knew it was because of envy that the chief priests had handed him over. 11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead. 12Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the king of the Jews?”
13Again they shouted, “Crucify him!”
14Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!”
15Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.
13Again they shouted, “Crucify him!”
14Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!”
15Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.
Mocked by the Military
16The soldiers led him away into the palace (that is, the governor’s residence ) and called the whole company together. 17They dressed him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and put it on him. 18And they began to salute him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19They were hitting him on the head with a stick and spitting on him. Getting down on their knees, they were paying him homage. 20After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his clothes on him.
Crucified Between Two Criminals
20They led him out to crucify him. 21They forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus’s cross. He was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
22They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull ). 23They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.
24Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, casting lots for them to decide what each would get. 25Now it was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26The inscription of the charge written against him was: The King of the Jews. 27They crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and one on his left.
29Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their heads, and saying, “Ha! The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30save yourself by coming down from the cross!” 31In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes were mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! 32Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with him taunted him.
22They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull ). 23They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.
24Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, casting lots for them to decide what each would get. 25Now it was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26The inscription of the charge written against him was: The King of the Jews. 27They crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and one on his left.
29Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their heads, and saying, “Ha! The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30save yourself by coming down from the cross!” 31In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes were mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! 32Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with him taunted him.
The Death of Jesus
33When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
35When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “See, he’s calling for Elijah.”
36Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, fixed it on a stick, offered him a drink, and said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.”
37Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed his last. 38Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
40There were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41In Galilee these women followed him and took care of him. Many other women had come up with him to Jerusalem.
35When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “See, he’s calling for Elijah.”
36Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, fixed it on a stick, offered him a drink, and said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.”
37Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed his last. 38Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
40There were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41In Galilee these women followed him and took care of him. Many other women had come up with him to Jerusalem.
The Burial of Jesus
42When it was already evening, because it was the day of preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath), 43Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, came and boldly went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. 44Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had already died. 45When he found out from the centurion, he gave the corpse to Joseph. 46After he bought some linen cloth, Joseph took him down and wrapped him in the linen. Then he laid him in a tomb cut out of the rock and rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. 47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where he was laid.
16Chapter
Resurrection Morning
1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they could go and anoint him. 2Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb at sunrise. 3They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?” 4Looking up, they noticed that the stone—which was very large—had been rolled away.
5When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; they were alarmed. 6“Don’t be alarmed,” he told them. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.’”
8They went out and ran from the tomb, because trembling and astonishment overwhelmed them. And they said nothing to anyone, since they were afraid.
5When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; they were alarmed. 6“Don’t be alarmed,” he told them. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.’”
8They went out and ran from the tomb, because trembling and astonishment overwhelmed them. And they said nothing to anyone, since they were afraid.
The Longer Ending of Mark: Appearances of the Risen Lord
9[Early on the first day of the week, after he had risen, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10She went and reported to those who had been with him, as they were mourning and weeping. 11Yet, when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it.
12After this, he appeared in a different form to two of them walking on their way into the country. 13And they went and reported it to the rest, who did not believe them either.
12After this, he appeared in a different form to two of them walking on their way into the country. 13And they went and reported it to the rest, who did not believe them either.
The Great Commission
14Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen. 15Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.”
The Ascension
19So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]
Study