NSB(i)
15 »Watch out for the false prophets. They are disguised as sheep. But in their hearts they are vicious wolves.
16 »By their fruits you will know them. Do men get grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?
17 »Every good tree gives righteous fruit. The bad tree gives evil fruit.
18 »A good tree does not give bad fruit. A bad tree does not give good fruit.
19 »Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 »Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
21 »Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. He who does the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
22 »Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
23 »I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of evil.’
24 »Everyone who hears my words, and does them is like a wise man that builds his house on a rock.
25 »The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it did not fall. It was built on a solid rock foundation.
26 »Every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand.
27 »The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and battered the house and it fell with a great crash.«
28 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were astonished at what he taught.
29 He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
8 1 When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him.
2 A leper came to him and bowed down before him, saying: »Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.«
3 He reached out his hand and touched him, saying: »I want to. Be made clean.« Right away his leprosy was cleansed.
4 Jesus told him not to tell anyone. »Show yourself to the priests and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.«
5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion (captain of one hundred men) approached him.
6 He said: »Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home and terribly tormented.«
7 Jesus said to him: »I will come and heal him.«
8 The centurion replied to Jesus: »Lord, I am not worthy that you come under my roof. Say the word and my servant will be healed.
9 »I also am a man having authority and commanding soldiers. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.«
10 When Jesus heard it, he was amazed, and said to the crowd: »I tell you, I have not found such great faith in Israel.
11 »I tell you, many will come from the east and the west, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven:
12 »but the sons of the kingdom will be cast forth into the outer darkness: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.«
13 Jesus said to the centurion: »Go. Just as you believe, so it will be done to you.« The servant was healed in that hour.
14 Jesus went to Peter’s house. He saw his wife’s mother lying sick of a fever.
15 He touched her hand and the fever left her. She arose, and ministered to him.
16 That evening, they brought many people possessed with demons to him. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all that were sick.
17 In so doing, that which was spoken through Isaiah was fulfilled. Isaiah wrote: »He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.«
18 Now when Jesus saw how large the crowd was growing, he gave orders to depart to the other side of the lake.
19 A scribe came to him and said: »Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.«
20 Jesus replied: »Foxes have holes, and the birds of heaven have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.«
21 One of his disciples said: »Lord, first allow me to go bury my father.«
22 But Jesus said to him: »Follow me; and leave the dead to bury their own dead.«
23 When he entered a boat, his disciples followed him.
24 Suddenly a storm blew in and the boat was covered with waves. Jesus was asleep.
25 And they came to him, woke him, and cried: »Save us, Lord, or we will perish.«
26 He said to them: »Why are you afraid, you of little faith?« Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. Suddenly there was a great calm.
27 The disciples were in awe. They asked: »What kind of man is this, for even the winds and the sea obey him?«
28 When he arrived at the other side of the lake in the country of the Gadarenes two men possessed by demons came to him from out of the tombs. They were extremely violent, so no man could pass by that way.
29 They screamed at him, saying: »What have we to do with you, Son of God? Have you come to torment us before the time?«
30 A large herd of swine was feeding in the distance.
31 The demons pleaded with him: »If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine!«
32 He told them to go. And they came out, and went into the swine. The entire herd rushed down the hill into the sea, where they perished in the waters.
33 The herdsmen fled to the city to tell everything that happened to the swine that were possessed with demons.
34 Everyone in the city came out to meet Jesus. They begged him to go away from their country.
9 1 Jesus entered a boat and crossed over to his own city (Capernaum), on the other side of the lake.
2 A man on a bed, a paralytic, was brought to Jesus. Seeing their faith Jesus said to the sick man: »Have courage; your sins are forgiven.«
3 Some of the scribes said among themselves: »This man has no respect for God.«
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said: »Why are your thoughts evil?
5 »Which is easier, to say, your sins are forgiven, or to say, get up and walk?«
6 So that you know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins [he turned and spoke to the paralytic or paralyzed man]: »Get up, take your bed and go to your house.«
7 He arose, and departed to his house.
8 But when the people saw it, they marveled, and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
9 Jesus moved on. He then saw Matthew seated at his work collecting taxes. He said to him: »Follow me.« He rose and followed him.
10 Jesus was a dinner guest at Matthew’s house. Many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11 When the Pharisees saw it, they asked his disciples: »Why does your Teacher eat with the tax collectors and sinners?«
12 When he heard it, he said: »People who are well do not have need of a physician. The sick do.
13 »You should learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’; for I came, not to call the righteous, but sinners.«
14 The disciples of John asked: »Why do your disciples not fast?« They frequently fasted, and so did the Pharisees.
15 Jesus replied: »Should the wedding guests mourn and also celebrate with the groom? The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast.
16 »Why patch an old garment with cloth that has not been shrunk? The patch shrinks and pulls away from the old cloth leaving a big hole.
17 »Neither do men put new wine in old wineskins. The skins burst and the wine is lost. They put new wine in fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.«
18 While he was speaking, an official came and paid him respect. He said: »By now my daughter must be dead. Come and lay your hand on her and she will live.«
19 Jesus and his disciples got up and followed him.
20 A woman who had a hemorrhage (chronic flow of blood) for twelve years came behind him. She touched the border of his garment.
21 She said to herself: »If I touch his garment, I will be healed.«
22 Jesus turned to see her and said: »Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.« The woman was healed at that time.
23 Jesus went into the official’s house and saw flute players and the crowd making a lot of noise.
24 He told them to leave: »For the girl is not dead, but sleeps.« They all scornfully laughed at him.
25 The people were sent away. He went to the girl, took hold of her hand, and she got up.
26 The news about this spread to all the land.
27 Jesus left that place and walked along the road. Two blind men followed him. They shouted: »Have mercy on us, Son of David!«
28 He went into a nearby house. The blind men followed him. Jesus asked them: »Do you believe that I can heal you?« They said: »Yes Lord.«
29 He touched their eyes. »Let it be done,« he said, »according to your faith.«
30 Their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly warned them: »Do not let anyone know about this.«
31 They spread the news about Jesus all over that part of the country.
32 Next, a dumb man possessed with a demon was brought to him.
33 When the demon was cast out, the dumb man spoke. The crowd marveled, saying: »We have never seen anything like this in Israel!«
34 The Pharisees complained: »He casts out demons with the help of the ruler of the demons.«
35 Jesus went to all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the good news of the kingdom. He healed every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity.
36 When he saw the large crowds of people, he was moved with compassion for them. He knew they were distressed and scattered like sheep not having a shepherd.
37 Jesus said to his disciples: »The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.
38 »Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into his harvest.«
10 1 He called his twelve disciples. He gave them power to cast out unclean spirits and to heal all kinds of disease and sickness.
2 The following are the names of the twelve apostles (ambassadors of the good news) (messengers): first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed him.
5 Jesus sent the twelve. He gave them orders not to go to the people of the nations and not to go to the Samaritans.
6 He said: »Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 »Preach as you go! Announce the kingdom of heaven, for it is near.
8 »Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. You received without paying, now give without being paid.
9 »Do not take gold, silver, or copper money in your money belt.
10 »Take no extra clothes, not even two coats, no extra shoes or walking stick for the laborer is worthy of his food.
11 »Go into a city or village and search for the worthy ones. Stay with them until you are ready to leave.
12 »When you enter the house, offer a blessing of peace.
13 »If the people are worthy, let your blessing stand. If they are not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 »If someone will not welcome you and listen to the message, leave that house or town, shake the dust off your feet and move on.
15 »I tell you, it will be better for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that town.
16 »I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
17 »Beware of men! They will take you to court! They will have you beaten in their meeting places.
18 »You will be taken before governors and kings for my sake. This will serve as a testimony to them and to the people of the nations.
19 »When they hand you over, do not worry about what to say and how to say it. You will be given the words to speak at that time.
20 »You will not speak on your own. Your Father’s Spirit will speak through you.
21 »People will hand over their brothers to be put to death. Parents will oppose children and children will oppose parents, causing them to be put to death.
22 »Men will hate you because of me. He who endures to the end will be saved.
23 »When they persecute you in this city, flee to the next. I tell you; before you have gone through all the cities of Israel the Son of man will come.
24 »A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a servant his master.
25 »It is enough for the disciple (student) that he is like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they called the master of the house Beelzebub (Satan), others of the household could also be called the same!
26 »Do not be afraid. Nothing will be hidden. Every secret will be made known.
27 »The things I tell you in darkness, speak in the light. Proclaim everything you hear from on top of the house.
28 »Do not fear those who kill the body. They are not able to take away your [everlasting] life. Instead, fear him who is able to destroy both life and body in the ever-burning fires. (Greek: Gehenna: continuously burning trash fires in the valley of Hinnom.)
29 »Do two sparrows sell for a penny? Not one of them will fall on the ground without your Father knowing.
30 »Even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 »Do not fear! You are more valuable than many sparrows.
32 »I will tell my heavenly Father about everyone who confesses me (witnesses to others about me) before men.
12 28 »But if I cast out demons by God’s Spirit, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
29 »How can one enter into the house of a strong man and steal his things, except he first tie up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
30 »He that is not with me is against me. And he that does not gather with me, scatters.
31 »Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men. But the blasphemy against God’s Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 »Whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come.
33 »Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt. The fruit a tree produces provides its reputation.
34 »You offspring of vipers. How can you who are evil speak good things? Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 »The good man performs good things out of his good treasure. The evil man performs evil things out of his evil treasure.
36 »I tell you there will be an account in the Judgment Day for every careless word that men say.
37 »For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.«
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying: »Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.«
39 He answered them: »An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. No sign will be given but the sign of Jonah the prophet.
40 »Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so the Son of man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth [the grave].
41 »The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it. After all, they repented at the preaching of Jonah. Yet someone greater than Jonah is here.
42 »The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and condemn it. She came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon. Someone greater than Solomon is here!
43 »When an unclean spirit goes out of a man it passes through the desert seeking rest. It does not find it.
44 »It tries to return to the place from where it came. It finds it empty, swept, and fixed up.
45 »Then it takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself. They enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. It will also be like this with this evil generation.«
46 While Jesus was yet speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers stood nearby. They wanted to speak to him.
47 Someone told Jesus: »Look, your mother and your brothers stand nearby seeking to speak to you.«
48 But he answered: »Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?«
49 He stretched out his hand towards his disciples, and said: »Behold, my mother and my brothers!
50 »For everyone who does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.«
13 1 That day Jesus left the house and sat by the seashore.
2 Large crowds gathered to him. He entered a boat while the crowd stood on the shore.
3 He told them many illustrations. He said: »A farmer went out to sow.
4 »Some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds devoured them.
5 »Others fell on rocky places and did not have much soil.
6 »When they grew, the sun scorched them, and because they had no root they withered and died.
7 »Others fell upon the thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them.
8 »Some fell on good ground and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.
9 »He that has ears let him hear.«
10 The disciples asked him: »Why do you speak in illustrations?«
11 He responded: »You are allowed to know the divine secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but it is not for others to know. (The Greek word for »you« is plural and is applied to the disciples as a group.)
12 »He who has shall receive more to the point of abundance. He who does not have, it shall be taken away including that which he has.
13 »I speak to them in illustrations (stories) (parables) (allegories), because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear. They just do not understand.
14 »The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled. ‘By hearing, you shall hear, and shall in no way understand. By seeing you shall see, and shall in no way perceive.
15 »‘The heart of this people is callous and dull. Their ears are plugged. They cannot hear. They closed their eyes and cannot see. They cannot see nor hear nor understand with their heart. They should turn around and I would heal them.’
16 »Happy and blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.
17 »Truly, I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things that you see, and could not see them. They also desired to hear the things that you hear, and could not hear them.
18 »Listen to the illustration of the sower.
19 »When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand, the evil one takes away that which was sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside.
20 »Anyone sown among the rocky places hears the word and immediately with joy receives it.
21 »There is no root in him. He endures for a while. When he has tribulation or persecution because of the word, he falls away.
22 »He that was sown among thorns hears the word. The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
23 »He that was sown upon the good ground hears the word, and understands it. He bears fruit, producing sometimes a hundredfold, sometimes sixty, and sometimes thirty.«
24 He told another illustration, saying: »The kingdom of heaven is like a man that sowed good seed in his field.
25 »While he slept, his enemy came and sowed weeds with the wheat, and went away.
26 »When the blade sprouted and brought forth fruit, it looked like wheat.
27 »The servants of the householder said to him: ‘Sir, did you sow good seed in your field? Why does it have weeds mixed in with the good wheat?’
28 »He replied: ‘An enemy did this.’ The servants offered to remove the weeds.
29 »He said: ‘No, you might uproot the wheat with them.
30 »‘Let both grow together until the harvest. In the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: »Gather weeds first, and bind them in bundles to burn them. Then gather the wheat into my barn.«’«
31 In another illustration Jesus said: »The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man sowed in his field.
32 »Mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds. Yet when it grows it becomes as large as a tree. In fact the birds of heaven lodge in the branches.«
33 He offered another illustration: »The kingdom of heaven is similar to leaven. A woman hid leaven in three measures of meal until it was all leavened.«
34 Jesus spoke with illustrations to the crowds. He did not speak anything without using illustrations.
35 That which was spoken through the prophet was fulfilled, saying: »I will open my mouth in illustrations. I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.«
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples gathered near him. They said: »Explain to us the illustration of the weeds in the field.«
37 Jesus said: »He that sows the good seed is the Son of man.
38 »The field is the world (the society of mankind). The good seed are the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one.
39 »The enemy that sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age. The reapers are angels.
40 »The weeds are gathered up and burned (destroyed) with fire. It will be this way at the end of the age.
41 »The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all who stumble others and commit lawlessness.
42 »The angels will cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
43 »The righteous will shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that has ears let him hear.
44 »The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found the treasure and hid it again in the field. He is so filled with joy he sells everything he owns and buys the field.
10 33 »I will deny, before my heavenly Father, anyone who denies me before men.
34 »Do not think I came to bring peace on the earth. I came not to bring peace, but a sword.
35 »My coming will cause a separation. A man will be against his father and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36 »A man’s enemies will be from his own family.
37 »He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. He who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 »Anyone who does not pick up his stake and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 »Whoever finds his life will lose it. Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
40 »He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
41 »Anyone who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Anyone who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
42 »And whoever gives a drink of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will not lose his reward.«
11 1 When Jesus finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left to teach and preach in their cities.
2 While in prison, John heard news of what Christ was doing. He sent his disciples.
3 They asked Jesus: »Are you the Expected One or should we look for another?«
4 And Jesus answered: »Go tell John the things you hear and see.
5 »The blind receive their sight. The lame walk! The lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear. The dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
6 »Blessed and happy is he who is not offended by me.«
7 When these men left, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. »What did you go into the wilderness to find? Did you look for a reed shaken by the wind?
8 »What did you expect to see, a man clothed in fancy clothes? Those who wear fancy clothes are in king’s houses.
9 »Did you go to see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet!
10 »This is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare the way for you.’
11 »I tell you, there is none, born of women, greater then John the Baptist. Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 »From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been man’s goal, and men of violence have attempted to take it by force.
13 »For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
14 »If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.
15 »He who has ears to hear let him listen!
16 »Of what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their playmates.
17 »They say: ‘We piped for you and you did not dance. We cried and you did not mourn.’
18 »For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
19 »The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘A gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Wisdom is justified by its actions.«
20 Then he denounced the cities where most of his mighty works were done, because they did not repent.
21 »Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon that were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 »I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the Day of Judgment than for you.
23 »Will you, Capernaum, be exalted into heaven? You will go down into the grave. If the mighty works had been done in Sodom, which were done in you, it would have remained until this day.
24 »But I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the Day of Judgment, than for you.«
25 Then Jesus prayed: »I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and have revealed them to children. (Acts 2:36)
26 »Yes, Father, for it was very pleasing in your sight.
27 »All things have been delivered to me from my Father. Only the Father knows the Son, and only the Son knows the Father. The Son tells others about the Father so that they can know him too.
28 »Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 »Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me. I am meek (mild) and humble in heart. You will have a restful life,
30 »for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.«
12 1 Jesus’ disciples were hungry. It was Sabbath day and yet Jesus and his disciples went through the grain fields plucking ears and eating them.
2 The Pharisees saw it and said to him: »Your disciples do that which it is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.«
3 He replied to them: »Have you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
4 »He entered into the house of God, and he and his companions ate the showbread (holy bread), which it was not lawful for them to eat. It was only lawful for the priests.
5 »Have you read the law that on the Sabbath day the priests in the Temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless?
6 »I say to you, one greater than the Temple is here.
7 »If you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 »For the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath.«
9 He left and went into their synagogue.
10 There he saw a man who had a withered hand. They asked him if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? They wanted to accuse him.
11 He said to them: »Which of you having one sheep, if this sheep fell into a pit on the Sabbath day, will not get it and lift it out.
12 »How much more value is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day!«
13 Then he said to the man: »Stretch out your hand.« He stretched it out and it was restored whole like the other.
14 The Pharisees left and took counsel against him, to decide how they might destroy him.
15 Jesus was aware of this and withdrew from the place. Many followed him and were healed by him.
16 He warned them not to tell anyone where he was.
17 This fulfilled what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet.
18 »Look! My servant whom I have chosen. I am well pleased with him. I will put my Spirit upon him and he will declare judgment to the nations.
19 »He will not quarrel, nor cry aloud. None will hear his voice in the streets.
20 »He will break a bruised reed. He will quench smoking flax. This he will do until he sends forth judgment to victory.
21 »The nations will hope in his name!«
22 Someone possessed with a demon, blind and dumb was brought to him. He healed him and the dumb man spoke and could see.
23 The crowds were amazed, and said: »Can this be the son of David?«
24 When the Pharisees heard it, they said: »This man casts out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons.«
25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them: »Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed. Every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
26 »If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How will his kingdom stand?
27 »If I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Let them be your judges.
13 45 »The kingdom of heaven is also like a merchant seeking valuable pearls.
46 »When he found one pearl of great value, he sold all that he had, and bought it.
47 »The kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea. It gathered fish of every kind.
48 »They drew it up on the beach when it was full. They gathered the good into containers and threw away the bad.
49 »It will be that way at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, and separate the wicked from among the righteous.
50 »The wicked will be cast into the furnace of fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 »Have you understood all these things?« They said to him: »Yes.«
52 And he said to them: »Every scribe (journalist) (writer) who has been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a householder, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.«
53 After Jesus finished telling these illustrations, he left.
54 He went to his own country and taught in the synagogue. They were astonished and asked where this man got this wisdom and these mighty works.
55 »Is this man the carpenter’s son? Is his mother called Mary? Are his brothers James and Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
56 »Are his sisters all with us? Where did he get all these things?«
57 They resented him. But Jesus responded to them: »A prophet is without honor in his own country, and in his own house.«
58 He did not do many mighty works there because of their lack of faith.
14 1 At that time Herod, the ruler of Galilee, heard the news about Jesus.
2 He told his servants: »This is John the Baptist, raised from the dead. That explains the power working in him.«
3 Herod locked John in prison to please Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.
4 For John had said to him: »It is not lawful for you to have her.«
5 Herod wanted to put him to death but he feared the people since they believed John was a prophet.
6 It was Herod’s birthday. The daughter of Herodias danced for him and pleased him.
7 So he promised with an oath to give her anything she wanted.
8 Prompted by her mother, she said: »Give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter.«
9 The king was grieved. He gave his oath and many were watching so he commanded that it be done.
10 He gave the order to behead John in prison.
11 His head was brought on a platter to the young lady. She in turn gave it to her mother.
12 John the Baptist’s disciples took the corpse and buried him, and then came and told Jesus.
13 When Jesus heard it, he left in a boat to a secluded place. The crowds heard this and followed him on foot from the cities.
14 He saw the great crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
15 Evening came and the disciples approached Jesus and said: »This place is desolate. Send the people away so they may go to the villages and buy themselves food.«
16 Jesus told them: »They have no need to go away: you feed them.«
17 They remarked: »We have only five loaves, and two fishes.«
18 »Bring them to me,« Jesus replied.
19 He commanded the crowd to sit down on the grass. Then he prayed. He gave the five loaves and two fishes to the disciples to distribute to the crowd.
20 And they all had plenty to eat. In fact they had twelve baskets full of food left over.
21 About five thousand men, plus women and children ate.
22 Jesus sent the disciples in a boat to the other side of the sea. He stayed there until he sent the crowd away.
23 After sending the crowd away, he went to the mountain to pray by himself. He was there alone that night.
24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea. The wind and the waves caused great trouble.
25 Just before morning, Jesus walked to them on the water.
26 When they saw him walking on the water they were troubled. »It is a spirit (apparition) (illusion)!« they screamed! They cried out with fear.
27 At once Jesus said: »It is I; do not be afraid.«
28 Peter said to him: »Lord, if it is you, give me the order to come to you on the water.«
29 He said: »Come.« Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
30 When he noticed how strong the wind was, he became afraid. He began to sink, and cried: »Help me Lord!«
31 Suddenly, Jesus put out his hand and took hold of him, and said: »You of little faith, why were you in doubt?«
32 The wind went down when they got into the boat.
33 Those on the boat loved him intensely, saying: »Truly, you are the Son of God!«
34 They came to land at Gennesaret.
35 When the men of that place heard the news about Jesus they told everyone in the country. The sick were taken to him.
36 They wanted to touch his robe to be made well.
15 1 Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came to Jesus.
2 They questioned him: »Why do your disciples go against the teaching of the fathers? They eat food with unwashed hands.«
3 His answer to them was in the form of a question: »Why do you go against the word of God in favor of your tradition?
4 »God said, ‘Honor your father and mother.’ ‘He who says evil of father or mother will be put to death.’
5 »You teach that a man should tell his father or mother that what he has that could help them, is given to God.
6 »You say there is no need for him to give honor to his father. You have invalidated the word of God because of your tradition!
7 »You hypocrites (liars)! Isaiah’s prophecy was right about you.
8 »‘These people honor me with their lips, but their heart (innermost thoughts) is far from me.
9 »‘But their worship is to no purpose, while they give as their teaching the rules (commands) of men.’«
10 He got the people together and said to them: »Listen, and let my words be clear to you.
11 »That which comes out of the mouth makes a man unclean, not that which goes into the mouth.«
12 The disciples told him the Pharisees were upset by what he said.
13 In answer he replied: »Every plant my Father in heaven has not planted in the earth will be pulled out by the roots.
14 »Let them be. They are blind guides. If a blind man guides another blind man, they will fall in a hole together.«
15 Then Peter said to him: »Make the story clear to us.«
16 He replied: »Are you, like them, without wisdom?
17 »Do you not see, that which goes into the mouth, goes into the stomach and is sent out as waste?
17 18 Jesus ordered the unclean spirit to leave the boy. It left him and the boy was made well immediately.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said: »Why were we not able to send it out?«
20 He told them: »It was because of your lack of faith: Truly I say to you, if you have faith as small as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move and it will move. Nothing will be impossible to you.«
21 (omitted, text not found in early manuscripts)
22 While they were traveling in Galilee, Jesus said to them: »The Son of man will be given up into the hands of men.
23 »They will put him to death. The third day he will be raised from death.« They were very sad.
24 They arrived at Capernaum. The collectors of the two-drachma tax asked Peter: »Does your master make payment of the Temple tax?
25 He said: »Yes.« When he entered the house, Jesus said to him: »What is your opinion, Simon? Who pays the tax assessed by the kings of the earth? Is it from their sons or from other people?«
26 When he said: »From other people,« Jesus replied: »Are the sons free of tax?
27 »We will not cause them trouble. Go to the sea, and let down a hook, and take the first fish you catch. You will see money (a stater coin) in its mouth. Give it to them for me and for you.«
18 1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus. They asked: »Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?«
2 He took a little child and put him in the middle of them.
3 He said: »Truly I tell you, if you do not have a change of heart and become like little children, you will not go into the kingdom of heaven.
4 »He who humbles himself to become like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 »Everyone who accepts this little child in my name accepts me.
6 »He who causes one of my faithful little ones to stumble is in trouble. It would be better for him to end up in the deep sea with a great stone tied to his neck.
7 »A curse is on the earth because of stumbling! It is necessary for stumbling to come. Unhappy is that man through whom the stumbling comes.
8 »If your hand or your foot is a cause of stumbling cut it off. Get rid of it. It is better for you to go into life with the loss of a hand or a foot than, having two hands or two feet, to be destroyed by eternal fire.
9 »If your eye causes you stumbling, take it out and throw it away. It is better for you to go into life with one eye than, having two eyes, to be destroyed in ever-burning fires in the Valley of Hinnom (Greek: Gehenna).
10 »Do not treat these little ones badly. I tell you that angels represent them in the presence of my Father in heaven.
11 (omitted, text not found in early manuscripts)
12 »What do you think? A man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone wandering away. Will he leave the ninety-nine and go in search of the wandering one?
13 »When he finds it, I tell you he will be filled with more joy than he would have if he had stayed with the ninety-nine.
14 »Even so, your Father in heaven does not want any of these little ones to be lost.
15 »If your brother does wrong to you, go to him in private. Clearly explain his error between you and him. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother back.
16 »If he does not listen to you, take one or two more people with you. Two or three witnesses may prove every case.
17 »If he will not listen to them, let it come to the attention of the congregation. If he will not listen to the congregation, let him be to you as a heathen and a tax collector.
18 »I tell you; whatever things are fixed by you on earth will be declared improper and unlawful in heaven. Whatever you make free on earth will be declared lawful in heaven.
19 »Again, I say to you, that if two of you are in agreement on earth about anything for which they will make a request, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
20 »Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.«
21 Peter came to him and said: »Lord, How many times may my brother do wrong against me, and I forgive him? Seven times?«
22 Jesus said to him: »Not seven times; but seventy times seven.
23 »The kingdom of heaven is like a king who went over his accounts with his servants.
24 »First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
25 »He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed.
26 »So the servant fell on his face out of respect. He said: ‘Lord, give me time to make payment and I will pay everything.’
27 »Being moved with pity, the lord let him go, and made him free of the debt.
28 »Then that servant met another servant who was in debt to him for one hundred denarii. He took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay your debt now.’
29 »That servant fell down before him, saying, ‘Give me time and I will make payment to you.’
30 »He would not give him time. He put him into prison till he paid the debt.
31 »When the other servants saw what happened, they were very sad. They told their lord what had been done.
32 »His lord sent for him, and said: ‘Evil servant; I made you free of all that debt, because of your request to me.
33 »‘Should you [also] show mercy to your fellow servant the same way I showed mercy to you?’
34 »His lord was angry and sent him to jail to be punished until he paid back all of his debt.
35 »My heavenly Father will treat you like that if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.«
19 1 When Jesus finished speaking, he departed from Galilee. He went to the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.
2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed many of them.
15 18 »That which comes out of the mouth, comes from the heart and makes a man unclean.
19 »Evil thoughts come from the heart! Thoughts about murder, adultery, fornication, theft, lying, and slander come from the heart!
20 »These things make a man unclean. Eating food with unwashed hands does not make a man unclean.«
21 Jesus went away from there into the country of Tyre and Sidon.
22 A woman of Canaan came crying and saying: »Have pity on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is greatly troubled with an unclean spirit.«
23 He did not answer her. His disciples said to him: »Send her away; she keeps shouting at us.«
24 He answered: »I was sent only to the wandering sheep of the house of Israel.«
25 She bowed down before him and asked for help.
26 He said: »It is not right to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs.«
27 She said: »Yes, Lord; but even the dogs take the scraps from under their masters’ table.«
28 »O woman,« Jesus replied, »your faith is great! Let your desire be done.« And her daughter was made well from that hour.
29 Jesus went from there to the Sea of Galilee. He went up into the mountain and sat down.
30 Many people came to him. They brought those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many other people. They laid them down at his feet and he healed them.
31 The people marveled as they saw the mute speak, the crippled and lame walk, and the blind see. They glorified the God of Israel.
32 Jesus called his disciples and said: »I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.«
33 The disciples replied: »Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?«
34 Jesus asked: »How many loaves do you have?« They said: »Seven, and a few small fish.«
35 He told the people to sit down on the ground.
36 He took the seven loaves and the fish and offered a prayer of thanksgiving. Then he broke them and gave them to the disciples. The disciples gave them to the people.
37 They all ate and were satisfied. When they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, there were seven large baskets full.
38 Four thousand men, besides women and children were fed.
39 After dismissing the crowds, Jesus took a boat to the region of Magadan.
16 1 The Pharisees and Sadducees tested Jesus by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
2 He said to them, »At nightfall you say the weather will be good, for the sky is red.
3 »And in the morning, the weather will be bad today for the sky is red and angry. You are able to see the face of heaven, but not the signs of the time.
4 »An evil and false generation is searching after a sign. However, no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah.« Then he left them.
5 The disciples came from the other side of the sea. They did not think to obtain bread.
6 Jesus said: »Take care to have nothing to do with the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.«
7 They reasoned among themselves, saying: »We took no bread.«
8 Hearing this, Jesus said: »You of little faith, why are you reasoning among yourselves about not having bread?
9 »Do you still not see or remember the five cakes of bread of the five thousand, and the number of baskets you took up?
10 »Or the seven cakes of bread of the four thousand, and the number of baskets you took up?
11 »Why do you not understand I was not talking about bread? Instead, about keeping away from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?«
12 Then they realized it was not the leaven of bread he had in mind. It was the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
13 Jesus traveled to parts of Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples: »Who do men say that the Son of man is?«
14 They said: »John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.«
15 »Who do you say that I am?«
16 Simon Peter answered: »You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!«
17 Jesus answered him: »Bless you, Simon son of John. This knowledge came from my Father in heaven and not from man.
18 »You are Peter (Greek: petros: piece of rock), and on this rock-mass (Greek: petra: mass of rock) (referring to Jesus) I will build my congregation. The entrance to the grave (Greek: Hades) will not have power to stop it.
19 »I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is improper and unlawful in heaven, and whatever you declare lawful on earth must be lawful in heaven.«
20 He gave orders to the disciples to tell no man he was the Christ.
21 From that time forward Jesus made it clear to his disciples how he would have to go to Jerusalem. He told them he would undergo much at the hands of the authorities, including the chief priests and scribes. He let them know he would be put to death. The third day he would come back from the dead.
22 Peter protested and rebuked Jesus. He said: »Do not think of that, Lord; it will never happen to you.«
23 He turned to Peter and said: »Get behind me, Satan. You are a stumbling block to me. You think the things of men, not of God.«
24 Then Jesus told his disciples: »If any man wants to follow me (be mine), let him deny (disown) himself, and take up his stake and follow me (Greek: akoloutheo moi, let him be following me) (accompany me) (be in the same way with me).
25 »He who wants to save his life will lose it. He who is willing to lose his life for my sake will find it.
26 »What will a man profit, if he gains the whole world, and gives up his life? What will a man give in exchange for his life?
27 »The Son of man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels. He will then reward each man according to his deeds.
28 »I tell you truly, there are some that stand here who will not experience death till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.«
17 1 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother up into a high mountain alone.
2 While they watched, Jesus’ appearance changed (transformed) (transfigured) in their presence. His face was as bright as the sun and his clothes became as white as the light.
3 Moses and Elijah appeared, and they were talking to him.
4 Peter told Jesus: »Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let us make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.«
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud, saying: »This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.«
6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces. They were very afraid.
7 Jesus touched them and told them to get up and not be afraid.
8 They saw only Jesus when they opened their eyes.
9 When they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what they saw, until the Son of man has risen from the dead.
10 His disciples asked him: »Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?«
11 In answer he said: »Elijah truly has to come and put all things right.
12 »I tell you that Elijah has come. They did not know him and treated him badly as they pleased. They will do the same with the Son of man.«
13 Then the disciples saw that he was telling them about John the Baptist.
14 When they approached the people, a man fell to his knees before him, saying:
15 »Lord, have mercy on my son. He has mental problems and is in great pain. He frequently falls into the fire and into the water.
16 »I took him to your disciples, and they were not able to make him well.«
17 Jesus answered: »You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.«