1

1 The Preaching of John the Baptist The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in the Prophets: “Look, I am sending My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.”

3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.’ ”

4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

5 The whole region of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist. And he ate locusts and wild honey.

7 He preached saying, “After me is coming One mightier than I, the straps of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

8 I indeed have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9 The Baptism of Jesus In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

10 Coming up out of the water, He immediately saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.

11 And a voice came from heaven, saying, “You are My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

12 The Temptation of Jesus The Spirit immediately drove Him into the wilderness.

13 And He was there in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts. And the angels ministered to Him.

14 The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry After John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

15 saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel.”

16 The Calling of the First Disciples As He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, his brother, throwing a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

17 Jesus said to them, “Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee and John, his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.

20 Immediately He called them. And they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed Him.

21 The Man With an Unclean Spirit They went to Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.

22 They were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

23 In their synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit.

24 And he cried out, “Leave us alone! 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.”

25 Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!”

26 When the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, it came out of him.

27 They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, “What is this? What new teaching is this? With authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”

28 Immediately His fame spread everywhere throughout the region surrounding Galilee.

29 The Healing of Many People When He came out of the synagogue with James and John, they went directly to the house of Simon and Andrew.

30 The mother of Simon’s wife lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told Him of her.

31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

32 In the evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were possessed with demons.

33 The whole city was gathered at the door,

34 and He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. And He did not let the demons speak, because they knew Him.

35 A Preaching Tour In the morning, rising up a great while before sunrise, He went out and departed to a solitary place. And there He prayed.

36 Simon and those who were with Him followed Him,

37 and when they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is searching for You.”

38 He said to them, “Let us go into the nearby towns, that I may preach there also. For that is why I have come.”

39 So He preached in their synagogues throughout Galilee and cast out demons.

40 The Cleansing of a Leper A leper came to Him, pleading with Him and kneeling before Him, saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, extended His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will. Be clean.”

42 As soon as He had spoken, the leprosy immediately departed from him, and he was cleansed.

43 He sternly warned him, and sent him away at once,

44 saying, “See that you say nothing to anyone. But go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

45 Instead he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news around, so that Jesus could no more openly enter the city, but was out in remote places. And they came to Him from every quarter.

2

1 The Healing of a Paralytic Again, He entered Capernaum after some days. And it was reported that He was in the house.

2 Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no room to receive them, not even at the door. And He preached the word to them.

3 They came to Him bringing one sick with paralysis, who was carried by four men.

4 When they could not come near Him due to the crowding, they uncovered the roof where He was. When they had broken it open, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

6 But some of the scribes were sitting there, reasoning in their hearts,

7 “Why does this Man speak such blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8 Immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you contemplate these things in your hearts?

9 Which is easier to say to the paralytic: ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?

10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He said to the paralytic,

11 “I say to you, rise, and take up your bed, and go your way to your house.”

12 Immediately he rose, picked up the bed, and went out in front of them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

13 The Calling of Levi He went out again by the seaside, and the whole crowd came to Him, and He taught them.

14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s station, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he rose and followed Him.

15 As Jesus was at supper in his house, many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples. For there were many, and they followed Him.

16 When the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

18 The Question About Fasting Now the disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

19 Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.

21 “No one sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment, or else the new piece that covered it tears away from the old, and the tear is made worse.

22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, and the wine is spilled, and the wineskins will be marred. But new wine must be poured into new wineskins.”

23 The Question About the Sabbath He went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. As they went, His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain.

24 The Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing on the Sabbath what is not lawful?”

25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he and those who were with him were in need and hungry:

26 how he went into the house of God, in the days Abiathar was the high priest, and ate the ritual bread, which is lawful only for the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?”

27 Then He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

3

1 The Man With a Withered Hand Again, He entered the synagogue, and there was a man who had a withered hand.

2 They watched Him to see whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.

3 He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Stand up.”

4 Then He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent.

5 When He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch your hand forward.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against Him, how to kill Him.

7 The Crowd at the Seaside Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great crowd followed Him from Galilee and Judea

8 and Jerusalem, and Idumea, and from beyond the Jordan. And those from Tyre and Sidon, a great crowd, when they heard what great things He did, came to Him.

9 He told the disciples to have a small boat ready for Him because of the crowd, lest they should crush Him.

10 For He had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed on Him to touch Him.

11 When unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him, crying out, “You are the Son of God.”

12 But He sternly ordered them not to make Him known.

13 The Choosing of the Twelve Apostles He went up into the mountain and called to Him those whom He desired, and they came to Him.

14 He ordained twelve to be with Him, and to be sent out to preach,

15 and to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:

16 Simon, whom He named Peter;

17 James, the son of Zebedee, and John, the brother of James, whom he surnamed Boanerges (meaning Sons of Thunder);

18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas; and James the son of Alphaeus; and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot;

19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.

20 Jesus and Beelzebub Then they entered a house, and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat bread.

21 When His family heard of it, they went out to seize Him, for they said, “He is beside Himself.”

22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub, and by the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”

23 So He called them to Him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?

24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

26 And if Satan rises up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end.

27 No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then he will plunder his house.

28 Truly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they speak.

29 But he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal condemnation.”

30 For they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

31 The Mother and Brothers of Jesus Then His mother and His brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to Him, calling Him.

32 The crowd sat around Him and said to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are outside asking for You.”

33 He answered, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”

34 Then He looked around at those who sat around Him and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!

35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother, and My sister, and My mother.”

4

1 The Parable of the Sower Again He began to teach by the seaside. A large crowd was gathered before Him, so that He entered a boat and sat in it on the sea. And the whole crowd was by the sea on the land.

2 He taught them many things in parables and said to them in His teaching:

3 “Listen! And take note: A sower went out to sow.

4 As he sowed, some seed fell beside the path, and the birds of the air came and devoured it.

5 Some seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and soon it sprang up because it did not have deep soil.

6 But when the sun rose, it was scorched. And because it had no root, it withered away.

7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.

8 And other seed fell on good ground, and it yielded grain that sprang up and increased by thirty, sixty, or a hundred times as much.”

9 Then He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

10 The Purpose of the Parables When He was alone, those who were around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.

11 He said to them, “To you is given the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, everything is said in parables,

12 so that ‘seeing they may see, and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.’”

13 The Parable of the Sower Explained Then He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?

14 The sower sows the word.

15 These are those beside the path, where the word is sown. But when they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word which is sown in their hearts.

16 Others, likewise, are seed sown on rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness,

17 but have no root in themselves, and so endure for a time. Afterward, when affliction or persecution rises for the word’s sake, immediately they fall away.

18 And others are seed sown among thorns, the ones who hear the word.

19 But the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

20 Still others are seed sown on good ground, those who hear the word, and receive it, and bear fruit: thirty, sixty, or a hundred times as much.”

21 A Light Under a Basket He said to them, “Is a candle brought to be put under a basket or under a bed and not to be set on a candlestick?

22 For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed; neither is anything kept secret except to be proclaimed.

23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24 He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. The measure you give will be measured for you, and to you who hear will more be given.

25 For to him who has will more be given. And from him who has not will be taken, even what he has.”

26 The Parable of the Growing Seed He said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.

27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he does not know how.

28 For the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade, then the head, then the full seed in the head.

29 But when the grain is ripe, immediately he applies the sickle because the harvest has come.”

30 The Parable of the Mustard Seed He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God, or with what parable shall we compare it?

31 It is like a grain of mustard seed which, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest seed on earth.

32 Yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all shrubs, and shoots out great branches, so that the birds of the air may nest in its shade.”

33 The Use of Parables With many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.

34 Without a parable He did not speak to them. But when they were alone, He expounded on all things to His disciples.

35 The Calming of a Storm That same day, when the evening came, He said to them, “Let us go cross to the other side.”

36 When they had sent the crowd away, they took Him in the boat just as He was. There were also other little boats with Him.

37 A great wind storm arose, and the waves splashed into the boat, so that it was now filling the boat.

38 He was in the stern asleep on a pillow. They woke Him and said, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

39 He rose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” Then the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

40 He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is that you have no faith?”

41 They feared greatly and said to one another, “What kind of Man is He, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

5

1 The Healing of the Gadarene Demoniac They went to the other side of the sea to the region of the Gadarenes.

2 When He had come out of the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met Him.

3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could constrain him, not even with chains,

4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. But he had pulled the chains apart and broken the shackles to pieces. And no one could subdue him.

5 Always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran up and kneeled before Him,

7 and cried out with a loud voice, “What have You to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure You by God, do not torment me.”

8 For Jesus said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?” He answered, “My name is Legion. For we are many.”

10 And he begged Him repeatedly not to send them away out of the country.

11 Now there was a great herd of swine feeding near the mountains.

12 All the demons pleaded with Him, asking, “Send us to the swine, so that we may enter them.”

13 At once, Jesus gave them leave. Then the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. And the herd, numbering about two thousand, ran wildly down a steep hill into the sea and were drowned in the sea.

14 Those who fed the swine fled and reported it in the city and in the country. And people went out to see what it was that had happened.

15 They came to Jesus and saw him who had been possessed with the legion of demons sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

16 Those who saw it told them how it befell him who had been possessed with the demons and also concerning the swine.

17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart out of their region.

18 When He entered the boat, he who had been possessed with the demons prayed Him that he might be with Him.

19 Jesus did not let him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how He has had compassion on you.”

20 So he departed and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.

21 Jairus’ Daughter and the Woman Who Touched Jesus’ Garment When Jesus had crossed again by boat to the other side, many people gathered to Him. And He was beside the sea.

22 One of the rulers of the synagogue, named Jairus, saw Jesus and came and fell at His feet

23 and earnestly asked Him, “My little daughter is lying at the point of death. I ask You, come and lay Your hands on her, so that she may be healed. And she will live.”

24 So Jesus went with him. And many people followed Him and pressed in on Him.

25 And a certain woman had a hemorrhage for twelve years,

26 and had suffered much under many physicians. She had spent all that she had, and was not better but rather grew worse.

27 When she had heard of Jesus, she came in the crowd behind Him and touched His garment.

28 For she said, “If I may touch His garments, I shall be healed.”

29 And immediately her hemorrhage dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

30 At once, Jesus knew within Himself that power had gone out of Him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?”

31 His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing against You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

32 And He looked around to see her who had done it.

33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the entire truth.

34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

35 While He was still speaking, some came from the house of the synagogue ruler and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid, only believe.”

37 He let no one follow Him, except Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

38 He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw the tumult, and those who wept and wailed loudly.

39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this uproar and weep? The girl is not dead, but sleeping.”

40 They laughed at Him in ridicule. But when He had put them all out, He took the father and the mother of the girl and those who were with Him and entered where the girl was lying.

41 He took the girl by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were greatly astonished.

43 He strictly ordered them to let no one know of it and directed them to give her something to eat.

6

1 The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth He went away from there and came into His own country. And His disciples followed Him.

2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get this? What is this wisdom that is given Him, that even miracles are done by His hands?

3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.

4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.”

5 He could not do any miracles there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

6 And He was amazed because of their unbelief. The Mission of the Twelve Then He went to the surrounding villages, teaching.

7 He called to Him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

8 He commanded them to take nothing for their journey except a staff: no bag, no bread, and no money in their purse,

9 but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics.

10 He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, remain there until you depart from that place.

11 And whoever will not receive you or hear you, when you depart from there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that city.”

12 So they went out and preached that men should repent.

13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

14 The Death of John the Baptist King Herod heard of Him, for His name was spread publicly. He said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and therefore these miracles are at work in him.”

15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And yet others said, “He is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.”

16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “It is John, whom I beheaded. He has been raised from the dead!”

17 Herod had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her.

18 For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

19 So Herodias had a grudge against him and would have killed him, but she could not,

20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, but heard him gladly.

21 But a convenient day came when Herod on his birthday prepared a ceremonial dinner for his lords and commanding officers and leading men of Galilee.

22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you desire, and I will give it to you.”

23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”

24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” She said, “The head of John the Baptist.”

25 She came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter at once.”

26 The king was extremely sorrowful. Yet for the sake of his oath and those who sat with him, he would not reject her.

27 So the king immediately sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. He went and beheaded him in the prison,

28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother.

29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

30 The Feeding of the Five Thousand The apostles met with Jesus and told him everything, both what they had done and what they had taught.

31 Then He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest a while,” for many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

32 So they went into a remote place privately by boat.

33 But the people saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot out of every city. They arrived first and came together to Him.

34 When Jesus came out and saw many people, He was moved with compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

35 When the day was now getting late, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a remote place, and now the time is passing.

36 Send them away into the surrounding country and villages to buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat.”

37 But He answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”

38 He said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”

39 Then He commanded them to make everyone sit down by companies on the green grass.

40 So they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties.

41 When He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them. And He divided the two fish among them all.

42 They all ate and were filled.

43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments and of the fish.

44 Those who ate of the loaves were about five thousand men.

45 Walking on the Water Immediately He compelled His disciples to get into the boat and to go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the crowd away.

46 When He had sent them away, He departed to a mountain to pray.

47 When evening came, the boat was in the midst of the sea. And He was alone on the land.

48 He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea and would have passed by them.

49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out.

50 For they all saw Him and were troubled. Immediately He spoke to them and said, “Be of good cheer, it is I. Do not be afraid.”

51 Then He went up to them in the boat and the wind ceased. They were greatly astonished in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

52 For they had not comprehended the miracle of the loaves, for their hearts were hardened.

53 The Healing of the Sick in Gennesaret When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored on the shore.

54 When they had come out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him,

55 and ran throughout the surrounding region, and began to carry the sick on beds to wherever they heard He was.

56 And wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and pleaded with Him that they might touch even the fringe of His garment. And as many as touched Him were healed.

7

1 The Tradition of the Elders The Pharisees and certain scribes who came from Jerusalem gathered around Him.

2 When they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, ritually unwashed hands, they found fault.

3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands ritually, do not eat, keeping the tradition of the elders.

4 When they come from the market, unless they wash, they do not eat. And there are many other traditions which they have received and observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and bronze vessels and dining couches.

5 So the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”

6 He answered, “Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.

7 In vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”

9 And He said to them, “You full well reject the commandment of God so that you may keep your own tradition.

10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’

11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “It is Corban,” that is to say, “What you would have profited from me is a gift to God,” he shall be free.’

12 Then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother,

13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition, which you have delivered. And you do many similar things.”

14 When He had called all the people to Him, He said, “Listen to Me, every one of you, and understand:

15 There is nothing from outside a man that by entering him can defile him. But the things which come out of the man are what defile him.

16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

17 When He had left the people and entered the house, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.

18 He said to them, “Are you so without understanding also? Do you not know that anything from the outside that enters a man cannot defile him,

19 because it does not enter his heart, but into his stomach, and goes out into the sewer, thus purifying all foods?”

20 And He said, “What comes out of a man is what defiles a man.

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adultery, fornication, murder,

22 theft, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride and foolishness.

23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

24 The Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. He entered a house and would have no one know it. Yet He could not be hidden.

25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of Him, and came and fell at His feet.

26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she begged Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

27 Jesus said to her, “Let the children first be filled. For it is not fitting to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

28 She answered, “Yes, Lord. Yet the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

29 Then He said to her, “For this answer, go your way. The demon has gone out of your daughter.”

30 When she had come to her house, she found the demon had gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.

31 The Deaf and Mute Man Healed Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis.

32 They brought to Him one who was deaf and had difficulty speaking. And they pleaded with Him to put His hand on him.

33 He took him aside from the crowd, and put His fingers into his ears, and spat and touched his tongue.

34 Looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”

35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosened, and he spoke correctly.

36 He ordered them to tell no one. But the more He ordered them, the more they greatly proclaimed it.

37 They were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

8

1 The Feeding of the Four Thousand In those days, the crowds being very great with nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them,

2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have now been with Me three days and have nothing to eat.

3 If I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come from afar.”

4 His disciples answered, “Where can one get bread to feed these men here in the wilderness?”

5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.”

6 He commanded the people to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves and giving thanks, He broke them and gave them to His disciples to serve. And they served the crowd.

7 And they had a few small fish. And blessing them, He commanded that these also be served them.

8 So they ate and were filled. And they collected seven baskets of the broken pieces that were left.

9 There were about four thousand who had eaten, and He sent them away.

10 He immediately entered a boat with His disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

11 The Demand for a Sign The Pharisees came up and began to debate with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven to test Him.

12 He sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation look for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”

13 Then He left them and, entering the boat again, departed to the other side.

14 The Yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread and did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat.

15 He warned them, “Take heed. Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”

16 They reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.”

17 Being aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why do you reason that you have no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts still hardened?

18 Having eyes, do you not see? Having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?

19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” They said to Him, “Twelve.”

20 “And the seven among the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” They said, “Seven.”

21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

22 The Healing of a Blind Man at Bethsaida He came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Him and entreated Him to touch him.

23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. When He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?”

24 He looked up and said, “I see men as trees, walking.”

25 Then again He put His hands on his eyes and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.

26 He sent him home away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell it to anyone in the town.”

27 Peter’s Declaration About Jesus Jesus and His disciples went out into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. On the way He asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I am?”

28 They answered, “John the Baptist, but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”

29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered Him, “You are the Christ.”

30 He warned them that they should tell no one about Him.

31 Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

32 He said this openly. And Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him.

33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

34 When He had called the people to Him, with His disciples, He said to them, “If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

35 For whoever would save his life will lose it. But whoever would lose his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.

36 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?

37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

38 Whoever therefore is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

9

1 And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”

2 The Transfiguration After six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain, alone by themselves. And He was transfigured before them.

3 His garments became shiny, extremely white as snow, such as no launderer on earth could whiten them.

4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses. And they were talking with Jesus.

5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three sanctuaries: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

6 For he did not know what to say, because they were very afraid.

7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him.”

8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus only.

9 As they came down the mountain, He warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

10 They kept that statement to themselves, questioning each other what the rising from the dead meant.

11 And they asked Him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must first come?”

12 He answered, “Elijah indeed comes first to restore all things. Yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

13 But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”

14 The Healing of a Boy With an Unclean Spirit When He came to His other disciples, He saw a great crowd around them, and the scribes disputing with them.

15 Immediately when all the people saw Him, they were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.

16 He asked the scribes, “What are you debating with them?”

17 One in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.

18 Wherever it takes hold on him, it dashes him to the ground. And he foams at the mouth and gnashes with his teeth and becomes rigid. And I told Your disciples so that they would cast it out, but they could not.”

19 He answered, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”

20 So they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit dashed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

21 He asked his father, “How long has it been since it came to him?” He said, “From childhood.

22 Often it has thrown him into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

23 Jesus said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter him no more.”

26 The spirit cried out and convulsed him greatly. But it came out of him, and he was as dead, so that many said, “He is dead.”

27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

28 When He had entered the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

29 He said to them, “This kind cannot come out except by prayer and fasting.”

30 Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection They departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.

31 For He was teaching His disciples, saying, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. After He is killed, He will rise the third day.”

32 But they did not understand the teaching and were afraid to ask Him.

33 Who Is the Greatest? He came to Capernaum. And being in the house, He asked them, “What was it that you disputed among yourselves on the way?”

34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had disputed among themselves who was the greatest.

35 He sat down and called the twelve. And He said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

36 He took a child and set him in their midst. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,

37 “Whoever receives one of these children in My name receives Me. And whoever receives Me receives not Me, but Him who sent Me.”

38 He Who Is Not Against Us Is for Us John answered Him, “Teacher, we saw one who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he was not following us.”

39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who does a miracle in My name can quickly speak evil of Me.

40 For he who is not against us is for us.

41 Truly I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, will not lose his reward.

42 Temptations to Sin “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched,

44 where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched,

46 where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the fire of hell,

48 where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

49 Everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt.

50 “Salt is good. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”

10

1 Teaching About Divorce He arose and went from there to the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan, and the people came to Him again. And again, as was His custom, He taught them.

2 The Pharisees came to test Him, asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?”

4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and to divorce her.”

5 Jesus answered them, “Due to the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

6 But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’

7 ‘For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife,

8 and the two shall be one flesh.’ So then they are no longer two, but one flesh.

9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.”

10 In the house His disciples asked Him concerning this matter again.

11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.

12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

13 Little Children Blessed They brought young children to Him, that He might touch them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

14 But when Jesus saw it, He was very displeased and said to them, “Allow the little children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God.

15 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall not enter it.”

16 And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.

17 The Rich Man When He set out on His way, a man came running and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good, except God alone.

19 You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.”

20 He answered Him, “Teacher, all these have I observed from my youth.”

21 Then Jesus, looking upon him, loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come, take up the cross and follow Me.”

22 He was saddened by that word, and he went away grieving. For he had many possessions.

23 Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!

25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 They were astonished beyond measure, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus, looking at them, said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God. For with God all things are possible.”

28 Peter began to say to Him, “Look, we have left everything and have followed You.”

29 Jesus answered, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left a house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake,

30 who shall not receive a hundred times as much now in this age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecution, and in the age to come, eternal life.

31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

32 Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection a Third Time They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Again, He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what would happen to Him,

33 saying, “Listen! 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 and hand Him over to the Gentiles.

34 They will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. Then after three days He will rise.”

35 The Request of James and John Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want that whatever we may ask, You would do for us.”

36 He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

37 They said to Him, “Grant us to sit, one at Your right hand and the other at Your left hand, in Your glory.”

38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”

39 They said to Him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.

40 But to sit at My right hand or at My left hand is not Mine to grant. It is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

41 When the ten heard it, they began to be very displeased with James and John.

42 But Jesus called them together, and said, “You know that those who are appointed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

43 But it shall not be so among you. Whoever would be great among you must be your servant,

44 and whoever among you would be greatest must be servant of all.

45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

46 The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus Then they came to Jericho. And as He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat along the way begging.

47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48 Many ordered him to keep silent. But he cried out even more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49 Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. So they called the blind man, saying, “Be of good comfort. Rise, He is calling you.”

50 Throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

51 Jesus answered him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabbi, that I might receive my sight.”

52 Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the way.

11

1 The Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem When they drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples

2 and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.

3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”

4 They went their way and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street. And they untied it.

5 Some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing untying the colt?”

6 They answered just as Jesus had commanded. And they let them go.

7 They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments on it. And He sat upon it.

8 Many spread their garments on the street. And others cut down branches off the trees and scattered them on the street.

9 Those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’

10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. When He had looked around at everything, as the hour was now late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

12 The Cursing of the Fig Tree On the next day when they had returned from Bethany, He was hungry.

13 Seeing from afar a fig tree with leaves, He went to see if perhaps He might find anything on it. When He came to it, He found nothing except leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

14 Jesus said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And His disciples heard it.

15 The Cleansing of the Temple And they came to Jerusalem. Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who sold and bought in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold doves.

16 And He would not allow anyone to carry any vessel through the temple.

17 And He taught them, and said, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

18 The scribes and chief priests heard it and looked for a way to kill Him. For they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.

19 When evening came, He went out of the city.

20 The Lesson From the Fig Tree In the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.

21 Peter, calling to remembrance, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

22 Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.

23 For truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says.

24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you will have them.

25 And when you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive you your sins.

26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins.”

27 The Question of Jesus’ Authority They came again to Jerusalem, and as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him,

28 and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority to do them?”

29 Jesus answered them, “I will also ask of you one question. Answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”

31 They debated among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

32 But if we say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people, for everyone held John to be a real prophet.

33 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” Jesus answered them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

12

1 The Parable of the Vineyard and the Vinedressers He began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the winepress, and built a tower, and rented it to vinedressers, and went to a far country.

2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the vinedressers to receive from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.

3 But they seized him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

4 Then he sent another servant to them. They threw stones at him, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.

5 Still he sent another, and they killed him. And there were many others. Some they beat, and some they killed.

6 “Having yet his one well-beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, ‘They will revere my son.’

7 “But those vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

8 So they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard.

9 “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill the vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.

10 Have you not read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

11 This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

12 Then they tried to seize Him, but feared the people, for they knew that He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went their way.

13 The Question of Paying Taxes They sent to Him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians to trap Him in His words.

14 When they came to Him, they said, “Teacher, we know that You are true and swayed by no man. For You do not regard the person of men, but truthfully teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

15 Should we pay, or should we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.”

16 They brought it, and He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

17 Then Jesus answered them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.

18 The Question About the Resurrection Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him, saying,

19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves his wife behind, but leaves no children, that man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother.

20 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and when he died, he left no children.

21 The second took her and died, leaving no children, and the third likewise.

22 The seven had her and left no children. Last of all, the woman died too.

23 In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”

24 Jesus answered them, “Do you not err, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?

25 When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

26 Now concerning the dead rising, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob’?

27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You therefore do greatly err.”

28 The Great Commandment One of the scribes came and heard them reasoning together. Perceiving that Jesus had answered them well, he asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”

29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is, ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.

30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32 The scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, that there is one God and there is no other but Him.

33 To love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one dared to ask Him any question.

35 The Question About David’s Son While Jesus taught in the temple, He said, “How can the scribes say that Christ is the Son of David?

36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, until I put Your enemies under Your feet.” ’

37 David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ How then is He his Son?” And the large crowd heard him gladly.

38 The Denouncing of the Scribes He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who love to go about in long robes and love greetings in the marketplaces,

39 and the prominent seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets,

40 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive greater condemnation.”

41 The Widow’s Offering Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. Many who were rich put in much.

42 But a certain poor widow came and put in two mites, which make a farthing.

43 He called His disciples to Him and said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.

44 They all contributed out of their abundance. But she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had, her entire livelihood.”

13

1 The Destruction of the Temple Foretold As He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what great stones and what great buildings are here.”

2 Jesus answered him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”

3 Troubles and Persecutions As He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite 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 will be fulfilled?”

5 Jesus answered them, “Take heed lest anyone deceive you.

6 Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.

7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled. For such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginning of sorrows.

9 “But take heed. For they will hand you over to councils, and in the synagogues you will be beaten. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.

10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.

11 But when they arrest you and hand you over, take no thought beforehand, or premeditate what you should speak. But speak whatever is given you in that time, for it is not you who speaks, but the Holy Spirit.

12 “Now a brother will betray his brother to death, and the father the son; children will rise up against their parents, and will cause them to be put to death.

13 You will be hated by all men for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

14 The Great Tribulation “When you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

15 Let him who is on the housetop not go down or enter the house to take anything out of his house.

16 Let him who is in the field not turn back to take his garment.

17 But woe to women who are pregnant and to those who nurse in those days!

18 Pray that your escape may not be in winter.

19 For in those days there will be distress as has not been from the beginning of the creation which God created to this time, nor ever shall be.

20 “Except the Lord shortened the days, no flesh would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

21 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there He is!’ do not believe it.

22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

23 But take heed. I have told you all things beforehand.

24 The Coming of the Son of Man “But in those days, after that distress, ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light;

25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers that are in heaven will be shaken.’

26 “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

27 Then He will send His angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of the earth to the farthest part of heaven.

28 The Lesson of the Fig Tree “Now learn a parable of the fig tree: When her branch is yet tender and puts outs leaves, you know that summer is near.

29 So also, when you see these things come to pass, know that it is near, even at the doors.

30 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen.

31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

32 The Unknown Day and Hour “But concerning that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

33 Take heed, watch and pray. For you do not know when the time will come.

34 For the Son of Man is like a man leaving on a far journey who left his house and gave authority to his servants and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

35 “Watch therefore—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, in the evening, or at midnight, or at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—

36 lest he come suddenly and find you sleeping.

37 What I say to you I say to all: Watch!”

14

1 The Plot to Kill Jesus Now the feasts of the Passover and of Unleavened Bread were two days away. And the chief priests and the scribes looked for a way to seize Him secretly and kill Him.

2 But they said “Not on the feast day, lest there will be an uproar among the people.”

3 The Anointing at Bethany While He was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at supper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of ointment, a very costly spikenard. She broke the jar and poured the ointment on His head.

4 There were some with indignation within themselves, saying, “Why was this ointment wasted?

5 It might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they grumbled against her.

6 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.

7 You always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish, you may do good to them. But you will not always have Me.

8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.

9 Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel will be preached throughout the whole world, what she has done will also be spoken of as a memorial to her.”

10 Judas’ Agreement to Betray Jesus Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them.

11 When they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him silver. So he looked for how he might conveniently betray Him.

12 The Passover With the Disciples On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

13 So He sent two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you there. Follow him.

14 Wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’

15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

16 His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it as He had told them. And they prepared the Passover.

17 In the evening He came with the twelve.

18 As they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me.”

19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to Him one by one, “Is it I?” and another, “Is it I?”

20 He answered them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread in the dish with Me.

21 The Son of Man indeed goes as it is written concerning Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.”

22 The Lord’s Supper As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “Take and eat it. This is My body.”

23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them. And they all drank from it.

24 He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.

25 Truly I say to you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

27 Peter’s Denial Foretold Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away on account of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

28 But after I have risen, I will go before you to Galilee.”

29 Peter said to Him, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

30 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you that this day, during the night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”

31 But he said more vehemently, “If I must die with You, I will not deny You.” They all said the same thing.

32 The Prayer in Gethsemane They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. And He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

33 He took Peter and James and John with Him and began to be greatly distressed and very troubled.

34 And He said to them, “My soul is deeply sorrowful unto death. Remain here and keep watch.”

35 He went a little farther and fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.

36 He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.”

37 Then He came and found them sleeping and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not keep watch one hour?

38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

39 Again He went away and prayed the same words.

40 When He returned, He again found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And they did not know what to answer Him.

41 When He returned a third time, He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

42 Rise up, let us go. Look! He who betrays Me is at hand.”

43 The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus Immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

44 Now he who betrayed Him had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One. Seize Him and lead Him away safely.”

45 So as soon as he came, he went to Him immediately and said, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

46 They laid hands on Him and seized Him.

47 Then one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

48 Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would a thief?

49 Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

50 Then they all deserted Him and fled.

51 The Young Man Who Fled A young man followed Him, wearing a linen cloth around himself. And the young men laid hold of him,

52 so he left the linen cloth, and fled from them unclothed.

53 Jesus Before the Sanhedrin They led Jesus away to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes were assembled with him.

54 Peter followed Him at a distance into the courtyard of the high priest. He sat with the guards and warmed himself by the fire.

55 Now the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin requested testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.

56 Many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.

57 Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying,

58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another not made with hands.’ ”

59 But still their testimony did not agree.

60 Then the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Do You answer nothing? What is it which these men testify against You?”

61 But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

63 The high priest tore his robes, saying, “What need do we have of any further witnesses?

64 You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned Him as guilty unto death.

65 Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to strike Him, saying to Him, “Prophesy!” And the guards struck Him with the palms of their hands.

66 Peter’s Denial of Jesus While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came.

67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”

68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” Then he went out to the porch, and a rooster crowed.

69 The servant girl saw him again and began to say to those who stood by, “This man is one of them.”

70 But again, he denied it. A little while later, those who stood by said again to Peter, “Surely, you are one of them. For you are a Galilean, and your speech confirms it.”

71 Peter began to invoke a curse on himself, and to swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak.”

72 And the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought on this, he wept.

15

1 Jesus Before Pilate Early in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole Sanhedrin. And they bound Jesus and took Him away and handed Him over to Pilate.

2 Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You have said so.”

3 The chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.

4 So Pilate asked Him again, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You.”

5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate was astonished.

6 Jesus Sentenced to Die Now at the feast he always released to them one prisoner, whomever they requested.

7 There was one named Barabbas, who had committed murder in the insurrection and was bound with the rebels.

8 The crowd began crying aloud, asking Pilate to do as he had always done for them.

9 He answered them, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over out of envy.

11 But the chief priests stirred the people, so that he should instead release Barabbas to them.

12 Pilate answered them again, “What then would you have me do to Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”

13 They again cried out, “Crucify Him!”

14 Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out even more, “Crucify Him!”

15 So Pilate, resolving to satisfy the people, released Barabbas to them. And when he had scourged Jesus, he handed Him over to be crucified.

16 The Soldiers Mock Jesus The soldiers led Him away to Praetorium Hall, and they called together the entire battalion.

17 They clothed Him with a purple robe. And they wove a crown of thorns and put it on His head,

18 and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

19 They struck His head with a staff and spit on Him. And bowing their knees, they worshipped Him.

20 When they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off of Him and put His own garments on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.

21 The Crucifixion They compelled a man named Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was passing through from the country, to bear Jesus’ cross.

22 They brought Him to the place called Golgotha, which means, “Place of a Skull.”

23 They gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.

24 When they had crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them, to decide what each man should take.

25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.

26 The inscription of His accusation was written above: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 With Him they crucified two thieves, one on His right and the other on His left.

28 And the Scripture was fulfilled, which says, “He was numbered with the lawless ones.”

29 Those who passed by blasphemed Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Ah, You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days,

30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”

31 Likewise the chief priests mocked Him among themselves with the scribes and said, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself!

32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with Him also reviled Him.

33 The Death of Jesus When the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, “Listen, He is calling Elijah!”

36 One man ran and filled a sponge with vinegar, put it on a stick, and gave it to Him to drink, saying, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.”

37 But Jesus cried with a loud voice and gave up the spirit.

38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

39 When the centurion who stood facing Him saw that He cried out and gave up the spirit, he said, “Truly, this Man was the Son of God.”

40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joseph, and Salome.

41 They also had followed Him and had ministered to Him when He was in Galilee. And many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem were there.

42 The Burial of Jesus When the evening had come, because it was the Day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath,

43 Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable member of the Council, who also waited for the kingdom of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate, and requested the body of Jesus.

44 Pilate wondered if He were already dead. And calling for the centurion, he asked him whether He had been dead for a while.

45 When he learned about it from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.

46 So he bought fine linen, and taking Him down, wrapped Him in the linen and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.

47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where He was laid.

16

1 The Resurrection of Jesus When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Him.

2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb at the rising of the sun.

3 They said among themselves, “Who will roll the stone away from the door of the tomb for us?”

4 But when they looked, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. For it was very large.

5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white robe. And they were frightened.

6 He said to them, “Do not be frightened. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

7 But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee. There you will see Him, as He told you.”

8 They went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

9 The Appearance to Mary Magdalene Now when Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.

10 She went and told those who had been with Him as they mourned and wept.

11 When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it.

12 The Appearance to Two Disciples After that He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.

13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.

14 The Commissioning of the Disciples Afterward He appeared to the eleven as they sat at supper, and He reprimanded them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved. But he who does not believe will be condemned.

17 These signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

18 they will take up serpents; if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

19 The Ascension After the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat at the right hand of God.

20 Then they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.