The Single Gospel - Compiled by Neil Averitt
1 . The Dedications of Mark and Luke
Mark 1 : 1 ; Luke 1 : 1 – 4
1 . Here begins the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 . Many have undertaken to set forth a narrative of those things which have taken place among us, just as the accounts were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word. Since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good to me also to write an orderly account, so that you may know the truth of the things you have been taught.
2 . IN THE BEGINNING
John 1 : 1 – 6 , 14 – 18
1 . In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 . The Word existed in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and God created nothing except through him. In him was life, and this life brings light to all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
3 . And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, full of truth and kindness; we have beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father. And from the abundance of Jesus’ grace we have all received blessing upon blessing. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 2 No one has seen God at any time; but the only Son, who is closest to the Father’s heart, has made him known to us.
4 . And there was a man sent from God, whose name was John. John bore witness to the eternal life of Jesus 3 when he cried out, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he existed before me.’”
I. Background and Birth of Jesus
3 . AN ANGEL PROMISES THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Luke 1 : 5 – 25
1 . J ohn the Baptist was born in the following way. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest 4 named Zechariah, of the priestly order of Abijah. He had a wife who was from the family of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
2 . One day when Zechariah’s group was on duty and he was serving as a priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom among the priests, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. At the time for the burning of incense, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing on the right-hand side of the incense altar. Zechariah was shaken when he saw the angel, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
3 . “And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice that he was born; for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord, and he shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel back to the Lord their God, and he will go as a forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
4 . Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well stricken in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. Now behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
5 . Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered why he was so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they understood that he had seen a vision there; for he kept making signs to them but remained mute. And when his time of service was completed, he returned to his home.
6 . After this his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “Now he has shown his favor and taken away the reproach I have endured among the people.”
4 . THE ANNUNCIATION TO MARY
Luke 1 : 26 – 38
1 . In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s term the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the lineage of David; and this maiden’s name was Mary. Gabriel came to her and said, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with thee!”
2 . Mary was greatly troubled at these words, and wondered what this greeting might mean. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”
3 . Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have never known a man?” And the angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. For see, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is now the sixth month for her who had been called barren. For with God nothing is impossible.”
4 . Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be unto me according to thy word.” And the angel departed from her.
5 . MARY’S VISIT TO ELIZABETH
Luke 1 : 39 – 56
1 . Then Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town of Judea, and she entered the house where Zechariah lived, and greeted Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she gave a loud cry and exclaimed, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb! But why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is the woman who has believed, for the things that the Lord has spoken to her will be accomplished.”
2 . Mary responded,
My soul doth magnify the Lord, 5
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has shown favor to his humble handmaiden. 6
Behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
For those who fear him, his mercy abides
from generation to generation.
He has shown might in his arm;
he has scattered those who are haughty in their inmost thoughts;
he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
He has helped his servant Israel,
and remembered to be merciful
to Abraham and his posterity forever,
even as he promised to our fathers.
And Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months, and then she returned to her home.
6 . THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Luke 1 : 57 – 79
1 . Then the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “There is no one in your family who bears this name.” So they made signs to the father, asking what he wished to have him called. And Zechariah motioned for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished.
2 . At once Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. And awe came upon all their neighbors. These things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; and all who heard about them wondered what they meant, saying, “What then is this child going to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely with him.
3 . Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he prophesied, saying,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people,
and he has raised up a rock of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
as he promised through his holy prophets from long ago.
Thus we shall be saved from our enemies,
and from the hand of all who hate us.
The Lord has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and he has remembered his holy covenant,
the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, to grant
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
And you, my child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
Through the tender mercy of our God,
a new day shall dawn upon us from on high,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
7 . THE ANNUNCIATION TO JOSEPH
Matthew 1 : 18 b– 25 a
1 . After Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to public disgrace, resolved to send her away quietly.
2 . But as he considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for the child within her is conceived of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 7 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name ‘Emmanuel,’ which means, God is with us.”
3 . When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took Mary as his wife, but did not know her until she had borne a son.
8 . THE BIRTH OF JESUS
Matthew 1 : 18 a; Luke 2 : 1 – 7
1 . Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph went up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was great with child.
2 . And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
9 . THE ANGELS’ PROCLAMATION TO THE SHEPHERDS
Luke 2 : 8 – 20
1 . In that same region there were shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. But the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be for all the people; for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this is how you shall know him: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will to men.
2 . When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went quickly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. When they saw this they spread the word of what they had been told about this child; and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds told them.
3 . But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them quietly in her heart. And the shepherds returned to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as the angel had told them.
10 . PATERNAL GENEALOGY OF JESUS
Matthew 1 : 1 – 17
1 . The record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham, through his father Joseph : 8
2 . Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
and Jesse the father of David the king.
3 . And David was the father of Solomon by the woman who had been the wife of Uriah,
Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Uzziah,
Uzziah the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,
and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, about the time they were carried away into Babylon.
4 . And after they were carried away into Babylon,
Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel the father of Abiud,
Abiud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Achim,
Achim the father of Eliud,
Eliud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called the Christ.
5 . So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the carrying away into Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.
11 . MATERNAL GENEALOGY OF JESUS
Luke 3 : 23 b– 38
1 . T he record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, through his mother Mary .
2 . Jesus was the son (as was supposed) of Joseph,
the son- in-law 9 of Heli, the son of Matthat,
the son of Levi, the son of Melchi,
the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos,
the son of Nahum, the son of Esli,
the son of Naggai, the son of Maath,
the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein,
the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa,
the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel,
the son of Neri, the son of Melchi,
the son of Addi, the son of Cosam,
the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer,
the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat,
the son of Levi, the son of Simeon,
the son of Judah, the son of Joseph,
the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
the son of Melea, the son of Menna,
the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan,
the son of David, 10 the son of Jesse,
the son of Obed, the son of Boaz,
the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
the son of Amminadab, the son of Arni,
the son of Hezron, the son of Perez,
the son of Judah, the son of Jacob,
the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham,
the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
the son of Serug, the son of Reu,
the son of Peleg, the son of Eber,
the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan,
the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem,
the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch,
the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel,
the son of Cainan, the son of Enos,
the son of Seth, the son of Adam,
the son of God.
12 . CIRCUMCISION AND NAMING
Matthew 1 : 25 b; Luke 2 : 21
1 . On the eighth day it was time to circumcise the infant.
2 . Joseph named him Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived in the womb.
13 . PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE
Luke 2 : 22 – 39 a
1 . And when the period for their purification according to the law of Moses had been completed, 11 Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord and to offer the sacrifice required by the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. For as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that is the first-born child of its mother shall be dedicated to the Lord.”
2 . Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon. He was righteous and devout, and looking forward to the Messiah who would rescue Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 12 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for him the requirements of the law, 13 he took the child up in his arms and blessed God and said,
Lord, now allow thy servant to depart in peace,
according to your promise.
For mine eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared for the use of all peoples—
a light to reveal God to the Gentiles,
and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him; and then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
This child is destined to cause the rise or the fall of many in Israel,
and to be a sign from God, although many will oppose him.
Through him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed,
and a sword will pierce your own soul too.
3 . And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. Coming up to them at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
4 . And then they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord.
14 . GIFTS OF THE MAGI
Matthew 2 : 1 – 12
1 . After these things had taken place , wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.”
2 . When Herod the king heard this, he was deeply troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “for thus it is written by the prophet:
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the ruling towns of Judah;
for out of you shall come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.
Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had first appeared, and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, so that I too may go and do him homage.”
3 . After they had heard the king, the magi 14 went on their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, until it came and stood over the place where the child lay. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy; and going into the house 15 they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and offered him gifts—of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
4 . And being warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another way.
15 . FLIGHT INTO EGYPT AND MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS
Matthew 2 : 13 – 18
1 . After the magi had departed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I bring you word; for Herod intends to search for the child, to destroy him.” So Joseph arose and took the child and his mother, and departed to Egypt by night, 16 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
2 . When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the wise men he was filled with rage, and he sent out orders to kill all the male children in Bethlehem and the surrounding region who were two years old or under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the wise men. Thus the words spoken by the prophet Jeremiah were fulfilled:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
with wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
and she would not be comforted,
because they were no more.
16 . RETURN TO NAZARETH
Matthew 2 : 19 – 23 ; Luke 2 : 39 b
1 . After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And Joseph arose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.
2 . But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, Joseph feared to go there. 17 Being warned in a dream, they returned instead to the district of Galilee, and settled in their own town of Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
II. Youth and Preparation
17 . THE YOUNG JESUS CONFERS WITH THE TEACHERS
Luke 2 : 40 – 50
1 . The child Jesus grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.
2 . Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the Passover. When Jesus was twelve years old they took him with them when they went up, according to the custom of the feast; but after the celebration was over, and they were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know this, but supposing him to be in their traveling party they went a day’s journey, and then they looked for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.
3 . After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his responses. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Your father and I have been anxiously looking for you.” And Jesus said to them, “Why did you need to search for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
4 . But they did not understand the significance of these words.
18 . JESUS GROWS TO MANHOOD
Luke 2 : 51 – 52
1 . After that, Jesus went back down to Nazareth with his parents, and was obedient to them; but his mother stored away the memory of these events in her heart.
2 . And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and men.
1 9 . JOHN THE BAPTIST GROWS TO MANHOOD
Matthew 3 : 4 ; Mark 1 : 6 ; Luke 1 : 80
1 . John also grew and became strong in spirit.
2 . H e went into the wilderness, and there he wore a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. And he was in the wilderness until the day he showed himself to Israel.
20 . JOHN THE BAPTIST BEGINS TO PREACH
Matthew 3 : 1 – 3 , 5 – 6 ; Mark 1 : 2 – 5 ; Luke 3 : 1 – 6 ; John 1 : 7 – 8
1 . In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, 18 when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod the younger 19 was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip was ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
2 . And so John the Baptist appeared, and he went through all the region around the river Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 20 In the wilderness of Judea he preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 21
3 . John came to bear testimony, to bear witness to the light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. For he was the one spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
Behold, I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who shall prepare thy way before thee,
with a voice shouting in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make his paths straight!
Every valley shall be filled in,
and every mountain and hill shall be brought low;
the crooked roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
and all mankind shall see the salvation that God provides.’
4 . And people went out to John from Jerusalem and all the country of Judea and all the region along the Jordan; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
21 . JOHN DEMANDS TRUE REPENTANCE
Matthew 3 : 7 – 10 ; Luke 3 : 7 – 14
1 . But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees 22 coming for baptism, he said to them, “O generation of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with true repentance, and do not think it is enough to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you, God is able from these very stones to raise up more children to Abraham. Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees; and every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire.”
2 . The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” And he answered them, “He who has two shirts, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”
3 . Tax-gatherers— collaborators and revenue agents for the Romans 23 — also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are entitled to.” Soldiers asked him, “And we, what should we do?” And he said to them, “Take no money by force or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
22 . JOHN ANNOUNCES THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH
Matthew 3 : 11 – 12 ; Mark 1 : 7 – 8 ; Luke 3 : 15 – 1 8 ; John 1 : 19 – 28
1 . The people were filled with expectation and all were wondering in their hearts whether John might perhaps be the Messiah. 24
2 . But when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?,” this was John’s response. He confessed—he did not deny, but confessed—“I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” 25 He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Then who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
3 . He said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the path of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” Now those who had been sent were from the Pharisees, and they asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”
4 . John answered all of them with these words: “I baptize you with water for repentance, but among you stands one whom you do not know. He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry, and the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather the wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
5 . This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. And with many other words he exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.
23 . THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
Matthew 3 : 13 – 17 ; Mark 1 : 9 – 11 ; Luke 3 : 21 – 22
1 . At that time, when all the people were being baptized, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee to the Jordan, to also be baptized by John. John tried to dissuade him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and instead you are coming to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Permit it for now; for in this way we each carry out the work that God has given us to do.”
2 . Then John consented, and Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan.
3 . And when Jesus came up out of the water, and was praying, straightaway he saw the heavens torn open and the Spirit of God descending in bodily form like a dove and alighting upon him. And a voice came from heaven, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.” And the voice spoke also to the crowd, saying , “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” 26
24 . JOHN DECLARES JESUS TO BE THE CHRIST
John 1 : 29 – 34
1 . The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, 27 who takes away the sin of the world. This is the one of whom I said, ‘After me there comes a man who ranks before me, because he existed before me.’ I did not recognize him as the Messiah ; but it was for this that I came baptizing with water, so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
2 . And John declared, “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained upon him. I would not have known who he was; but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen this, and I testify that this is the Son of God.”
25 . TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS
Matthew 4 : 1 – 11 ; Mark 1 : 12 – 13 ; Luke 4 : 1 – 13
1 . Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit immediately sent him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days and forty nights, and was tempted there by Satan; and he was among the wild beasts.
2 . Jesus ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, he was hungry. Then the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
3 . Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set him on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here; for it is written, ‘He will give his angels charge over thee, to protect thee,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” But Jesus said to him, “It is also written, ‘Thou shalt not test the Lord thy God.’”
4 . And then the devil took Jesus up onto a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single glance, and the splendor of them; and he said to him, “To you I will give all the power and glory of these kingdoms, for it has been delivered to me, and I can give it to whom I will. Therefore if you will fall down and worship me, all this shall be yours.” But Jesus said to him, “Get thee behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shall you serve.’”
5 . And when the devil had finished every temptation, he departed to wait for another opportunity, and angels came and ministered to Jesus.
26 . JESUS BEGINS HIS MINISTRY
Luke 3 : 23 a; John 1 : 9 – 13
1 . Jesus was about thirty years of age when he began his ministry.
2 . A nd so the true light that enlightens every man had come into the world. He was in the world, and the world had been made through him, yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own land, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
III. The Early Ministries
27 . JESUS FINDS HIS FIRST DISCIPLES
John 1 : 35 – 42
1 . When Jesus returned from the wilderness, 28 John the Baptist was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked by, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
2 . When the two disciples heard John say this, they followed after Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following him, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” And they said to him, “Rabbi”—which means Teacher—“where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” It was then about the tenth hour of the day. 29 So the disciples went and saw where Jesus was staying; and they remained with him that day.
3 . Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who had heard what John said and followed Jesus. 30 Afterwards Andrew hurried to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah”—which means the Christ. He brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas”—which, when translated, is Peter. 31
28 . JESUS FINDS TWO MORE DISCIPLES
John 1 : 43 – 51
1 . The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip in turn found Nathaniel, and said to him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
2 . Nathaniel said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip replied, “Come and see.”
3 . Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him and said, “Behold, here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false!” “Where do you know me from?,” Nathaniel asked him. Jesus answered, “I saw you when you were under the fig tree, before Philip called you.” And Nathaniel exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 32
4 . Jesus said, “You believe just because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that.” And he said, “I tell you truly, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God going up and coming down unto the Son of Man.” 33
29 . THE FIRST MIRACLE: CHANGING WATER INTO WINE
John 2 : 1 – 11
1 . On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there; and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” And Jesus said to her, “ Good woman, 34 does that need to concern us now? My hour has not yet come.” But his mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
2 . Standing nearby were six stone water jars, of the kind used for the Jewish customs of ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water;” so they filled them up to the brim. Then he said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast;” and so they took it. The steward tasted the water, which had now become wine, and did not know where it came from, although the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then the steward called the bridegroom aside and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and afterwards, when the guests have drunk freely, the poorer wine; but you have kept the best wine until now.”
3 . This, the first of the miraculous signs that confirmed his mission, 35 Jesus did at Cana in Galilee. He thereby revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
30 . A FEW DAYS AT THE LAKESHORE
John 2 : 12
1 . After this Jesus went down to the town of Capernaum, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, 36 with his mother and his brothers and his disciples.
2 . There they stayed for a few days.
31 . READING HEARTS IN JERUSALEM
John 2 : 13 , 23 – 25
1 . Then the Passover feast of the Jews drew near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 37 When he was there, many trusted in his name when they saw the miracles that he did.
2 . But Jesus did not entrust himself to them; because he knew all men. He needed no one to bear testimony to him about mankind, for he himself knew what was in each man.
32 . “YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN”
John 3 : 1 – 21
1 . I n Jerusalem there was a man named Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a leader among the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher sent from God; for no one could do these miracles that you do, unless God is with him.”
2 . Jesus answered him, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, 38 unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “I tell you truly, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound of it, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit.” 39
3 . Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you still do not understand these things? I tell you truly, we speak of what we actually know, and bear witness to what we have actually seen; but you people do not accept our testimony. If I have told you of earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you of heavenly things? No one has ever ascended into heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, likewise must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” 40
4 . For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved. He who believes in the Son is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
5 . And this is the reason for the condemnation: The light has come into the world, but men have long loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds have been evil. Every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.
33 . JOHN THE BAPTIST TRANSFERS LEADERSHIP
John 3 : 22 – 36
1 . After this, Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the countryside of Judea; and there he spent time with them and performed baptisms. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was ample water there. People continued to come to John and were baptized, for he had not yet been cast into prison.
2 . Then a question arose between the disciples of John the Baptist and a certain observant Jew over a matter of ceremonial washing. So John’s disciples went to him and said, “Rabbi, the man who was with you beyond the Jordan—the one of whom you testified—now he is performing baptisms himself, and everyone is going to him.” John answered, “No one can receive anything unless it is given to him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. 41 The friend of the bridegoom, who stands by and listens for him, is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; and I must become less.”
3 . He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth, and of the earth he speaks. But he who comes from heaven is above all else. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet so few accept his testimony. But the one who does accept it affirms that God is truthful. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who rejects the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God shall rest upon him.
34 . JOHN THE BAPTIST SCOLDS HEROD
Matthew 14 : 3 – 5 ; Mark 6 : 17 – 20 ; Luke 3 : 19 – 20
1 . S oon afterwards John the Baptist reproved Herod the tetrarch 42 for marrying Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have thy brother’s wife.” 43 He also rebuked Herod for all the other evil things that he had done.
2 . F or this, Herod’s wife Herodias bore a grudge against John, and wanted to see him dead. But she could not act, for Herod was in awe of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When Herod heard John speak he was greatly troubled in his mind, and yet he enjoyed listening to him. Moreover, even when Herod wanted to put John to death, 44 he feared the people, because they held John to be a prophet.
3 . But to his other sins Herod now added this above all: he sent men who seized John, bound him, and shut him up in prison.
35 . THE DECISION TO RETURN TO GALILEE
Matthew 4 : 12 ; Mark 1 : 14 a; John 4 : 1 – 3
1 . S oon afterwards Jesus heard that John had been arrested. And he learned that the Pharisees had become aware that he was making and baptizing more disciples than John—even though the fact was that Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples.
2 . When the Lord learned of these things, he left Judea and set out back to Galilee. 45
36 . THE WOMAN AT THE WELL
John 4 : 4 – 44
1 . T o get there he had to pass through Samaria. 46 And so he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the piece of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 47 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired from the long journey, sat down beside the well. It was about midday.
2 . Then a woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus asked of her, “Give me something to drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
3 . Jesus answered her, “If you only knew the gift that God puts before you, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would be asking him for the drink, and he would give you living water.” The woman said to him, “But Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep; where would you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well, and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his cattle?”
4 . Jesus said to her, “Every one who drinks of this water will become thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I give will become a spring of water welling up within him and bringing eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not thirst, nor have to keep coming here to draw water.”
5 . Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say, ‘I have no husband.’ You have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband; this you said truly.”
6 . The woman said to him, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. So explain to me: Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; why then do your people say that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship?”
7 . Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. But a time is coming, and indeed is already here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for these are the kind of worshipers the Father desires. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
8 . The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming—he who is called the Christ—and when he comes, he will explain all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
9 . Just then his disciples came back. They were surprised that he was talking with a woman, but none of them asked, “What do you want with her?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”
10 . So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the town, and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” So they went out of the town and headed toward him.
11 . Meanwhile his disciples were pleading with him, saying, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing of.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has someone brought him food?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to finish his work.
12 . “Do you not say, ‘One must wait four months for the harvest’? But I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I have sent you to harvest a crop that you did not work for; others have labored, and now you can reap the benefits of their labor.” 48
13 . Many Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more came to believe because of his own words. They said to the woman, “It is no longer just because of your report that we believe, for now we have heard him ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the savior of the world.”
1 4 . After the two days Jesus departed to Galilee. But he did not return directly to his childhood home in Nazareth , for he himself had remarked that a prophet is not honored in his own town.
IV. The Galilee Ministry
Teaching and Healing
37 . JESUS ARRIVES IN GALILEE
Luke 4 : 14 – 15 ; John 4 : 45
1 . When Jesus returned to Galilee filled with the power of the Spirit, the Galileans made him welcome. They had seen all the things he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, for they too had been there.
2 . Reports about him went out through all the countryside. And he began to teach in the synagogues, and was praised by everyone.
38 . HEALING AN OFFICIAL’S SON
John 4 : 46 – 54
1 . One day Jesus went again to Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. Now at that time there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at the lakeshore in Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for the boy was at the point of death.
2 . Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and miracles you will never believe.” The official pleaded, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go home, your son will live.” The man believed this word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way.
3 . As he was going down to Capernaum , his servants met him and reported that his son was going to live. So he asked them the time when his son had begun to recover, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” Then the father realized that this was the time when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his household became believers.
4 . This was the second miracle that Jesus performed, after coming from Judea to Galilee.
39 . REJECTION AT NAZARETH
Luke 4 : 16 – 30
1 . Later Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and he went to the synagogue, according to his custom, on the sabbath. He stood up to read; and the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll, and found the place where it was written,
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor.
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim deliverance to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s mercy.
And he rolled up the scroll, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
2 . Then he began to speak to them. “Today this scripture has been fulfilled by what you just heard me say.” And all spoke well of him, and were amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips.
3 . B ut then they began to have doubts. “Is this not Joseph’s son?” they asked. And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal thyself!’ And you will say, ‘What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do the same things here in your own town.’” And he continued, “I tell you truly, no prophet is accepted in his own town. For I assure you, there were many needy widows in Israel in the days of the prophet Elijah, when no rain fell for three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of those but only to a foreign widow at Zarephath in the land of Sidon. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha; yet none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
4 . When they heard this, all the people in the synagogue were filled with fury. 49 They rose up and drove Jesus out of the city, and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might throw him down the cliff. But he passed through the midst of the crowd and went on his way.
40 . STARTING THE MINISTRY IN CAPERNAUM
Matthew 4 : 13 – 17 ; Mark 1 : 14 b– 15
1 . Leaving Nazareth, Jesus went and made his home in the town of Capernaum, 50 in Galilee, which was by the lake in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
In the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali—
on the road to the sea, across the Jordan,
in Galilee where so many foreigners live 51 —
the people who lived in darkness
have seen a great light;
and for those who dwelt in the land and the shadow of death
a light has dawned.
2 . From that time on, Jesus began preaching the good news of God, and saying, “The time has come, and the kingdom of heaven is close at hand; repent, 52 and believe in the gospel.” 53
41 . THE GREAT CATCH OF FISH
Luke 5 : 1 – 10 a, 11 a
1 . One day Jesus was standing by the Sea of Galilee, and the people were pressing hard about him to hear the word of God. Then he saw two boats lying at the water’s edge. But the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
2 . Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon Peter’s , Jesus asked him to push off a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed such a great quantity of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, to come and help them. And the partners came and filled up both the boats, so that they began to sink.
3 . When Simon Peter saw this he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For he was astonished, as were all that were with him, at the number of fish they had taken. But Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid,” and they brought their boats to land.
42 . FISHERS OF MEN
Matthew 4 : 18 – 22 ; Mark 1 : 16 – 20 ; Luke 5 : 10 b, 11 b
1 . L ater, as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he again saw the two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
2 . Continuing a little farther, Jesus saw the two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat with their father, mending their nets. And he called them, and immediately they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, left everything, and followed him.
43 . HEALING THE SICK AND POSSESSED
Matthew 8 : 14 – 17 ; Mark 1 : 21 – 34 ; Luke 4 : 31 – 41
1 . They went back into Capernaum; and on the next sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had real authority, and not as the scribes.
2 . In the synagogue there was a man who was possessed by a demon, an unclean spirit; and he suddenly cried out with a loud voice, “Let us alone! What business do you have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Hold thy peace, and come out of him.” And when the demon had thrown the man down before them all, convulsing him and giving a loud scream, he came out of the man, without having done him any harm.
3 . The people were all amazed, so that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching! With real authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him and depart.” And at once news about Jesus began to spread through all the region of Galilee.
4 . After they left the synagogue they went to the house of Simon Peter and Andrew, and James and John accompanied them. Now Simon Peter’s mother-in-law 54 was lying sick with a high fever, and so they immediately told Jesus about her and asked him to help her. Jesus came and stood over her, rebuked the fever, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and at once she rose and served them.
5 . That evening, after sundown, 55 the people brought to him all who were sick with various diseases or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered about the door. Jesus laid his hands on every one of the invalids and healed them. He cast out the spirits with a word, and demons came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked the demons, and would not permit them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
6 . This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the prophet Isaiah, “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
4 4 . THE MISSION TO OTHER TOWNS
Matthew 4 : 23 – 25 ; Mark 1 : 35 – 39 ; Luke 4 : 42 – 44
1 . Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus rose and went out to a secluded place, and there he prayed.
2 . Later Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him they said to him, “Every one is searching for you.” And the people came to Jesus, and would have prevented him from leaving them; but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; because that is why I was sent. So let us go on to the next towns.”
3 . Then he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every kind of disease and infirmity among the people, and casting out demons.
4 . So his fame spread through all Syria, and the people brought him all the sick, those suffering from various diseases and pains, the demon-possessed, epileptics, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. And great crowds followed him—people from Galilee and the Decapolis 56 and Jerusalem and Judea, and from the lands beyond the Jordan.
45 . CLEANSING A LEPER
Matthew 8 : 2 – 4 ; Mark 1 : 40 – 45 ; Luke 5 : 12 – 16
1 . While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man full of leprosy came up; and when he saw Jesus he fell to his knees and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
2 . And being moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be clean.” Immediately the leprosy left the man, and he was clean.
3 . Jesus sent him away at once with a stern warning: “See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and give for your cleansing the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony that you are cured.” 57
4 . But the man went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that the report about Jesus went abroad all the more; and great crowds gathered from every quarter to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities.
5 . After that, Jesus could no longer openly enter a town. So he would withdraw to the wilderness and pray.
46 . THE MAN ON THE PALLET AND A CHARGE OF BLASPHEMY
Matthew 9 : 1 – 8 ; Mark 2 : 1 – 12 ; Luke 5 : 17 – 2 6
1 . After some days Jesus got into a boat, crossed over the lake , and came to his own town of Capernaum. The people heard that he had come home, and so many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door. Jesus was preaching the word to them; and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
2 . There were also scribes, Pharisees, and teachers of religious law sitting by, who had come from every town in Galilee, and from Judea and Jerusalem.
3 . And some men came, bringing a paralyzed man to Jesus on a pallet carried by four of them. They sought to bring the man in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to get in, because of the crowd, they went up and removed part of the roof above Jesus. And when they had made an opening through the tiles, they let down the pallet on which the paralyzed man lay, into the midst of the crowd before him.
4 . When Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralyzed man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” But some of the scribes and Pharisees sitting there began to question this, saying to themselves, “Who is this man, and why does he speak this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
5 . And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that this is what they were thinking within themselves, said to them, “Why do you have evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your pallet, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . .” And he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, and take up your pallet, and go home.” Immediately the man stood up before them all, took up that which he had been lying on, and went home praising God.
6 . When the crowds saw this, they were amazed and filled with awe, and they glorified God who had given such authority to men, saying, “We have seen astonishing things today. We have never seen anything like this!”
47 . MATTHEW BECOMES A DISCIPLE
Matthew 9 : 9 ; Mark 2 : 13 – 14 ; Luke 5 : 27 – 28
1 . Then Jesus went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd gathered around him, and he taught them.
2 . After this, as he continued on his way, he saw a tax-gatherer named Matthew Levi 58 the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tollhouse, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And Matthew rose, left everything, and followed him.
48 . JESUS’ MISSION IS TO SINNERS
Matthew 9 : 10 – 13 ; Mark 2 : 15 – 17 ; Luke 5 : 29 – 32
1 . Later Matthew Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and many collaborating tax-gatherers and other sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many such among his followers. And when the Pharisees and the scribes 59 who belonged to their sect saw this, they complained to his disciples, asking, “Why does your master eat and drink with tax-gatherers and sinners?”
2 . When Jesus heard this he answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Go and learn what this scripture means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifices.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
49 . LESS NEED FOR RITUAL FASTING
Matthew 9 : 14 – 17 ; Mark 2 : 18 – 22 ; Luke 5 : 33 – 39
1 . One day the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist were fasting, and John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do we and the disciples of the Pharisees often fast and pray, but your disciples continue to eat and drink?”
2 . And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot mourn. But the time will come when the bridegoom is taken away from them, and then they shall fast.”
3 . He also told them a parable: “No one tears a patch of unshrunk cloth from a new garment and sews it upon an old garment. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the new piece will pull away from the old garment, and a worse tear will be made. And the piece from the new garment will not match the old. 60
4 . “And no one puts new wine into old bottles or old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the wineskins and the wine will spill out, and the wineskins will be ruined. New wine must be put into new wineskins, and then both are preserved. But no one who has become accustomed to drinking old wine immediately desires the new, for he says, ‘The old is perfectly good.’” 61
50 . THE POOL OF BETHESDA
John 5 : 1 – 18
1 . After this there came a festival day of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 62
2 . Now in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate there is a pool, which in Hebrew 63 is called Bethesda, and around which there are five covered porticos. In these lay a multitude of invalids—the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed—and they waited for the moving of the waters. For from time to time an angel would go down into the pool and stir up the water. Whoever stepped first into the pool after each such troubling of the waters would be cured of whatever disease he had.
3 . One man there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Would you like to get well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am trying to get there another steps in before me.” Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take up your pallet, and walk.” At once the man was healed, and took up his pallet and walked.
4 . But that day was the sabbath. So the religious leaders among the Jews said to the man who had been cured, “It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet this day.” But he answered them, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is this person who told you to take it up and walk?” But the man who had been healed did not know who it had been, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd there.
5 . Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you are well again! Sin no more, so that nothing worse may come upon you.” The man went away and told the authorities that it was Jesus who had healed him. Therefore they began to persecute Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath.
6 . But Jesus answered them, “My Father is always at work, even until this very day, and I too am working.” And this was why the Jewish leaders sought all the more to find a way to destroy him, because he not only broke the sabbath but also called God his father, making himself equal with God.
5 1 . THE SON OF GOD
John 5 : 19 – 47
1 . Jesus explained to the temple leaders, “I tell you truly, the Son can do nothing by himself, but does only what he sees the Father doing; because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show the Son even greater works to do than this, so that you will be astonished. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he chooses.
2 . “The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. I tell you truly, whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me, he has everlasting life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you truly, the hour is coming, and has now arrived, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who respond to it will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so too he has granted the Son to have life in himself; and has also given him authority to pass judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 64 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation. By myself I can do nothing. As I hear my Father , I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to follow not my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
3 . “If I were to testify about myself, my testimony would not be sufficient. But there is another who testifies about me, and I know that his testimony about me is true.
4 . “You sent to John the Baptist, and he has borne witness to the truth. Now, I do not depend on human testimony; but I speak of this so that you may be saved. John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a little while you were willing to rejoice in his light.
5 . “But the testimony supporting me is greater than that of John. The works which the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen; and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You diligently study the scriptures, because you think that through them you will have eternal life. These are the very scriptures that testify about me, and yet you will not come to me to have life.
6 . “I do not need praise from men. But I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if another comes in his own name, him you will accept. How can you believe, when you accept honors from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the honor that comes from the only God?
7 . “Do not think that I will be the one to accuse you before the Father. The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you place your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
52 . FOLLOWERS FROM MANY LANDS
Matthew 12 : 1 5 – 21 ; Mark 3 : 7 – 12 ; Luke 6 : 17 b
1 . Aware of the hostility of the Jerusalem leadership , Jesus and his disciples withdrew from there to the Sea of Galilee, and a great multitude from Galilee followed, and he healed all their sick. When they heard all that he was doing, many people also came to Jesus from all Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea, and from beyond the Jordan and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.
2 . And because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him, lest the people should crush him; for he had healed many, and now all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. And whenever the unclean spirits beheld Jesus, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”
3 . But he gave strict orders to the spirits and to the crowds not to tell who he was. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
Behold my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, with whom my soul is pleased;
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear him shouting in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
until he has led justice to victory.
And in his name all the nations shall put their hope.
53 . CALLING THE TWELVE APOSTLES
Matthew 10 : 1 – 4 ; Mark 3 : 13 – 19 a; Luke 6 : 12 – 1 6
1 . One day Jesus went up on a mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God. When morning came, he called his disciples, and they came to him, and he chose from them twelve whom he desired, whom he named apostles. 65 They were to accompany him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message. He gave them authority to cast out demons, and to heal all manner of disease and infirmity.
2 . The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter; and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, to whom he gave the name of Boanerges, that is, the sons of thunder; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-gatherer; James the son of Alphaeus; Judas Thaddeus 66 from the family of James; 67 Simon who was called the Zealot; 68 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
54 . PREPARATIONS FOR THE GREAT SERMON
Matthew 5 : 1 – 2 ; Luke 6 : 17 a, 17 c– 20 a
1 . Jesus then came down with the apostles and stood on a level place, surrounded by a crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from many lands , who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those who were troubled by evil spirits were cured; and all the crowd sought to touch him, for power radiated out from him and healed them all.
2 . Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down, and his disciples gathered around him. Then he lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and opened his mouth and taught them, and his voice also carried to the crowd below .
55 . THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Matthew 5 : 3 — 7 : 29 ; Luke 6 : 20 b– 38 , 6 : 41 — 7 : 1 a, 11 : 2 b– 4 , 3 3 – 36 ; 12 : 22 – 30 , 58 – 59
The Beatitudes
1 . “Blessed are the poor and modest, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 70
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be filled.
Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and falsely say all manner of evil against you for my sake. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward in heaven is great; for so their fathers persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The task of the righteous
2 . “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt has lost its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.
3 . “You are the light of the world. A city that is set upon a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and then put it away, or hide it under a bushel, but instead they put it on a lampstand, where it gives light to all that are in the house, so that those who enter may see the light. In the same way, let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Rules of conduct interpreted
4 . “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one letter, not a jot, will pass from the law until everything has been accomplished. Therefore, whoever relaxes even the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches these commandments shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 71
5 . “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven.
6 . “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Thou shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother 72 will be liable to judgment, whoever insults his brother as empty-headed will be liable to the council, and whoever curses, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fires of hell. So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and be on your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
7 . “Try to come to terms quickly with your adversary, while you are still on your way to court with him, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you truly, you will never get out of there until you have paid to the uttermost penny.
8 . “You have heard that it was said, ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it from you; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
9 . “It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unfaithfulness, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
10 . “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old time, ‘Thou shalt not swear falsely, but shall perform unto the Lord thy oaths.’ But I say to you, Swear not at all, neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne, nor by the earth, for it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this is born of evil.
11 . “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Resist not evil. If any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek to him also; and if any one wants to sue you to take your shirt, let him have your coat as well; and if any one forces you to assist him for one mile, go with him two miles. Give to every one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. If someone takes what belongs to you, do not insist on getting it back.
12 . “You have heard that it was said, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.’ But I say to you that hear me, Love your enemies, do good to those that hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you, so that you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
13 . “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Do not even sinners and tax-gatherers do the same? And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
14 . “And if you are courteous only to your brethren, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the pagans do the same? And if you lend only to those from whom you can expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much in return.
15 . “But love your enemies, and do good to them, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be the children of the Most High; for he is kind even to the ungrateful and the selfish.
16 . “Be perfect, therefore, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Simplicity in religious observance: the Lord’s Prayer
1 7 . “Be careful not to practice your piety in front of men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Therefore, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, that will be their only reward. When you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Thus your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees even what is done in secret will reward you.
18 . “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, so that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, that will be their only reward. But when you pray, go into your inner room and shut the door and pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
19 . “And in praying do not endlessly repeat empty phrases as the heathen do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you have need of, even before you ask him. Pray then like this:
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses, 73
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory
for ever and ever. Amen. 74
20 . “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
2 1 . “And when you fast, do not be of a somber countenance, like the hypocrites, for they neglect their appearance to show men they are fasting. Truly, I say to you, that will be their only reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be seen by others but only by your Father who is unseen; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Spiritual values are the most important
22 . “Woe to you who are rich,
for you have already had your comfort.
Woe to you that are well fed now,
for you shall go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you shall mourn and weep.
And woe to you when all men speak well of you,
for so their fathers treated the false prophets.
23 . “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust corrupt and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
24 . “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light within you be darkness. For if the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! But if your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when the bright shining of a lamp shall give you light.
25 . “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, about what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26 . “Consider the ravens, and the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap, nor do they gather the harvest into storehouse or barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Yet which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And if you are not able to do even so small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?
27 . “And why be anxious about clothing? Behold the lilies of the field; consider how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is cast into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
28 . “Do not be of anxious mind, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For all the nations of the world are eager for these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you have need of them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you as well.
29 . “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Sufficient unto each day are the troubles thereof.
Do not judge
30 . “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
31 . “Judge not, that ye be not judged; for by the rule you apply to others you will be judged yourself. Condemn not, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure—pressed down, shaken together, running over—will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you receive in return.
32 . “And why do you see the speck of sawdust that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the whole chip of wood that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when all the while there is a chip in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the chip out of your eye, and then you will see well enough to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Seek out the godly life: the Golden Rule
33 . “Do not give to dogs that which is holy; and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
34 . “Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks the door will be opened.
35 . “Which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?
36 . “So in all things whatsoever, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, for this sums up all of the law and the prophets.
Flee from evil
37 . “Enter by the narrow gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it. But strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leads to life, and few there are that find it.
38 . “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
39 . “You will recognize them by their fruits, for every tree is known by its own fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Every sound tree bears good fruit, but the rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you shall know them.
40 . “The good man out of the good treasure in his heart brings forth good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure in his heart brings forth evil. For it is from the contents of the heart that the mouth speaks.
41 . “Why do you call me Lord and not do what I tell you? Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who truly does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ And then I will declare before all the world, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you breakers of God’s law!’
42 . “Every one who comes to me and hears my words and follows them, I will tell you what he is like: he is like the wise man building a house, who dug deep, and laid the foundation upon the rock. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, for it was founded upon a rock.
43 . “But he who hears these words of mine and does not follow them is like the foolish man, who built his house upon the sand without a foundation. The rain fell, and the winds blew, and the floods came, and the torrent struck that house, and immediately it fell; and great was the fall of it.”
44 . When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had real authority, and not as their scribes.
V. The Galilee Ministry
Building a Movement
56 . THE GENTILE CENTURION BELIEVES
Matthew 8 : 1 , 5 – 13 ; Luke 7 : 1 b– 10
1 . After Jesus came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him, and he returned to Capernaum.
2 . Now a centurion there had a servant whom he valued highly, who was sick and ready to die. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal this servant. And when the elders came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “The centurion deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our people, and he built us our synagogue. And his servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.”
3 . Jesus said, “I will come and heal him;” and he went with them.
4 . When Jesus was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; nor do I presume to come to you.”
5 . B ut Jesus went on to the house, and when he arrived the centurion met him outside and said to him, 75 “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am in a chain of command, and I know that words with authority bring results . I have soldiers under me; and I say to one man, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
6 . When Jesus heard this he was amazed, and turned and said to the crowd that followed him, “I tell you truly, I have not found such great faith, not with anyone in Israel. I tell you, many will come from east and west and take their places at the banquet table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But many Israelites , the children of the kingdom, will be cast outside, into the outer darkness, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
7 . Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And when the man and his messengers returned to the house, they found that the servant had been healed as of that very moment.
57 . A WIDOW’S SON RAISED AT NAIN
Luke 7 : 11 – 17
1 . Soon after this Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, he saw that a man who had died was being carried out. This man was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a crowd from the town was with her.
2 . When the Lord saw the widow, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” And he went over and touched the bier, and those who carried it stood still. Then he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
3 . Fear seized all the people around; and they praised God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” And this news about Jesus went out through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
58 . A LAST QUESTION FROM JOHN THE BAPTIST
Matthew 11 : 2 – 6 ; Luke 7 : 18 – 23
1 . John’s disciples visited him in prison and told him about the deeds that the Christ was performing. So John summoned two of the disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we await another?” And when the men reached Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we await another?’”
2 . At that time Jesus was curing many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and bestowing sight on many that were blind. So he answered the messengers, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard here: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the good news is preached to the poor. And blessed is he who can accept me for what I am!”
59 . JESUS PRAISES JOHN AND CLAIMS HIS MANTLE
Matthew 11 : 7 – 19 ; Luke 7 : 24 – 35 , 16 : 16 – 17
1 . When the messengers from John had departed, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about him: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, then what did you go to see? A man clothed in soft garments? No, those who are gloriously appareled and live in luxury are to be found in kings’ courts. So what then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. This is the one of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I will send my messenger ahead of you, who shall prepare thy way before thee.’
2 . “I tell you truly, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least one in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Before John came, all the prophets and the law were looking to the future. Since then, from the days of John the Baptist until now the good news has been preached, and the kingdom of heaven has been strongly advancing, and determined people have been claiming their places in it. 76
3 . T hese new opportunities do not mean that the law no longer governs our conduct. It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one jot of the law to become void. But if you are willing to accept my words, John actually is Elijah, the one whom the prophets said would come. 77 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
4 . When they heard Jesus’ words, all the people, even the tax-gatherers, agreed that God’s ways were just, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and the experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for themselves, for they had not been baptized by John.
5 . Then Jesus said, “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children playing in the marketplace and complaining to one another,
We played the flute for you, but you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, but you did not weep.
6 . “For John the Baptist came eating no bread and drinking no wine; and you say, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking; and you say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!’ Yet true wisdom is shown to be right by all her different children.”
6 0 . INVITING THE WEARY TO REST
Matthew 11 : 28 – 30
1 . I n those days Jesus also said , “Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
2 . “Take my yoke upon your shoulders, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
6 1 . THE PENITENT WOMAN
Luke 7 : 36 – 50
1 . One of the Pharisees had invited Jesus to dine with him, and he went to the man’s house and reclined at the table.
2 . A woman of the city, who had lived a life of sin, learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster flask of ointment and stood behind him at his feet, weeping. 78 She began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
3 . Now when the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw all this, he said to himself, “If this man were truly a prophet, he would know what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”
4 . Then Jesus answered his thoughts, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And Simon replied, “Teacher, say on.” Jesus continued, “A certain moneylender had two debtors; one owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he forgave both of them their debts. Now tell me, which one will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
5 . Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house, and you gave me no water to wash my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has kissed my feet continuously. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
6 . “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she has been showing much love; while he who has been forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
7 . Then the other guests began to say to one another, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
62 . MARY MAGDALENE AND OTHER WOMEN SUPPORT JESUS’ MINISTRY
Luke 8 : 1 – 3
1 . Soon afterward Jesus set out again through cities and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve apostles were with him.
2 . Also with him were certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, 79 from whom seven demons had come out; and Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; and Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support the men out of their own means. 80
63 . THE SABBATH IS MADE FOR MAN
Matthew 12 : 1 – 8 ; Mark 2 : 23 – 28 ; Luke 6 : 1 – 5
1 . One sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields. As they walked along, his disciples became hungry and began to pluck some heads of grain, rubbing off the husks in their hands and eating the kernels. When some Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look, why are your disciples doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath?”
2 . But Jesus said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he and his companions were in need and hungry? He entered the house of God, in the days when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave some of it to his companions.
3 . “Or have you not read in the law how on every sabbath the priests in the temple violate the sabbath, and yet are guiltless? 81 And I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. So if you had known what these words mean—‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifices’—you would not have condemned the innocent.”
4 . And he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; and so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
64 . HEALING A HAND ON THE SABBATH
Matthew 12 : 9 – 14 ; Mark 3 : 1 – 6 ; Luke 6 : 6 – 11
1 . On another sabbath, when Jesus entered the synagogue and taught, a man was there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, and so they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?” And they watched him closely to see if he would do that thing.
2 . But Jesus knew their thoughts, and he said to them, “What man among you, if he has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath day, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? And of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.”
3 . Then he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come up and stand before everyone.” The man rose and came forward. Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath—to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” But they were silent.
4 . He looked around at all of them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man stretched it out, and his hand was restored, as sound as the other.
5 . But the Pharisees were filled with fury, and went out and discussed what they might do to Jesus, and immediately began to conspire with the men around Herod about how to destroy him.
65 . JOHN THE BAPTIST IS BEHEADED
Matthew 14 : 6 – 13 a; Mark 6 : 21 – 29
1 . A round this time Herod’s wife, Herodias, found an opportunity to be revenged on John the Baptist .
2 . On his birthday Herod gave a great feast for his officials and army officers and the leading men of Galilee. The daughter of Herodias danced before them, 82 and she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it.” And he swore it to her: “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, even unto half my kingdom.”
3 . And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And Herodias said, “The head of John the Baptist.” The daughter immediately hastened to the king and made her demand: “I want you to give me—at once—the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
4 . Then the king deeply regretted his promise; but because of the oath made in public before his dinner guests he did not want to refuse her. So he called an executioner at once and commanded him to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought his head back on a platter. He gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.
5 . When John’s disciples heard of this, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb. Then they went and told Jesus. And when Jesus heard the news, he got into a boat and withdrew to a secluded place to be alone.
66 . RESISTANCE FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Matthew 12 : 22 – 23 , 46 – 50 ; Mark 3 : 19 b– 21 , 31 – 35 ; Luke 8 : 19 – 21 , 11 : 14
1 . O ne day when Jesus was home with his disciples , a crowd once again gathered, so that they could not so much as eat bread. And when his family and friends heard of this, they started over to take custody of Jesus, for they said, “He is not in his right mind.”
2 . Then a man who was demon-possessed, and blind and mute, was brought to Jesus. Jesus cast out a demon that was mute; and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and saw. All the people were amazed, and asked, “Might this possibly be the Son of David?” 83
3 . While Jesus was still speaking to the people about the healing , his mother and his brothers arrived, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. Standing outside, they sent a message in to him. A group was sitting around Jesus; and someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are standing outside, asking to speak to you.”
4 . But he replied to the man who had told him this, “Who is truly my mother, and who are my brothers?” Then he looked at the disciples sitting in a circle around him, and motioning toward them, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God, and follow it. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
67 . DENYING ALLIANCE WITH BEELZEBUB
Matthew 12 : 24 – 45 ; Mark 3 : 22 – 30 ; Luke 11 : 15 – 32 , 12 : 10
1 . When the Pharisees and the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem saw the mute man cured and heard the crowd praise Jesus, 84 they said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! It is only with the help of Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 85 And others, to try him, sought from him a sign from heaven.
2 . Knowing their thoughts, Jesus called them to him, and said to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom or a city is divided against itself, it cannot stand. Every kingdom or city divided against itself is brought to ruin. A house divided against itself cannot stand. And if Satan drives out Satan, he is fighting against himself, and how then can his kingdom stand? It must come to an end.
3 . “You say that I cast out demons by Beelzebub. But if I cast out demons with the help of Beelzebub, then with whose help do your own disciples cast them out? They will condemn you for making that argument . And if it is instead through the power of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come close to you.
4 . “Consider, when a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. How can anyone enter such a man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? But then indeed he may plunder the house. When one still stronger than the strong man assails him and overcomes him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted, and distributes the plunder. And in just this way I have overcome Beelzebub. 86
5 . “He who is not with me is against me, 87 and he who does not gather the flock with me scatters it abroad. And I tell you truly, all sins will be forgiven the children of men, and all the blasphemies they utter. But blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. He is guilty of an eternal sin.” Jesus said this because they kept saying, “He is in league with an evil spirit.”
6 . “Either admit that the tree is good, and its fruit good; or say that the tree is bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. And the fruit of my actions has been good. 88
7 . “You brood of vipers! How can you say anything good, when you are evil? For it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. The good man out of the good treasure in this heart brings forth good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure in his heart brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render an account for every careless word they have uttered; for by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.
8 . “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then the spirit says, ‘I will return to the house from which I came.’ And when he comes he finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and brings back with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the final state of that man becomes worse than the first. So it shall also be with this evil generation.”
9 . As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is your mother —the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” And Jesus said, “Blessed, rather, are all those who hear the word of God and follow it!”
10 . Then as the crowds were gathering around him, some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign to prove who you are.”
11 . But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation demands a miraculous sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
12 . “And just as Jonah became a miraculous sign to the people of Ninevah, so likewise the Son of Man will become a sign to this generation. On the day of judgment the men of Nineveh will arise, along with this generation, and they will condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here, and yet you do not repent . And on the day of judgment the Queen of the South 89 will arise, along with this generation, and she will condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here, and yet you do not listen .”
68 . PARABLES ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Matthew 13 : 1 – 53 ; Mark 4 : 1 – 34 ; Luke 8 : 4 – 18 , 13 : 18 – 21
1 . That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea, and began to teach about the kingdom of God. 90 The crowd that gathered about him from all the towns was so great that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the water, while the people stood along the shore at the water’s edge. And he taught them many things in parables.
Parable of sowing the seeds
Matthew 13 : 3 – 23 ; Mark 4 : 2 – 25 ; Luke 8 : 5 – 18
2 . In his teaching he told this story: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, where they were trodden under foot; and the birds of the air came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on stony ground, where they had not much soil; these shot up at once, because the soil was shallow, but when the sun rose they were scorched, and because they had no root or moisture they withered away. Still other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with them and choked them, and they yielded no grain. But some seeds fell into good ground and brought forth grain, growing strongly and increasing and yielding thirty or sixty or a hundred times more than was sown.” And after Jesus finished saying this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
3 . When he was alone, the twelve and his other followers came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” And they asked what this parable meant. Jesus answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but to those outside it has not been given. This is why for those outside everything is said in parables, so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand; otherwise they might change their hearts, and be forgiven. 91 For with them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says:
You shall indeed hear but never understand,
and you shall indeed see but never perceive.
For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn, and I would heal them.
4 . “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. I tell you truly, many prophets and righteous men longed to see the things that you see, and did not see them; and to hear the things that you hear, and did not hear them.”
5 . Then he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the other parables? Listen then to what the parable of the sower means. The seed is the word of God. The farmer is the one who sows the word.
6 . “Some people are like the seed falling by the wayside. The word is sown in their hearts and they hear about the kingdom, but they do not understand it. Satan the evil one then immediately comes and snatches away the word, so that they will not believe and be saved.
7 . “Others are like the seeds sown upon stony ground. When they hear the word, they receive it with joy; but these have no root. They believe for a while, but then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, or in time of temptation, they quickly fall away.
8 . “And others are like seed sown among thorns. Such men are those who do hear the word, but as they continue on their way the cares of the world, the lure of riches, the pleasures of life, and the desire for other things enter into them and choke the word, and it bears no fruit.
9 . “ But some people are like the seeds in the good soil. They are those who, hearing and understanding the word, hold it fast in a good and honest heart, and bring forth fruit with patience, thirty and sixty and a hundred times what was sown.”
10 . And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be hidden under a jar, or under a bed? No; instead a man puts it on a stand, so that all those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that shall not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.”
11 . And he said to them, “Consider carefully what you hear, and how you listen. The measure you give will be the measure you receive, and more will be given to you. To him who has understanding , still more will be given, and he will have an abundance; but from him who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.”
The wheat and the weeds
Matthew 13 : 24 – 30
12 . Then Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven 92 may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tare weeds among the wheat, and then slipped away. So when the wheat came up and bore its grain, the weeds also appeared.
13 . “The landowner’s servants came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not plant good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ He replied, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?’
14 . “But he said, ‘No, for in pulling them up you may uproot the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather all the wheat into my barn.’”
The seed growing of itself
Mark 4 : 26 – 29
15 . Jesus also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Then day and night, whether he sleeps or wakes, the seed sprouts and grows, although he knows not how. For the earth brings forth fruit of herself—first the shoot, and then the ear, and then the full grain.
16 . “But when the grain is ready, then he immediately puts the sickle to it, because the harvest time has come.”
The mustard seed and the yeast
Matthew 13 : 31 – 35 ; Mark 4 : 3 0 – 34 ; Luke 13 : 18 – 21
17 . And Jesus put another parable before them, saying, “With what can we liken the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and planted in his garden. When sown upon the ground this is the smallest of all seeds; yet when it is planted it grows up and becomes the greatest of all garden herbs, and puts out large branches like a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and perch in their shade.”
18 . And he told them still another parable: “To what shall I compare the kingdom of heaven? It is like yeast, which a woman took and mixed in with a great bowl of flour, and yet this leavening worked its way through all the dough.”
19 . With many such parables he spoke to the crowds, teaching them as they were able to understand. And he said nothing to them without using a parable. This fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things that have been kept secret since the foundation of the world.” But he explained everything to his own disciples when they were alone.
The wheat and weeds explained
Matthew 13 : 36 – 43
20 . After that, Jesus left the crowds and went back into the house. And his disciples came to him, asking, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.”
21 . He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world. The good seeds are the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest time is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.
22 . “Just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it shall be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth his angels, and they will winnow out of his kingdom everything that causes people to sin, and everyone who does evil, and shall throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. He who has ears, let him hear!
Short parables about the kingdom of heaven
Matthew 13 : 44 – 53
23 . “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. A man found it and quickly covered it up again; then in his joy he went and sold all that he had and bought that field.
24 . “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
25 . “Or the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good fish into baskets but threw away the bad ones. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked men from the righteous, and will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
26 . “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” And he said to them, “Because of this, every scribe who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who is able to bring out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old ones.” And when Jesus finished telling these parables he departed from that place.
69 . CALMING THE WAVES OF GALILEE
Matthew 8 : 18 , 23 – 27 ; Mark 4 : 35 – 41 ; Luke 8 : 22 – 2 5
1 . Later that day, when evening had come, Jesus looked at the great crowds around him and said to his disciples, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” When he got into the boat, his disciples left the crowd and followed him. They took him with them in the boat, just as he was; and other boats were with him as well.
2 . So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep.
3 . Then there arose a great storm of wind on the lake, so that the waves broke over the boat, and they were filling with water, and were in great danger. But Jesus stayed asleep on the cushion in the stern.
4 . The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, save us! Do you not care that we perish?” And he said to them, “Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, commanding, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
5 . Then the men were filled with great fear, and they wondered at what they had seen, asking one another, “What manner of man is this, that he commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him?”
70 . THE DEMONS NAMED LEGION
Matthew 8 : 28 – 34 ; Mark 5 : 1 – 20 ; Luke 8 : 26 – 39
1 . After this they came into the country of the Gadarenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 93 When Jesus had stepped out of the boat and come ashore, he was met by two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.
2 . O ne of these men was originally from the city, but for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he lived not in a house but in the tombs instead. Many times the demon had seized him, and no one could hold him any more, even with a chain. For he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and kept under guard, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces, and no one had the strength to subdue him. In the end he was driven by the demon into solitary places. Night and day he was in the mountains, and among the tombs, screaming and cutting himself with stones.
3 . When this man saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he demanded, “What have you to do with us, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I command you in God’s name, do not torment me!” 94 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit!”
4 . Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”
5 . Many demons had entered him. Now they cried out, “Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” And they begged Jesus desperately not to command them to depart into the abyss.
6 . A large herd of swine was feeding nearby on the hillside; and the demons begged Jesus, “If you cast us out, send us to the swine, and let us enter into them.” He gave permission and said to them, “Go.” So the evil spirits came out of the man and entered into the swine. And the whole herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned in the waters.
7 . When the men tending the swine saw what had happened, they fled, and spread the news to the town and the surrounding countryside. Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the legion of demons had gone out, sitting at his feet, clothed and in his right mind. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed, and what had happened to the swine.
8 . Then all the people of the area were afraid, and when they met with Jesus they begged him to leave their territory. So he got into the boat and departed.
9 . As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged to go with him. But Jesus refused and sent him away, saying, “Return home to your own people, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how merciful he has been to you.” So the man went away and began to proclaim throughout the entire Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
71 . JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER AND THE BLEEDING WOMAN
Matthew 9 : 1 8 – 26 ; Mark 5 : 21 – 43 ; Luke 8 : 40 – 56
1 . When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side of the lake, a great crowd gathered around him at the shore and welcomed him, for they had all been watching for him.
2 . And there came a man named Jairus, who was a leader at the synagogue. Seeing Jesus, he knelt down before him, and begged him to come to his house, to save his only daughter, a girl about twelve years of age. “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Perhaps she has already died. 95 Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” So Jesus rose and went with him, along with his disciples.
3 . As Jesus was on his way there, a great crowd followed and pressed about him. And among the people there was a woman who had had a chronic flow of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered greatly under many physicians. She had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse, and could not be healed by any one.
4 . She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched the fringe of his cloak. For she said to herself, “If I touch even his clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
5 . Jesus realized at once that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and demanded, “Who touched my garments?” When all denied it, Peter and the disciples said, “Master, you see the crowds surrounding you and pressing against you; how can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I can feel that power has gone forth from me.” And he looked around to see who had done it.
6 . Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, and seeing that she had not escaped notice, came in fear and trembling and fell down before Jesus, and told him the whole truth. She declared before all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And Jesus said to her, “Be of good heart, my daughter; your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” 96 And the woman was made whole from that moment.
7 . While Jesus was still speaking, some men arrived from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader, and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But when Jesus heard what they said, he told Jairus, “Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be saved.”
8 . When he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter, and James, and John the brother of James, and the father and mother of the child. Jesus saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, and people weeping and wailing loudly, mourning for her. He said to them, “Why all this commotion and tears? Depart and do not weep; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
9 . But he sent them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and his three disciples, and went in to where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Young lady, I say to you, arise.” Immediately her spirit returned, and she got up and walked. And her parents were overcome with amazement.
10 . Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Then he strictly charged them that no one should know about what had happened. But the report about this spread through all that district.
72 . HEALING ACCORDING TO THEIR FAITH
Matthew 9 : 27 – 34
1 . When Jesus left that place, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Take pity on us, Son of David.” After he entered the house where he was staying, 97 the blind men came in to him; and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it happen to you.” And their eyes were opened.
2 . Then Jesus sternly charged them, “See that you let no one know of this.” 98 But they went out and spread his fame through all the district.
3 . As they were on their way out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not speak was brought in to Jesus. When the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were astonished, saying, “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees again said, “It is through the prince of demons that he casts out demons.” 99
73 . FINAL REJECTION AT NAZARETH
Matthew 13 : 54 – 58 ; Mark 6 : 1 – 6 a
1 . Then Jesus left there and went to the town where he had grown up; and his disciples accompanied him. And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and the people who heard him were amazed, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What wisdom has been given to him, and what power in his hands to do miracles!”
2 . B ut then, once again, they began to doubt. 100 “Is this not just the carpenter—and the son of our carpenter? 101 Is this not the son of Mary? 102 Aren’t his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? Do not all his sisters live here among us? 103 Where then would this man get such powers?” And they took offense at him.
3 . And Jesus said to them once more , “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own town, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.” And he could not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. And their lack of faith amazed him.
74 . A RICH HARVEST BUT FEW WORKERS
Matthew 9 : 35 – 3 8 ; Mark 6 : 6 b
1 . After this Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages, teaching in the synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity.
2 . When he saw the crowds that came he felt compassion for them, because they were harassed and wandering, like sheep that have no shepherd. And he said to his disciples, “Truly the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few; therefore pray to the lord of the harvest, that he will send out workers into his field.”
75 . THE TWELVE APOSTLES ARE SENT OUT
Matthew 10 : 5 – 11 : 1 ; Mark 6 : 7 – 13 ; Luke 9 : 1 – 6 , 12 : 6 – 7
1 . So Jesus called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. And he sent them out two by two, to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Instructions for the journey
2 . These were his directions: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received; now freely give.
3 . “Take nothing special for the journey—no bag, no extra tunic, no travelers’ staves, no walking shoes. Take no bread, and no gold or silver or copper in your purses; for the laborer is worthy of his keep. Take nothing except the staff and the sandals that you already have.” 104
4 . And he said to them, “Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy and stay with him. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from that town. As you enter the house, give it your blessing, saying, ‘May peace be on this house.’ 105 If the house proves worthy, let your blessing of peace remain upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your blessing return to you. And if any house or town will not receive you or listen to your words, shake the dust of it from your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them. I tell you truly, on the day of judgment it shall be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
The need for steadiness
5 . “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so you must be as cunning as serpents and innocent as doves.
6 . “Beware of men, for they will deliver you up to their councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake. But there you can bear testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over for trial, take no thought for how you are to speak or what you are to say. What you are to say will be given to you at that moment; for it is not you who will speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
7 . “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he that endures to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next; for I tell you truly, you will not have finished going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man arrives.
8 . “A disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord; it is enough for the disciple to be like his master, and the servant like his lord. So if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, by how much more will they defame the members of his household?
9 . “But have no fear of them; for nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, or secret that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. 106 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Are not five sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them shall fall to the ground without your Father’s eye upon it. Even the very hairs of your head have all been numbered. So fear not, for you are of more value than many sparrows.
10 . “Every one who acknowledges me before men, I will likewise acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I will likewise deny before my Father in heaven.
The need for passion
11 . “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set—
a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and a man’s foes will be those of his own household. 107
Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. 108
12 . “He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever clings to his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
13 . “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive the same reward as a prophet; and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives even a cup of cool water to the least of my followers, 109 just because he is a disciple of mine, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
14 . When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
15 . And so the apostles set out and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and proclaiming that all people should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick, 110 and healed them.
76 . HEROD GROWS WORRIED
Matthew 14 : 1 – 2 ; Mark 6 : 14 – 16 ; Luke 9 : 7 – 9
1 . At this time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and of all that he was doing, for Jesus’ name had become well known.
2 . And he was troubled, because it was said by some, “This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And still others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old, who has come back to life.”
3 . When Herod heard all this, he said to his attendants, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead! Or else then 111 who is this other person about whom I hear such things?” And he began trying to see Jesus.
77 . THE APOSTLES RETURN
Mark 6 : 30 – 3 2 ; Luke 9 : 10 ; John 6 : 1
1 . A fter a while the apostles returned to Jesus, and reported to him all they had done and taught.
2 . And he said to them, “Let us go away by ourselves to a quiet place, and rest a while.” For so many people were coming and going that they had no time even to eat. So he took them in a boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias, to a secluded place in the territory of the town called Bethsaida, where they might have a chance to be alone.
78 . THE LOAVES AND FISHES
Matthew 14 : 13 b– 21 ; Mark 6 : 33 – 44 ; Luke 9 : 11 – 17 ; John 6 : 2 – 13
1 . But many people saw Jesus and the disciples going across the water , and recognized them. The crowds ran after them on foot from all the towns, because they had seen the miracles which Jesus performed on those who were sick, and they got to the landing place ahead of them.
2 . As Jesus went ashore he saw the great throng. But before addressing them he went up into the hills, and there sat down with his disciples. It was almost time for the Jewish feast of the Passover.
3 . When Jesus looked up and saw that the great multitude was coming toward him, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. He welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who had need of healing.
4 . Then when the day grew far spent, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the hour is now late. Send the crowds away to go to the farms and villages round about, so they can find shelter and buy food for themselves.”
5 . But Jesus answered, “They do not have to go away; give them something to eat.” And he asked Philip, “Where can we buy bread, so that these people may eat?” Jesus said this to Philip to test him, for he already knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would scarcely buy enough bread for each one to have even a little!” And the disciples asked, “Do you wish us to go and spend that much on bread for them?”
6 . Jesus asked them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” And when they had found out, one of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, reported to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish; but what are they among so many?”
7 . Jesus said, “Bring them here to me.” And he said to his disciples, “Have all the people be seated in groups, about fifty each.” The disciples did so, and had them all sit down. Now there was an abundance of green grass in that place, and the men sat down on it in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.
8 . Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, Jesus looked up to heaven and blessed the food, and broke the loaves, and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to those who were seated. He did the same with the two fish, giving out as much as they wanted. And the people all ate and were filled.
9 . When they had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing may be wasted.” They took them up, and they filled twelve baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves and the fish, which were left over by those who had eaten. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
VI. The Galilee Ministry
Moving into Opposition
79 . JESUS AVOIDS BEING MADE KING
Matthew 14 : 22 – 23 ; Mark 6 : 45 – 46 ; John 6 : 14 – 17 a
1 . When the people saw the miracle which Jesus had done, they began to say, “Surely this is the prophet who is to come into the world!” Realizing that the people were about to come and take him by force and make him their king, Jesus immediately instructed his disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side of the lake, by way of Bethsaida, 112 while he dismissed the crowd.
2 . And after he had sent the people away, he went up into the hills 113 by himself to pray.
3 . When evening came, his disciples went down to the water, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. But Jesus was still there in the hills alone.
80 . WALKING ON THE WATER
Matthew 14 : 24 – 33 ; Mark 6 : 47 – 52 ; John 6 : 17 b– 21 a
1 . It was now dark, and the boat was in the midst of the sea, and Jesus was alone on the land, and had not yet come to them. And the sea rose because of a great wind that blew.
2 . Jesus saw that the disciples were hard-pressed in rowing and were tossed by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night, when they had rowed about three or four miles, he went out toward them, walking on the water.
3 . He intended to go on past them, but when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water and drawing close to the boat, they were all frightened and began to cry out, saying, “It is a ghost!” Then Jesus immediately spoke to them and said, “Take heart! It is I. Be not afraid.”
4 . And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind he was afraid; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus at once reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O ye of little faith, why did you doubt?”
5 . Then the disciples were willing to take him into the boat. And when Jesus and Peter got into the boat with them, the wind ceased.
6 . Then those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” They were utterly amazed, for they had not understood the miracle of the loaves; their hearts had been hardened.
81 . THE HEM OF THE GARMENT
Matthew 14 : 34 – 36 ; Mark 6 : 53 – 56 ; John 6 : 21 b
1 . After that, the boat soon reached the coast where they were heading. They came to land at Gennesaret, 114 where they moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, the people of that place recognized Jesus at once, and they ran through the whole neighborhood, and sent word out to all the region. And they began to carry sick people on their pallets to any place where they heard he was.
2 . And wherever Jesus went—in villages, towns or the countryside—they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him to let them touch even the hem of his garment; 115 and all who touched it were made well.
82 . THE BREAD OF LIFE
John 6 : 22 – 59
1 . I n the meantime the people who remained on the other side of the sea realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that the disciples had gone away without him. Then some boats from Tiberias arrived near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord gave thanks. Once the people realized that Jesus was no longer there, nor his disciples, they got into these boats and went to Capernaum, seeking him.
2 . When they found Jesus on the other side of the sea, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them, “I tell you truly, you seek me, not because you saw the miracles, but because you ate the loaves, and were filled by them. Yet you should not work for food which spoils, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you; for on him God the Father has set his seal.”
3 . Then the people asked him, “What must we do, to be doing the work of God?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this—that you believe in the one whom he has sent.”
4 . So they said to him, “Then what sign will you give us, so that we may see and believe you? What miracle can you perform? Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness; and so it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “I tell you truly, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father. And now he gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
5 . Jesus said to them, “I am that bread of life; he who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.
6 . “But as I have told you, you have seen me and yet you still do not believe. All those that the Father gives me will come to me; and whoever comes to me I will certainly not turn away. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And the will of him who sent me is this: that I should not lose even one of those that he has given me, but should raise them up again on the last day. My Father desires that all those who look upon the Son and believe in him should have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.” 116
7 . Then the crowd began to grumble about him, because he said, ‘I am the bread which came down from heaven.’ They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
8 . Jesus answered them, “Do not complain about this. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me leads him there; and that one I will raise up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. Not that any one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; but that one has seen the Father. I tell you truly, he who believes in me has everlasting life.
9 . “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and yet they died. But here before you is the bread which comes down from heaven, so that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever. And the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I give for the life of the world.”
10 . Then the people began to argue among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “I tell you truly, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. As the living Father sent me, and as I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. And unlike your fathers, who ate manna and are dead, he who eats this bread will live forever.” Jesus said these things as he taught in the synagogue at Capernaum.
83 . MANY DISCIPLES FALL AWAY
John 6 : 60 – 71
1 . On hearing this, many of his disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?” And Jesus, knowing within himself that his disciples were troubled by it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what would you think if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some among you that do not believe.”
2 . For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones of them did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father makes it possible.”
3 . After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not wish to leave me also, do you?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we believe, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil!” He had in mind Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, although one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
84 . OLD DIETARY LAWS ARE SET ASIDE
Matthew 15 : 1 – 20 ; Mark 7 : 1 – 23 ; Luke 6 : 39 – 40
1 . Later a group of Pharisees and scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, and noticed some of his disciples eating their food with hands that were “impure,” that is, unwashed. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they properly wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders; and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they first purify themselves with water. And they hold to many other traditions, such as the ceremonial washing or sprinkling 117 of cups, pitchers, cooking vessels and dining couches.
2 . So the Pharisees and the scribes asked Jesus, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, 118 but instead eat with impure hands? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.”
3 . Jesus answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? You seem to think that is a fine thing! For God and Moses said, ‘Honor thy father and thy mother;’ and ‘Whoever curses his father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, Whatever support you might otherwise have received from me is Corban (that is, dedicated to God) then he is not to honor his father or his mother with it.’ You no longer permit him to do anything for them. Thus you make void the command of God through the tradition which you have handed down. And you do many such things.
4 . “You hypocrites! Isaiah spoke rightly when he prophesied about you:
These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far away from me.
In vain do they worship me,
teaching as holy doctrines the precepts of men.
For you too have left the commandments of God, and hold fast to the tradition of men.”
5 . Then Jesus summoned the crowd to him, and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: It is not what goes into the mouth from outside that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth; that it what defiles a man.”
6 . When he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard your words?” He answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father did not plant will be rooted up. Keep clear of them; they are blind guides.” And he told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not better than his teacher, but every student when he is fully taught will become like his teacher.”
7 . Then Peter and the other disciples said to him, “Explain the teaching to us.” And Jesus said, “Do you too still understand so little? Do you not see that whatever goes into a man from outside cannot defile him? For whatever goes into the mouth enters, not the man’s heart but his stomach, and so it passes on.” In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.
8 . And he said, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what can defile a man. For from within, out of the hearts of men, come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, promiscuity, theft, blasphemy, greed, wickedness, malice, deceit, sensuality, false witness, envy, arrogance, and folly. All these evil things come from within, and these are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”
85 . A GENTILE WOMAN ASKS FOR THE CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE
Matthew 15 : 21 – 2 8 ; Mark 7 : 24 – 30
1 . Leaving the place where he had given this lesson , Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. There he entered a house, and wished not to have any one know it, and yet he could not escape notice.
2 . For immediately a woman from that region heard of his presence, and came and fell at this feet, and cried, “Have pity on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is possessed and cruelly tormented by a demon.”
3 . Now the woman was a Gentile— by territory a Canaanite, and by nationality a Syro-Phoenician. 119 And she begged Jesus to cast the demon out of her daughter. But he did not answer a word. His disciples came and urged him, “Send her away, for she is distracting us with her constant begging.” And then he answered the woman, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
4 . She came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” But he said to her, “No, first let the children eat their fill; for it is not right to take away the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 120 She replied, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the master’s table are allowed to eat the crumbs that the children drop.”
5 . Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, for that good answer you may go home content. Great is your faith. Let it be done for you as you desire; the demon has left your daughter.” And her daughter was healed from that moment. The woman went home, and found her child lying in bed, and the demon gone.
86 . JESUS DOETH ALL THINGS WELL
Mark 7 : 31 – 37
1 . Soon after this Jesus departed from the area of Tyre, and went up through Sidon, and then returned to the Sea of Galilee and the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand upon him.
2 . Taking the man aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears, and he spat and touched the man’s tongue; and looking up to heaven he sighed deeply, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened.” And straightaway the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly.
3 . Jesus charged the people to tell no one; but the more he charged them, with the more determination they proclaimed the news. For they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He does all things well; he makes both the deaf to hear, and the mute to speak.”
87 . FEEDING THE FOUR THOUSAND
Matthew 15 : 29 – 38 ; Mark 8 : 1 – 9 a
1 . From there Jesus passed along by the Sea of Galilee. And he went up into the hills, and there he sat down.
2 . Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the deformed, the blind, the mute, and many others. All these they put at his feet, and he healed them, so that the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they praised the God of Israel.
3 . Because the crowd grew very great, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him, and said to them, “I have compassion for these people, because they have been with me for three days now, and have nothing left to eat. And I do not wish to send them away fasting to their homes, for fear that they may faint on the road, for some of them have come from far away.”
4 . His disciples answered him, “Where are we to get enough bread in this remote place to feed so great a crowd?” And he asked them, “How many loaves have you?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”
5 . Then he told the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and broke them, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and the disciples gave them to the crowd. And having blessed the few small fish, he commanded that these also should be set before the crowd. And the people all ate and were filled.
6 . Afterward the disciples took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. Those who ate were about four thousand men, besides women and children. 121
88 . THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Matthew 15 : 39 – 16 : 4 ; Mark 8 : 9 b– 13
1 . After sending away the crowds, Jesus got into the boat with his disciples, and went to the region of Magdala 122 and Dalmanutha.
2 . There the Pharisees and Sadducees came and began to question him; and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
3 . He answered them, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning you say, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and lowering.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”
4 . And he sighed deeply and asked, “Why does this evil and adulterous generation keep looking for a miraculous sign? I tell you truly, no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” 123 And so he left them, and getting back into the boat he departed for the other side.
89 . “BEWARE THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES!”
Matthew 16 : 5 – 12 ; Mark 8 : 14 – 21
1 . Now the disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. When they reached the other side, Jesus cautioned them, saying, “Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the yeast of Herod.” The disciples began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “It is because we have brought no bread.”
2 . Becoming aware of this, Jesus said, “O ye of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, and have ears and not hear?
3 . “And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 124
4 . And he said to them, “Do you still not understand? How can you fail to see that I was not speaking about bread when I told you to beware the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” Then they understood that he was not telling them to beware of the yeast used in making bread, but to beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 125
90 . AN ERROR IN HEALING
Mark 8 : 22 – 26
1 . Then they came to Bethsaida. There some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged Jesus to touch him.
2 . Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and laid his hands upon him, Jesus asked him, “Can you see anything?” And the man looked up and said, “I see people; they look like walking trees.”
3 . Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes once more. Then the man’s gaze was sharpened, his sight was restored, and he saw all things clearly. And Jesus sent him away straight to his home, saying, “Do not even go into the town.”
91 . THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM
Matthew 16 : 13 – 20 ; Mark 8 : 27 – 30 ; Luke 9 : 18 – 21
1 . Jesus and his disciples continued to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. Along the way, Jesus was praying one day in the absence of the crowds. The disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do the people say that I am?”
2 . And they answered, “Some say you are John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that Jeremiah or one of the prophets of old has come back to life.”
3 . He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
4 . And Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of John! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and upon this rock 126 I will build my church; and the gates of hell 127 shall not prevail against it. I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 128
5 . Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
92 . JESUS FORETELLS HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION
Matthew 16 : 21 – 28 ; Mark 8 : 31 – 9 : 1 ; Luke 9 : 22 – 27
1 . From that time Jesus began to teach his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem. He said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be rejected by them, and be killed, and on the third day be raised from death.” 129 And he said this plainly.
2 . Peter took Jesus aside and tried to dissuade him from these thoughts, saying, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get thee behind me, Satan! You are only making my path more difficult, 130 for you are not thinking about the purposes of God, but the purposes of men.”
3 . And he called the crowd to him, along with his disciples, and said to them all, “If anyone wishes to come with me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the sake of the gospel will save it.
4 . “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, if he loses his own soul? And what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
5 . “Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man will also be ashamed, when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. Then he will reward every man according to his deeds.” 131
6 . And he said to them, “I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste of death before they see the kingdom of God come with power, and the Son of Man coming in that kingdom.”
93 . THE TRANSFIGURATION
Matthew 17 : 1 – 8 ; Mark 9 : 2 – 8 ; Luke 9 : 28 – 36 a
1 . Six days 132 after saying these things, Jesus took Peter, and James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves to pray. 133
2 . And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was changed, and he was transfigured before their eyes. His face began to shine like the sun, and his garments became glistening, brilliantly white, like the light or like snow, such as no cloth-worker on earth could bleach them.
3 . And suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor and began talking with Jesus. They spoke of his approaching death, which he would soon bring about at Jerusalem.
4 . Peter and his companions had been heavy with sleep, but now they were fully awake, and they saw the glory of Jesus and saw the two men who stood with him.
5 . And as the men were parting from Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us put up three temporary shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He spoke in confusion, not knowing what he said, for they were exceedingly afraid.
6 . Peter was still speaking when a bright cloud came and enveloped them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, my Chosen One, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him!”
7 . When the disciples heard this, they fell face down on the ground, and were filled with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fears.” And suddenly, when they looked up, they no longer saw any one with them except Jesus only.
94 . JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS ELIJAH
Matthew 17 : 9 – 13 ; Mark 9 : 9 – 13 ; Luke 9 : 36 b
1 . As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Tell no one of this vision, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” So they kept it close and told no one, only discussing among themselves what “rising from the dead” might mean.
2 . And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must return before the Christ comes ?” And he said to them, “Elijah will indeed come first, and will make all things ready. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.
3 . “And why do the scriptures say of the Son of Man, that he must suffer many things and be despised? Because the Son of Man will suffer at their hands in the same way.” 134
4 . Then the disciples realized that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist. But they told no one at that time anything of what they had seen.
95 . THE FAITH THAT MOVES MOUNTAINS
Matthew 17 : 14 – 21 ; Mark 9 : 14 – 29 ; Luke 9 : 37 – 43 a, 17 : 5 – 6
1 . On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain and returned to the other disciples, they saw a great crowd gathered around the disciples, and some scribes arguing with them. When the people saw Jesus they were greatly excited and they all ran at once to greet him.
2 . He asked them, “What were you arguing about?” A man came up and kneeling before him said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, my only child. I beg you to look at him, for he is possessed by a spirit that has made him mute. He has seizures and suffers terribly. Whenever the spirit seizes him, he suddenly cries out; it convulses him and hurls him to the ground. He foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. Often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. The spirit scarcely ever leaves him and is wearing him away. And I brought the boy to your disciples, and begged them to cast the spirit out, but they could not.”
3 . And Jesus responded, “O contrary and unbelieving generation, how much longer must I be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring your son here to me.” And they brought the boy to him.
4 . While the boy was still approaching, the spirit saw Jesus and immediately it convulsed the boy, so that he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.
5 . Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been this way?” “From childhood,” the father answered, “and it has often thrown him into the fire or into the water, trying to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
6 . “‘If you can!’” Jesus repeated to him. “All things are possible for him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I do believe, Lord; help me with my unbelief!”
7 . When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that makes this boy unable to hear or speak, I command you, come out of him, and enter into him no more!” And after screaming out and convulsing the boy terribly, the spirit came out of him.
8 . The boy looked so much like a corpse that most bystanders said, “He is dead.” But the boy was healed from that moment. Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he got to his feet; and Jesus gave him back to his father. And all were amazed at the majesty of God.
9 . When Jesus had gone inside, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “Because this kind can be driven out only with prayer and fasting, and you have little faith.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “I tell you truly, if you have faith, even as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Uproot yourself, and plant yourself in the sea,’ and it would obey you. Or you could say to this mountain, ‘Move hence to yonder place,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”
96 . AGAIN FORETELLS HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION
Matthew 17 : 22 – 23 ; Mark 9 : 30 – 3 2 ; Luke 9 : 43 b– 45
1 . Even while the people were marveling at all the things Jesus had done, he and his disciples left that place and passed through Galilee. And Jesus did not want anyone to know of their passage, for he was teaching the disciples.
2 . He said to them, “Let these words sink into your ears: the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him; but after he has been killed, on the third day he will rise again.”
3 . The disciples were greatly distressed. But they did not understand what Jesus meant. The meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about it.
97 . THE TRIBUTE TO THE TEMPLE
Matthew 17 : 24 – 27 ; Mark 9 : 33 a
1 . When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and asked, “Your teacher pays the temple tax, does he not?” “Indeed he does,” Peter replied; and then he went into the house.
2 . Before he could say anything, Jesus asked, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth collect tolls and taxes? From their own children, or from others?” “From others,” Peter said to him. And Jesus said, “Then we, the children of God, should be exempt from the temple tax. 135
3 . “However, so as not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. When you open its mouth you will find a four-drachma coin; take that and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
98 . JESUS BEGINS TO THINK ABOUT LEAVING FOR JERUSALEM
John 7 : 1 – 9
1 . After this Jesus went about only in Galilee, deliberately staying away from Judea because the leaders of the Jews there were waiting to take his life.
2 . But when the time for the Jewish feast of Tabernacles drew near, his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the works you are doing. For no man works in secret if he wishes to become a public leader. 136 If you can actually do these great things, show yourself to the world.” For even his brothers did not believe in him. 137
3 . Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, even if for you the time is always right. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify of it that its works are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; I am not going yet, for my time has not yet fully come.”
4 . Saying this, he remained a little while longer in Galilee.
99 . BEING GREAT AND BEING CHILDLIKE
Matthew 18 : 1 – 14 ; Mark 9 : 33 b– 50 ; Luke 9 : 46 – 50 , 17 : 1 – 2
1 . During those days an argument arose among the disciples as to which of them was the foremost. When Jesus was back at the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they were silent. Then they asked him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 138
2 . When Jesus perceived the thought that was in their hearts, he sat down, and called the twelve, and he said to them, “If any one desires to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all.”
3 . And he called a child, and had him stand among them; and then taking the child up in his arms he said to the disciples, “I tell you truly, unless you change and become as little children, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself to be like this child, and is least among you all—he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
4 . “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not only me but also the one who sent me.”
5 . John said to him, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him. No one who does a miracle in my name will be able to turn in the next moment and speak evil of me. And he that is not against us is for us. 139
6 . “I tell you truly, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are committed to Christ, he will by no means lose his reward. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a great millstone were fastened round his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.
7 . “Woe to the world for temptations toward sin! It is inevitable that temptations come, but woe to the man by whom they come!
8 . “Therefore if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to go to hell with two hands, into the fire that shall never die. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be cast into everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where the worms that consume the body never die and the fire is never quenched.
9 . “Every heart will be prepared with fire, just as every sacrifice is prepared with salt. Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how will you make it salty again? So cultivate the quality of saltiness within you, and keep your heart always prepared , and be at peace with one another. 140
10 . “Take heed that you do not look down on one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels are always within reach of my heavenly Father. And the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
11 . “So tell me! If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, I tell you truly, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety and nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your heavenly Father that even one of these little ones should be lost.”
10 0 . FORGIVING YOUR BROTHER
Matthew 18 : 15 – 35 ; Luke 17 : 3 – 4
1 . And Jesus said, “If your brother 141 sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between the two of you alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother.
2 . “But if he will not listen, then take one or two others along with you, so that everything may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, take your complaint to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, then let him be to you as a heathen or a tax-gatherer. I tell you truly, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 142
3 . “Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
4 . Then Peter came up and asked him, “Lord, how often can my brother sin against me, and I must forgive him? As many as seven times?” And Jesus said to him, “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him; and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him. I tell you, not seven times, but until seventy times seven.
5 . “For the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to do this, a man was brought to him who owed him a great sum of money; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all that he had, to repay the debt.
6 . “The servant fell on his knees before his master, begging him, ‘Lord, be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.’ And out of compassion for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
7 . “But as that servant went out, he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a small sum; and seizing him by the throat he demanded, ‘Pay me what you owe.’ His fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you.’ But he refused and went and had the man put in prison until he should pay the debt.
8 . “When the other servants saw this they were greatly offended, and they went and reported to their master all that had happened.
9 . “Then the lord summoned the first servant and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you that huge debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to the jailers, to be tortured until he should pay all his debt.
10 . “So likewise my heavenly Father will treat every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
101 . JESUS LEAVES SECRETLY FOR JERUSALEM
Luke 9 : 51 ; John 7 : 10
1 . As the time approached for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus set a determined face to go to Jerusalem.
2 . And so after his brothers had gone up to the feast of Tabernacles, then he also went up, not openly, but as it were in secret.
102 . OVER-ZEALOUSNESS ON THE ROAD
Luke 9 : 52 – 56
1 . Jesus sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make things ready for him. But the people there would not welcome him, because he was on his way to Jerusalem.
2 . When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”
3 . But Jesus turned and corrected them; and he said, “You do not recognize what manner of emotion is driving you; for the Son of Man came not to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And so they went on to another village.
103 . POTENTIAL RECRUITS ARE TESTED
Matthew 8 : 19 – 22 ; Luke 9 : 57 – 62
1 . As they were walking along the road, a scribe came up and said to Jesus, “Master, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have their dens, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
2 . To another of the disciples he said, “Follow me.” The disciple replied, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead. 143 Your duty is to go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
3 . Still another man said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” And Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
104 . SEVENTY DISCIPLES ARE SENT AHEAD
Luke 10 : 1 – 12 , 16 ; 12 : 4 – 5 , 8 – 9 , 11 – 12 ; John 13 : 20
1 . After this, the Lord appointed seventy or seventy-two 144 other disciples, 145 and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place that he intended to visit.
2 . He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few; therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest, that he send more workers into his field. Now go! And keep in mind, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”
3 . A nd he gave them a shorter version of the same instructions he had given to the twelve: “Carry no money, no bag, no walking shoes; and do not stop to talk with anyone on the road. Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say ‘Peace be on this house!’ If a man of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. Remain in the same house, freely eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; but do not move about from house to house.
4 . “Whenever you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat what whatever is set before you, heal the sick in it, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you now.’ But whenever you enter a town and it does not welcome you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we brush off in testimony against you. Yet know this: that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more bearable for Sodom than for that town.
5 . “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after killing the body, has also the power to cast you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear that one!
6 . “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the magistrates and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you are to defend yourself or what you should say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you must say.
7 . “I tell you truly, he who receives whomever I send receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me. But he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me also rejects the one who sent me.
8 . “And I tell you, every one who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God; but whoever denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”
105 . DENOUNCING THE UNRECEPTIVE CITIES
Matthew 11 : 20 – 24 ; Luke 10 : 13 – 15
1 . And Jesus began to denounce the cities where most of his great miracles had been performed, because they had not repented and changed their ways.
2 . “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
3 . “And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you shall be thrust down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained there until this day. But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom than for you.”
106 . THE SEVENTY RETURN WITH ENCOURAGING NEWS
Luke 10 : 17 – 20
1 . L ater the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we call upon your name!”
2 . And he said to them, “Yes, I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning. For indeed, I have given you authority to trample down serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall harm you. Nevertheless do not rejoice because the spirits submit to you; but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
107 . CONTINUING TO JERUSALEM IN GOOD SPIRITS
Matthew 11 : 25 – 27 ; Luke 10 : 21 – 24
1 . And in that moment Jesus was filled with joy through the Holy Spirit, and he said, “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this way was pleasing in your sight.
2 . “All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one truly knows the Son except the Father; and no one truly knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
3 . Then turning to his disciples he said quietly, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see the things that you see, and did not see them, and longed to hear the things that you hear, and did not hear them.”
VII. The Jerusalem Ministry
108 . THE PEOPLE LOOK FOR JESUS
John 7 : 11 – 13
1 . The crowds in Jerusalem were looking for Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles, 146 and saying, “Where is he?”
2 . And there was much quiet argument about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is deceiving the people.” Yet for fear of the chief priests and Pharisees no one spoke openly about him.
109 . JESUS SHOWS HIMSELF AT THE TEMPLE
John 7 : 14 – 24
1 . Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up into the temple 147 courtyards and began to teach. The crowds marveled when they heard him, saying, “How did this man acquire such learning, when he has never been trained?”
2 . So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not my own, but it comes from him who sent me. Anyone who desires to do God’s will shall know whether my teaching is from God or whether I am only speaking on my own authority. He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but he who seeks glory for the one who sent him is a man of truth, and in him there is no falsehood.
3 . “Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you want to kill me?” The people answered, “You are possessed! Who is trying to kill you?”
4 . Jesus answered them, “I did one miracle, and you are all shocked that I acted on the sabbath . 148 But Moses gave you the teaching about circumcision (although that is not truly from Moses, but rather from the patriarchs) and so you circumcise a child even on the sabbath. Now if a child can be circumcised on the sabbath so that the law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with me because on the sabbath I healed a man’s entire body? Do not judge according to appearances, but make a sound judgment.”
110 . “OUT OF GALILEE THERE ARISES NO PROPHET”
John 7 : 25 — 8 : 1
1 . Then some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Is this not the man they want to kill? And yet here he is, speaking openly, and they do not challenge him! Is it possible that the authorities actually know that this is the Messiah? Yet we know where this man comes from; and when the Messiah appears, no one will know where he is from.”
2 . So Jesus lifted his voice, as he taught in the temple, and he said, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come here on my own. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. But I know him, for I come from him, and he has sent me.”
3 . Then they wished to seize Jesus; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. And many in the crowd believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more miracles than this man has done?”
4 . The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Jesus, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him. Jesus then said, “I shall be with you only a little longer, and then I am going back to the one who sent me; you will seek me and you will not find me; for where I am going you cannot come.”
5 . The people said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we shall not find him? Does he mean to go to the communities of Jews who live out among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? What does he mean by saying, ‘You will seek me and you will not find me,’ and, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?”
6 . On the last day of the feast, the Great Day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow streams of living water.’” In saying this, Jesus was referring to the Spirit, which would later be given to all those who believed in him; but at that time the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
7 . When they heard his words, some of the people said, “This is truly the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Surely the Christ is not to come from Galilee. Does not the scripture say that the Christ is to come from the line of David, and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” So the crowd was divided over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him.
8 . Then the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him here?” The guards answered, “No man ever spoke the way this man does!” The Pharisees responded, “Have you been deceived as well? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this mob, which knows nothing of the law—they are accursed.”
9 . Nicodemus, who had once visited Jesus, and who was one of the ruling council, asked, “Does our law judge any man before it hears him and learns what he is doing?” They replied, “Are you too from Galilee? Search the scriptures and you will see: out of Galilee there arises no prophet.” 149
10 . Then each of them went to his own house. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
111 . THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY
John 8 : 2 – 11
1 . Early in the morning Jesus returned to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them.
2 . Then the scribes and Pharisees brought in a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst of the group they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now, in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women to death. But what do you say?” They asked this to trap him, so that they might have some accusation to make against him.
3 . Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground, as though he had not heard them . And as they continued to press him, he straightened up and said to them, “He among you who is without sin, let him cast the first stone at her.” And then he bent down again and continued to write with his finger on the ground.
4 . When the accusers heard this, they slipped away, one by one, beginning with the eldest, even to the last, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing before him.
5 . Jesus stood up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.”
112 . THE GOOD SAMARITAN
Luke 10 : 25 – 37
1 . One day a specialist in religious law stood up to put Jesus to the test, asking, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” The scholar answered, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind.’ And second , ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” 150 And Jesus said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this, and you will live.”
2 . But the scholar, wanting to justify his question, asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
3 . Jesus replied with this story : “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothes and beat him, and departed, leaving him half-dead. Now it happened that a priest was going down the same road; but when he saw the injured man he passed by on the other side of the road. And likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
4 . “But a certain Samaritan, 151 as he journeyed, came to where the man was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own donkey and brought him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day when he departed he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’
5 . “Which of these three, do you think,” Jesus asked, “proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the thieves?” The scholar said, “The one who took pity on him.” And Jesus said to him, “Go, and do likewise.”
113 . THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
John 8 : 12 – 30
1 . Later Jesus spoke to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
2 . But the Pharisees challenged him, saying, “You are testifying about yourself; and your own testimony is not sufficient.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony is sufficient, for I know where I have come from and where I am going. You, however, do not know where I came from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I judge no one.
3 . “Yet even if I should judge, my judgment is just, for it is not I alone that judge, but both I and the one who sent me. In your law it is written that the testimony of two men is true. I am one witness for myself, and the Father who sent me is another.”
4 . So then they asked him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father; if you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while he was teaching in the temple, in the section called the Treasury; but no one arrested him, because his time had not yet come.
5 . He said to them once more, “I will soon go away, and then you will seek me, but you will die still in a state of sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” The people asked one another, “Surely he does not mean to kill himself, does he, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
6 . He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for indeed you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.” So they asked him, “Then who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have said to you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much I could blame you for. But he who sent me is truthful, and I declare to the world only what I have heard from him.” But they did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father.
7 . So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he; and that I do nothing on my own authority, but I speak just as the Father has taught me. And he who sent me remains with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.” And as Jesus said these things, many came to believe in him.
114 . EXASPERATION WITH THE COMPLACENT
John 8 : 31 – 59
1 . Then Jesus said to those who believed in him, “If you continue in my word, then you are truly my disciples; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
2 . Some Jews in the crowd answered him, “We are the descendants of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any man. How can you say, ‘You will be made free’?”
3 . Jesus answered them, “I tell you truly, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin. Now a slave does not continue in a household forever; but a son remains always. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
4 . “I know that you are descendants of Abraham. Yet some of you are ready to kill me, because you have no place in your hearts for my word. I speak to you of what I have actually seen with my Father, and you are only doing what you have been told to do by your own fathers.”
5 . They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the things that Abraham did. But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are only doing what your own fathers once did.”
6 . They said to him, “We were not born of fornication. 152 We have only one father, and that is God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I proceeded and came forth from God; I have not come of my own accord, but because he sent me.
7 . “Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. For in reality you are the children of your father the devil, and your will is to do your true father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks according to his nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. And so, because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me.
8 . “Who of you can accuse me of any sin? And if I speak the truth, why do you not believe me? He who belongs to God listens to the words of God; the reason why you do not listen is that you do not belong to God.”
9 . The crowd answered him, “Truly we are right when we say that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon!”
10 . Jesus answered, “I am not possessed; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. I do not seek glory for myself, but there is one who seeks it for me, and he will be the judge. I tell you truly, if any one follows my teaching, he will never see death.”
11 . The crowd said to him, “Now we know that you are possessed! Abraham died, as did the prophets; yet you say, ‘If any one follows my teaching, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do you make yourself out to be?”
12 . Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, and you say that he is your God, although you do not know him. But I know him. If I said, I do not know him, I should be a liar like you; but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”
1 3 . The crowd then said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “I tell you truly, even before Abraham was born, I am.” 153 At this, the crowd took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself from their sight and went out of the temple.
115 . AT THE HOME OF MARTHA AND MARY
Luke 10 : 38 – 42
1 . O ne day as Jesus and his disciples were traveling in the countryside near Jerusalem , he entered a village; and a woman named Martha invited him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.
2 . But Martha was distracted with the labor of much serving, and she went to Jesus and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
3 . But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But only one thing is needful. Mary has chosen that good part, and that shall not be taken away from her.”
116 . HEALING A MAN BORN BLIND
John 9 : 1 – 41
1 . One day as Jesus was walking, he saw a man who had been blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
2 . Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but so that the power of God might be displayed in his life. We must work the works of him who sent me, as long as it is daylight; the night comes, when no man can work. But as long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
3 . After he had said this, Jesus spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva and anointed the man’s eyes with the clay, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”—a name which means Sent. So the man went and washed, and he came back seeing.
4 . The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar said, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he;” others said, “No, he merely looks like him.” But the man himself said, “I am that man.”
5 . So they asked him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash;’ so I went and washed, and I received my sight.”
6 . They said to him, “Where is he?” He replied, “I do not know.”
7 . So they brought the man who had once been blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I can see.”
8 . Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How could a sinner perform such miracles?” So there was a division of opinion among them. Then they turned again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since it was your eyes he opened?” The man said, “He is a prophet.”
9 . The Pharisees did not believe that the man had in truth been blind and had been given his sight, until they called his parents and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know; and who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, and he can speak for himself.”
10 . His parents said this because they feared the religious authorities, for they had already agreed that if any one should acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, he was to be expelled from the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
1 1 . So for a second time the Pharisees called in the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give God the praise, for we know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see.”
12 . They asked him, “But what did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” The man answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too wish to become his disciples?”
13 . At this the Pharisees turned on him in anger, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, we do not even know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is strange indeed! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners; he listens to the man who worships him and does his will. Never since the world began has any one opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could have done nothing.” The Pharisees answered him, “You were born full of sin, and you would teach us?” And they threw him out.
14 . Jesus heard that they had put the man out, and when he found him he asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man answered, “And who is that, sir? Tell me so that that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have already seen him; he is the one who is speaking with you now.” The man said, “Lord, I believe;” and he worshiped him.
15 . Jesus said, “I have come into this world to prepare men for judgment—to give sight to the blind, and to show those who think they see clearly that they have been blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this, and they said to him, “Do you think that we too are blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were truly blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but because you claim, ‘We see,’ your sin remains with you.”
117 . THE GOOD SHEPHERD
John 1 0 : 1 – 21
1 . “I tell you truly,” Jesus continued , “he who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The porter opens the gate for him; the sheep respond to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. The sheep will not follow a stranger, but they flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this image with the crowd around him, but they did not understand his meaning.
2 . So Jesus spoke further to them, “I tell you truly, I am the gateway for the sheep. All who came before me are were thieves and robbers; and the sheep did not heed them. I am the gateway; and if any one enters through me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out freely, and will find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
3 . “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The man who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches up the sheep and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. But I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and my sheep know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.
4 . “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also. 154 They too will heed my voice, and there shall be one flock, and one shepherd.
5 . “This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, so that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own will. I have the power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again; for this is the charge I received from my Father.”
6 . There was again a division of opinion among the people at these words. Many of them said, “He is possessed by a demon, and is mad; why do you listen to him?” Others said, “These are not the words of a possessed man. And can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
118 . INSTRUCTIONS ON PRAYER
Luke 11 : 1 – 2 a, 5 – 13
1 . One day Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he was finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” So Jesus said to them, “When you pray, pray with persistence .” 155
2 . And he explained to them, “Imagine that you have a friend, and that you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And suppose the friend answers from inside, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’
3 . “I tell you, although the man inside the house will not get up and give anything to the man at the door just because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
4 . “So I tell you, Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks the door will be opened.
5 . “For what father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, by how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
119 . INWARD AND OUTWARD VIRTUE
Luke 11 : 37 – 41 , 53 – 54
1 . One day, while Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first ceremonially wash his hands before eating.
2 . But the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are careful to clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but on the inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 156 But give the foods that are within the dish as alms to the poor, and behold, then everything will be clean to you.” 157
3 . And as Jesus was leaving, the scribes and Pharisees began to press him hard on many subjects, trying to provoke him, watching to catch something out of his mouth that they might use against him.
12 0 . THE RICH MAN PLANS BIGGER BARNS
Luke 12 : 13 – 21 , 31 – 34
1 . Someone in the crowd outside called to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide our father’s inheritance with me.”
2 . But Jesus replied, “My friend, who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you, especially for that kind of question ?” And he cautioned them, “Take care, and beware of all forms of greed and covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
3 . And he told them this parable: “The lands of a certain rich man brought forth a plentiful crop. And the man thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have no place to store my harvest?’ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to myself, My friend, you have ample goods laid up for many years. Now take your ease! Eat, drink, and be merry.’
4 . “But God said to him, ‘Thou fool! This very night thy life shall be demanded from you. And who then will take possession of the things you have prepared for yourself?’
5 . “So it shall be with anyone who stores up riches for himself, and is not rich toward God. Rather, therefore, seek the kingdom of God, and all the needful things of the world shall be yours as well.
6 . “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell all that you have and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will never wear out, with a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief can come near and no moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
121 . THE PARABLE OF THE WATCHFUL SERVANTS
Matthew 24 : 45 – 51 ; Luke 12 : 35 – 38 , 41 – 48
1 . “Keep your loins girded 158 and your lamps lit. Be like servants who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
2 . “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds watchful when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for serving, and have them sit at the table, and will come and serve them himself. If he comes late in the second or third watch of the night, and finds them alert, fortunate are those servants.”
3 . Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” And the Lord said, “Who is truly the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give the people their allowance of food at the proper time? Fortunate is the servant whose master finds him at work when he comes. I tell you truly, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.
4 . “But instead suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards. Then the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him to a place with the hypocrites and unbelievers, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
5 . “The servant who knew his master’s will, but did not prepare or act according to his will, shall be beaten with many lashes. But the one who did not know, and so did things worthy of punishment, shall be beaten with few lashes. For from him who has been given much, much shall be required; and from those to whom much has been entrusted, still more will be demanded.”
122 . WHO CAN SEE THE COMING FIRE?
Luke 1 2 : 49 – 57
1 . “I have come to bring a fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism I must first undergo, and I will be under a heavy burden until that is accomplished! 159
2 . “Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on there will be five divided in one family, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
3 . He also said to the people, “When you see a cloud forming in the west, you say at once, ‘The rain is coming,’ and so it does. And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky; so why do you not know how to interpret the present times? And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?”
123 . ALL MUST REPENT OR PERISH
Luke 13 : 1 – 9
1 . Some of those present then told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with the blood of their sacrifices. 160 And Jesus responded, “Do you think that those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in that way? No, I tell you! Unless you repent you will all perish as well.
2 . “Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them. Do you think they were worse sinners than all others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you! Unless you repent you will all perish as well.”
3 . And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came to look for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘Lo, these three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I still find none. So cut it down; why should it cumber the ground?’
4 . “But the gardener answered him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for one more year, until I can dig around it and put down manure. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, then you may cut it down.’”
124 . HEALING THE STOOPED WOMAN
Luke 13 : 10 – 17
1 . One day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And a woman was there who had been crippled by an evil spirit for eighteen years. She was hunched over and could not by any effort straighten herself.
2 . When Jesus saw her, he called her to him and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” He laid his hands upon her; and immediately she stood up straight, and she praised God.
3 . But the leader of the synagogue was indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, and he said to the people, “There are six days on which work may be done; come on those days to be healed, and not on the sabbath day.”
4 . But the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! On the sabbath do not each of you untie your ox or your ass from the stall, and lead it out to give it water? And so should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, be likewise loosed from her bond on the sabbath day?”
5 . With these words all his opponents were put to shame; but all the people rejoiced at the splendid things that Jesus was doing.
125 . JESUS ANNOUNCES THAT HE IS THE CHRIST
John 10 : 22 – 39
1 . And then it was winter in Jerusalem, and time for Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication. 161 Jesus was walking through Solomon’s Colonnade in the temple courtyard. And a crowd gathered around him and demanded of him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
2 . Jesus answered them, “I have already told you, but you do not believe me. 162 The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness on my behalf; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my flock. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; and no one shall pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all others, and no one can wrest anything from his hand. And I and my Father are one.”
3 . At this the crowd again took up stones to stone him. Jesus challenged them, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works among you; for which of these do you wish to stone me?” The crowd answered him, “We do not stone you for any good work, but for blasphemy; because you, although only a man, make yourself out to be God.”
4 . Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your scriptures that God once said to the judges of Israel , ‘I say you are gods’? 163 But if he called them ‘gods’ to whom nothing more than the word of God came—and scripture cannot be disregarded—then what would you call the one whom the Father specially consecrated and sent into the world? Why do you charge, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
5 . “If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, then even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”
6 . Again they tried to seize him, but he eluded their grasp.
12 6 . WITHDRAWAL FROM JERUSALEM
John 10 : 40 – 42
1 . Then Jesus withdrew again beyond the Jordan, to the place where John had been baptizing at first; and there he stayed for a time.
2 . Many people went to Jesus, and they said, “John did no miracles, but all the things he spoke about this man were true.” And many believed in Jesus there.
VIII. The Last Itinerant Ministry
127 . SETTING OFF ON THE CIRCUIT
Luke 13 : 22
1 . After a while Jesus set out through the towns and villages, teaching as he went.
2 . T his last journey would take him in a circle, north to Galilee, and then back south again with the Passover crowds, always making his way toward Jerusalem. 164
128 . WHETHER MANY OR FEW WILL BE SAVED
Luke 13 : 23 – 30
1 . One day someone asked Jesus, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” And Jesus replied, “Strive to get in through the narrow gate; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
2 . “When once the householder has gotten up and shut the door, you will be left to stand outside and knock, saying, ‘Sir, open the door to us.’ He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘We have eaten and drunk with you, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you evildoers!’
3 . “Then there will be weeping there and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets at home in the kingdom of God, while you yourselves are thrust out. People will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their place at the table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”
129 . LAMENT OVER JERUSALEM
Matthew 23 : 37 – 39 ; Luke 13 : 31 – 35
1 . On that same day some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Leave this place and go somewhere else, for Herod wishes to kill you.” And Jesus said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I will be casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work. Nonetheless I must continue on my way steadily today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish in any place but Jerusalem.’
2 . “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings; but you were not willing!
3 . “Behold, your house is left to you desolate and forsaken! For I tell you, you will not see me again until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
130 . TAKING PLACES AT THE TABLE
Luke 14 : 1 – 24
1 . One sabbath Jesus went to dine at the house of one of the chief Pharisees; and all of the dinner guests were watching him closely.
2 . A man was there whose limbs were swollen from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and the specialists in religious law, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath, or not?” But they were silent. So he took the man and healed him, and sent him away. Then he said to the guests, “Which of you, having an ass or an ox that has fallen into a pit on a sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” And they could not reply to this.
3 . When Jesus saw how the guests all sought to take the most prominent places at the table for themselves, he counseled them, saying, “When you are invited by any one to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited; and the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give your seat to this man,’ and then you must move with shame to take the lowest place. Instead, when you are invited, first go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher,’ and then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
4 . Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbors. For they will invite you in return, and you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they do not have anything to repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
5 . When one of those at the table with Jesus heard this, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who shall dine in the kingdom of God!”
6 . But Jesus said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and when the time came he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
7 . “But then they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go inspect it; I pray you, allow me to be excused.’ Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and am on my way to try them out; I pray you, allow me to be excused.’ And another said, ‘I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.’
8 . “The servant came and reported this to his master. Then the master in anger said to his servant, ‘Go out at once into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor and the lame and the halt and the blind.’ And later the servant said, ‘Sir, what you have commanded has been done, and there is still room.’
9 . “The master said to the servant, ‘Then go out to the highways and hedges, and prevail on even the vagabonds to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”
13 1 . RAISING LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD
John 11 : 1 – 44
1 . Now a certain man named Lazarus was ill. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay ill, was the one who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair. 165
2 . So the sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, “Lord, your good friend is very sick.” But when Jesus heard this he said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God might be glorified through it.”
3 . Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he remained two days longer in the place where he was. Then after that he said to his disciples, “Let us go back into Judea.”
4 . The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, only a few days ago the people there were seeking to stone you, and now you are going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he can see by the light of this world. But if any one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 166
5 . Then Jesus said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon be well.” In fact Jesus had been speaking of his death, but the disciples thought he meant only taking rest in sleep. So then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And for your sakes I am glad I was not there, so that you can be given reason to believe. Now let us go to him.”
6 . Then Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go with Jesus , so that we may die with him.”
7 . When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away, and many of the people there had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother.
8 . When Martha heard that Jesus was approaching, she went and met him, while Mary remained sitting in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that whatever you ask from God, even now, God will give you.”
9 . Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is to come into the world.”
10 . When Martha had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside, saying quietly, “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.” And when Mary heard this, she rose quickly and went to him. For Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the mourners who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise and leave so quickly, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
11 . When Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” And as Jesus saw her weeping, and the mourners who had come with her also weeping, he was troubled in his spirit and moved by a deep anger, 167 and he asked, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the mourners said, “See how much he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not someone who opened the eyes of the blind man have also kept this man from dying?”
12 . Then Jesus, once more deeply moved in spirit, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone covered its entrance.
13 . Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you had faith, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone.
14 . Then Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank thee for hearing me. I know that you always hear me, but I have said this aloud for the sake of the people standing by, so that they may believe that you have sent me.”
15 . When he had said this, he shouted with a great voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus said to the people around, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
132 . THE HIGH COUNCIL BEGINS TO PLOT
John 11 : 45 – 5 4
1 . Many of the Jews, who had come to visit Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him; but some went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done.
2 . So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the high council of the Sanhedrin and asked, “What are we to do? For this man performs many miracles. If we allow him to go on in this way, every one will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.” 168
3 . Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, than that the whole nation should be destroyed.” He did not speak these words of his own accord, but being high priest that year he was inspired to speak in prophecy, that Jesus would indeed die for the nation—but not for that nation only, but also for all the children of God who are scattered over the world, to bring them together into one body. 169
4 . So from that day forth the council began to plot Jesus’ death. 170
5 . Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but withdrew from Bethany to the country near the edge of the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim; and there he stayed with his disciples.
133 . THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP 171
Luke 14 : 25 – 35
1 . At this time great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and said to them, “If any one comes to me and is not prepared to forsake his own father and mother, and his wife and children, and his brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 172 Whoever does not bear his own cross and follow me, cannot be my disciple.
2 . “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, would not first sit down and calculate the cost, whether he has enough money to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it will mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’
3 . “Or what king, going out to meet another king in war, will not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to resist one who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if he cannot, then while the other is still a great way off, he will send a delegation to ask for terms of peace.
4 . “So likewise, whoever of you does not renounce everything that he has cannot be my disciple. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can it be made salty again? Half-hearted salt is not useful either for conditioning the soil or for fertilizer; men throw it away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
134 . PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP
Luke 15 : 1 – 7
1 . Now tax-gatherers and other sinners often came to Jesus to hear him teach. But the Pharisees and the scribes still grumbled about this, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and even eats with them.”
2 . So Jesus told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine on the hillsides, 173 and seek after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he finds it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’
3 . “Likewise, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” 174
135 . PARABLE OF THE LOST COIN
Luke 15 : 8 – 10
1 . “Or consider a woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them. Does she not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.’
2 . “Likewise, I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God over even one sinner who repents.”
136 . PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON
Luke 15 : 11 – 32
1 . And Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, let me have now the share of the property that will be coming to me.’ And so the father divided his property between them.
2 . “A few days later, the younger son gathered together all that he had, and journeyed to a distant country, and there he wasted his substance in riotous living.
3 . “But after he had spent everything, a great famine arose in the land, and he began to be in want. So he went and hired himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him out into his fields to feed the swine. He would gladly have filled himself with the husks that the swine were eating; but no one gave him anything.
4 . “When he finally came to his senses he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, while I perish here with hunger! I will rise and return to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.’ And he arose and went to his father.
5 . “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with love and pity for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Make haste! Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet; and bring out the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
6 . “Now the elder son had been working in the field, and as he came and drew near the house, he heard the music and dancing. He called one of his servants and asked what this meant. And the servant said to him, ‘Your brother has come home, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’
7 . “But the elder brother was angry and refused to go into the house. His father came out and began to plead with him, but he answered his father, ‘I have served you for, lo, these many years, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me so much as a young goat so that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours comes home, who has squandered your property on harlots, for him you killed the fatted calf!’
8 . “Then the father said to him, ‘My son, you have always stood by me, and all that I have is yours. 175 But it was fitting that we should make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
137 . PARABLE OF THE DISHONEST MANAGER
Luke 16 : 1 – 15
1 . Jesus also told this story to his disciples: 176 “There was a rich man who had a manager to handle his affairs; and a report was brought to him that the man was wasting his money. So he called in the manager and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Prepare a final accounting of your work, for you can no longer be my manager.’
2 . “And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now, since my master is taking the job away from me? I have not the strength to dig, and am ashamed to beg. But I do know what I can do to make sure that people will still receive me into their houses after I am put out of my position.’
3 . “So calling in his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ The debtor said, ‘A hundred measures of olive oil.’ And the manager said to him, ‘Take your account, sit down quickly, and write fifty instead.’
4 . “Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ The man said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ The manager said to him, ‘Take your account, and make it eighty.’
5 . “In this the master had to acknowledge the practical shrewdness of the dishonest manager; 177 for the children of this world are wiser than the children of light in dealing with their own kind. And I tell you, there is a lesson here for you as well : if you possess the wealth of this world, even though that wealth is unrighteous in itself, you should use it to make friends and to do good, so that when your life is over you will be received into the eternal dwelling places.
6 . “He who is faithful in little things is also faithful in large ones; and he who is dishonest in little things is also dishonest in large ones. So if you have not been faithful in the use of the unrighteous wealth of this world, who will entrust you with the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
7 . “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon.”
8 . The Pharisees, who were great lovers of money, heard all this, and they began to ridicule Jesus. But he said to them, “You like to present yourselves as righteous before men, but God knows your hearts; and what is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.”
138 . THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS
Luke 16 : 19 – 31
1 . Jesus continued, “There was a certain rich man, who dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, 178 full of sores, who hoped only to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; and the dogs came and licked his sores.
2 . “It came to pass that the poor man died, and was carried by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, where he was in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus at his side.
3 . “And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in these flames.’ But Abraham said, ‘My child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner received evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in torment.
4 . “‘And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set, so that those who wish to pass from here to you will not be able, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
5 . “The rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send Lazarus to my father’s house, where I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, and they will not also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let your brothers hear them.’ The rich man said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if some one comes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded even if some one should rise from the dead.’”
139 . TEACHINGS ABOUT SERVICE AND DUTY
Luke 17 : 7 – 10
1 . And Jesus said, “Will any one, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once, sit down, and eat with me?’ Will he not instead say to him, ‘Prepare my meal, and put on your apron, and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did as he was told? Of course not.
2 . “So you too, when you have done all that is commanded of you, should say, ‘There is no special merit in our service; we have only done our duty.’”
140 . TEN LEPERS ARE HEALED, BUT ONLY ONE GIVES THANKS
Luke 17 : 11 – 19
1 . One day, on his way back to Jerusalem, Jesus was traveling near the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and raised their voices and called, “Jesus, Master, take pity on us!”
2 . When Jesus saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And it came to pass that, as they were on their way, they were made clean.
3 . One of the lepers, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell facedown at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. And this man was a Samaritan.
4 . Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But where are the other nine? Do we find no one returning to praise God except this foreigner?” And he said to the healed man, “Rise and be on your way; your faith has made you well.”
141 . WHERE IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
Luke 1 7 : 20 – 25
1 . One day Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. He replied, “The kingdom of God is not coming with outward signs for you to observe, nor will people be able to say, ‘See, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’
2 . “ Instead I say to the righteous, behold, the kingdom of God is already within you; and I say to the unrighteous, beware, the kingdom of God is already among you.” 179
3 . And he explained to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days when the Son of Man is with you, and you will not see it. And people will say to you, ‘See, here he is!’ or ‘There he is!’ Do not go; do not follow them. For the Son of Man in his coming will be like the lightning that blazes out and lights the sky from one end to the other. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.”
142 . PARABLE OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS JUDGE
Luke 18 : 1 – 8
1 . And Jesus told his disciples a parable, to show that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought; and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and pleading, ‘Grant me justice; vindicate me against my adversary.’
2 . “For a while the judge refused, but finally he said to himself, ‘Though I do not fear God or regard man, yet because this widow keeps troubling me I will give her justice, or else she will wear me out by her continual pleas.’”
3 . And Jesus continued, “Learn a lesson from this unrighteous judge. Will God not give justice to his own elect, when they cry out to him day and night? Will he delay forever over them? I tell you, he will see that they receive justice, and will do so quickly. Yet even so, when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faithful ones on the earth?”
143 . THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX GATHERER
Luke 18 : 9 – 14
1 . He also told this parable to some who trusted in their own righteousness, and looked down on others. “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax gatherer.
2 . “The Pharisee stood and prayed his way about himself: ‘God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are—extortioners, evildoers, adulterers—or even as this tax gatherer is. I fast twice a week, and I give tithes of all that I get.’
3 . “The tax gatherer, standing at a distance, would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ But I tell you, this man, rather than the other, went back to his house justified before God; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
144 . MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, AND CHASTITY
Matthew 19 : 1 – 12 ; Mark 10 : 1 – 12 ; Luke 16 : 18
1 . When Jesus finished saying these things, he departed from Galilee and headed for the region of Judea, going by way of the lands beyond the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there, and, as was his custom, he taught them.
2 . Some Pharisees came up to him and, in an effort to ensnare him, they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason he wishes?”
3 . “What did Moses command you?,” Jesus replied. They said, “Moses permitted a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.” Jesus said, “Moses allowed you to put away your wives because your hearts were hard. But in the beginning it was not this way.
4 . “Have you not read that the Creator who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”
5 . When they were back in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. And he said to them, “I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unfaithfulness, and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery. And he who marries a woman divorced from her husband likewise commits adultery.”
6 . The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation of a man with his wife, then it is not good to marry.” And he said to them, “Not all men can accept that conclusion, but only those to whom the gift of chastity is given. Some men have been eunuchs from birth, and some have been made eunuchs by men, and some have decided to live like eunuchs 180 for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to follow this course, let him follow it.”
145 . BLESSING THE LITTLE CHILDREN
Matthew 19 : 13 – 15 ; Mark 10 : 13 – 16 ; Luke 18 : 15 – 1 7
1 . Then some little children were brought to Jesus so that he might lay his hands on them and pray for them. People were bringing even infants so that he might touch them. And when his disciples saw this, they rebuked the parents.
2 . But when Jesus saw what the disciples were doing he was angry with them. He called the children to him, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you truly, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
3 . And he took the children in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them; and then he went on his way.
146 . THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE
Matthew 19 : 16 – 3 0 ; Mark 10 : 17 – 31 ; Luke 18 : 18 – 30
1 . As Jesus was setting out to continue his journey, an influential young man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what good thing must I do to inherit eternal life?”
2 . Jesus said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? And why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
3 . “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus said, “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor thy father and mother; and love thy neighbor as thyself.’”
4 . The young man said to him “Teacher, all these commandments I have followed from my youth. What do I still lack?” And Jesus, looking upon him, loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing. If you would be perfect, go, sell all that you have, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, and follow me.”
5 . When the man heard this his face fell, and he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
6 . Jesus looked at him and said to his disciples, “I tell you truly, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
7 . When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, and they asked one another, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With men alone it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
8 . Then Peter said to him, “Remember, we have forsaken everything to follow you. What will we have for that?” Jesus said to them, “I tell you truly, in the new world, when the Son of Man shall sit upon his glorious throne, then you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 181 And I tell you truly, there is no one who has left house or wife, or brothers or sisters, or mother or father, or children or lands, for my name’s sake and for the gospel, and for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will fail to receive back many times as much. In this present age he will receive a hundred times as much—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands—along with persecutions—and in the world to come he will receive eternal life.
9 . “Thus many that are first shall be last, and many who are last shall be first.”
147 . PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD WORKERS
Matthew 20 : 1 – 16
1 . A nd Jesus explained, “The kingdom of heaven is like the landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. When he had agreed with the laborers on a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
2 . “Then going out about the third hour of the day 182 he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ And so they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same thing. And about the eleventh hour 183 he went out and found still others standing, and he asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ So he said to them, ‘You go and work in the vineyard as well.’
3 . “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call in the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired, up until the first.’
4 . “When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Then when the first came, they thought they would be given more; but each of them received a denarius as well. And upon receiving it they protested to the landowner, saying, ‘These last men worked only one hour, but you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and heat of the day.’
5 . “But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me on a denarius a day? Take what is yours, and go. I wish to give to this last one as much as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do as I wish with my own things? Or do you resent my generosity to others?’
6 . “So the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.”
148 . JESUS PREDICTS HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION A THIRD TIME
Matthew 20 : 17 – 1 9 ; Mark 10 : 32 – 34 ; Luke 18 : 31 – 34
1 . They were now on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of the group. The disciples were amazed at his courage in going there , and the people following behind were filled with dread.
2 . Once more he took the twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that has been written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.
3 . “For he will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death, and will hand him over to the foreigners to be mocked and insulted and spat upon. And after they have flogged him they will crucify him; but on the third day he will rise again.”
4 . But the disciples understood none of these things. Jesus’ meaning was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what he said.
149 . CORRECTING TWO AMBITIOUS APOSTLES
Matthew 20 : 2 0 – 28 ; Mark 10 : 35 – 45
1 . Later the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to Jesus with her sons, James and John, and kneeling before him they asked him for a favor. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”
2 . The mother said, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” And James and John asked the same, to sit at his side in his glory.
3 . But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink, or be baptized with the baptism with which I will be baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.”
4 . Jesus replied to them, “You will indeed drink my cup; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized. But to sit at my right hand or at my left is not for me to grant. Those places are for those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
5 . When the other ten heard of this, they became indignant at James and John. So Jesus called them all to him and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles, those who are recognized as rulers lord it over the people, and their great men dominate the others.
6 . “But it shall not be so among you. Whoever would be great among you must be your servant; and whoever would be first among you must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 184
150 . ZACCHAEUS CLIMBS A SYCAMORE TREE
Mark 10 : 46 a; Luke 19 : 1 – 10
1 . Then they came to Jericho. 185 Jesus entered the city and was passing through it. A man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a supervisor of the tax gatherers, and rich.
2 . Zacchaeus sought to see what Jesus looked like, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was short of stature. So he ran on ahead, along the way where Jesus was to pass, and climbed up into a sycamore 186 tree to see him.
3 . And when Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must be a guest in your home today.” So Zacchaeus came down at once, and received Jesus into his house with joy.
4 . When the crowd saw this they all began to grumble, “He has gone in to be the guest of a sinful man.” But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, I will give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have wrongly exacted anything from any man, I will restore it fourfold.”
5 . Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham. And the Son of Man has come to seek for and to save that which was lost.”
151 . THE PARABLE OF THE INVESTMENTS
Luke 19 : 11 – 28
1 . As the people were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell them a parable, because he was close to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God was about to appear very soon.
2 . So he said, “A nobleman was called away to a distant country to be invested with kingly powers and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he divided among them ten pounds of silver and said to them, ‘Manage this money for me until I come back.’
3 . “But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’
4 . “When he returned, having received the kingly power nonetheless , he called for the servants, to whom he had given the money, so that he might learn what they had gained by trading with it. The first one came before him and said, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten pounds more.’ And the king said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
5 . “The second came and said, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds more.’ And the king said to him, ‘Then you are to rule over five cities.’
6 . “Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound, which I kept stored away safely, wrapped up in a cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take out what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ And the king said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a harsh man, taking out what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? They why did you not place my money with the moneychangers, so that at my return I could have collected it with interest?’
7 . “And the king said to the people who were standing by, ‘Take the pound from him, and give it to the man who has the ten pounds.’ The people said to him, ‘Lord, he already has ten pounds!’ But the king replied, ‘I tell you, that to every one who has, more will be given; but from him who has not, even what he does have will be taken away. And as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to rule over them, bring them here and slaughter them in front of me.’” 187
8 . And when Jesus had finished this story, he went on ahead, going up 188 to Jerusalem.
152 . THE BLIND BEGGAR BARTIMAEUS
Matthew 20 : 29 – 34 ; Mark 10 : 46 b– 52 ; Luke 18 : 35 – 43
1 . As Jesus was leaving 189 Jericho, with his disciples and a great crowd following him, two blind men were sitting by the roadside. One of these men , Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was begging there.
2 . Hearing the crowd going by, Bartimaeus asked what this was. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And when he heard this, he began to shout, “Lord Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
3 . Those who were leading the procession rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
4 . Then Jesus stopped, and ordered the man to be brought to him. So they called Bartimaeus, saying to him, “Take heart! Rise; he is summoning you!” And throwing aside his cloak he sprang up and went to Jesus. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
5 . He said, “Lord, I want to see.” Jesus had compassion on him and touched his eyes, and said to him, “Receive your sight. Go; your faith has made you well.”
6 . Immediately Bartimaeus received his sight, as did the other man , and then they followed Jesus along the road, praising God. And when they saw this, all the people also gave praise to God.
15 3 . THE PASSOVER CROWDS LOOK FOR JESUS
John 11 : 55 – 57
1 . Now it was almost time for the Jewish celebration of the Passover. Many people had gone up to Jerusalem from the country, to purify themselves before the feast. They were looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple courtyards, “What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?”
2 . For the chief priests and the Pharisees had both given orders that if any one knew where Jesus was, he should report it, so that they might arrest him. 190
1 54 . MARY ANOINTS JESUS AT BETHANY
Matthew 26 : 6 – 13 ; Mark 14 : 3 – 9 ; John 12 : 1 – 8
1 . Six day before the Passover, 191 Jesus arrived at Bethany, just outside of Jerusalem , 192 the home town of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 . There a dinner was given for Jesus at the house of Simon the Leper. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those who reclined at the table with him. 193
3 . Mary came in with an alabaster jar containing a pound of very precious ointment, made of pure nard. 194 She broke open the jar and poured the ointment over Jesus’ head and feet, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 . When the disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying to one another, “To what purpose was this waste?” One of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, who would later betray Jesus, reproached her, saying, “Why was this ointment not sold, and the money given to the poor? It could have brought more than a year’s wages.” This he said, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; and having charge of the moneybag he used to steal from what was put into it.
5 . But Jesus, aware of this talk, said to them, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. She has kept this ointment against the day of my burial. For you have the poor always with you, and you may do them good whenever you wish; but you will not always have me.
6 . “She has done what she could. In pouring this perfume on my body, she has anointed it beforehand to prepare me for burial. And I tell you truly, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”
155 . MURDER IS IN THE AIR
John 12 : 9 – 11
1 . In the meantime a great crowd had learned that Jesus was there; and they came, not only on account of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
2 . So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, because he was the reason why many of the Jews were falling away from them and believing in Jesus.
IX. Holy Week
PALM SUNDAY
156 . THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM
Matthew 21 : 1 – 11 ; Mark 11 : 1 – 11 ; Luke 19 : 29 – 44 ; John 12 : 12 – 19
1 . The next day, a great crowd of people who had come for the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took fronds of palm trees and went out to greet him.
2 . When Jesus and his disciples drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples on ahead, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it you will find a donkey tied there, and with her a colt which no one has ever ridden. 195 Untie them and bring them here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of them and will send them back shortly.’ And he will let you have them at once.”
3 . So the messengers went away, and found things as Jesus had told them. They found the colt in the open street, tied up at a doorway. And as they were untying it, its owners and some bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They answered with the words Jesus had said, “The Lord has need of it;” and the owners let them go.
4 . The disciples brought the donkey and the colt to Jesus; and they threw their cloaks on the colt, and Jesus sat upon it. All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the prophet, who said,
Tell the daughter of Zion, Fear not!
Behold, thy king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey—
upon a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.
His disciples did not understand this prophecy at first; but after Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that they had done these things for him, and realized that this had been written about him.
5 . As Jesus rode along, many people in the great crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the trees in the fields.
6 . And as Jesus approached the place where the road starts down the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the miracles that they had seen, saying, “Blessed be the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
7 . And the crowds that went before him and that followed after him shouted out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel! Hosanna to the Son of David! 196 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
8 . Now the people that had been with Jesus when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead had continued to tell others about it. For this reason also the crowd went out to meet him, because they heard he had performed this miracle. The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see that we can do nothing about this; look, the whole world has gone after him.”
9 . And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, even if these disciples were to keep silent, then the very stones would cry out in celebration.” 197
10 . But as Jesus drew closer to Jerusalem and saw the city he began to weep over it, saying, “How I wish that you, of all places, could recognize on this day the things that would bring you peace! But they are hidden from your eyes. So the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will build up a barricade around you, and surround you, and hem you in on every side; and they will level you to the ground—you and all your children within your walls. They will not leave one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time when God came to offer you his care.” 198
11 . And when Jesus entered Jerusalem, and went into the temple, all the city was in a commotion, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
12 . By the time Jesus had looked around at everything it had become late, and so he went back out to Bethany with the twelve.
FIG MONDAY
157 . CURSING THE UNFRUITFUL FIG TREE
Matthew 21 : 18 – 19 ; Mark 11 : 12 – 14
1 . In the morning of the following day, as they left Bethany and were returning to the city, Jesus was hungry. Seeing a fig tree in the distance, in leaf by the roadside, he went to see if he could find anything on it. But when he came to it he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.
2 . And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” His disciples heard him say this. And the fig tree began to wither at once. 199
158 . CLEANSING THE TEMPLE
Matthew 21 : 12 – 16 ; Mark 11 : 15 – 18 ; Luke 19 : 45 – 48 ; John 2 : 14 – 22
1 . After that they came to Jerusalem. Jesus entered the temple of God, and there he found those who were selling cattle and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers at their business. 200
2 . Making a whip of small cords, he drove all who were buying and selling there out of the temple, along with the sheep and cattle. He poured out the coins of the moneychangers, and overturned their tables. He overturned the seats of those who sold doves, and he told them, “Take these things away; you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” And he taught them all, saying to them, “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.” And he would not allow any one to carry merchandise through the temple courtyards.
3 . His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for thy house will consume me.”
4 . The leaders of the temple responded by demanding of him, “What can you show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” The temple leaders then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days?” But Jesus was speaking about the temple of his own body. When he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the words which Jesus had spoken.
5 . After this he began to teach daily in the temple. And the blind and the lame came to him there, and he healed them.
6 . But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children calling out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were sorely displeased, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read,
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings
Thou has brought perfect praise?”
7 . When the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people heard this they sought a way to destroy Jesus; for they feared him, because the entire crowd was astonished at his teaching. But they could not find anything they could do, because the people hung on his words.
159 . WHAT JESUS’ DEATH WILL ACCOMPLISH
John 12 : 20 – 36 a
1 . Among those who had gone up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. These came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to meet Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; and Andrew and Philip went together to tell Jesus.
2 . And Jesus answered them, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you truly, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single seed; but if it dies in this way, it will bring forth much new fruit. He who loves his life will lose it, but he who cares nothing for his life in this world will keep it to live for all eternity. Whoever serves me, must follow me; and wherever I am, there my servant will also be; and if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.
3 . “Now my soul is troubled. But what shall I say about that ? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No; it was for this very purpose that I have come to this hour. Instead, ‘ Father, bring glory to thy name.’” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have already glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 201
4 . When the crowd there heard this voice, some said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus said, “This voice did not speak for my sake, but for yours. The time for judgment on the world has now come, and now Satan , the ruler of this world, shall be cast out. 202 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to me.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
5 . But the crowd said to him, “We have learned from the scriptures that the Christ will remain forever. How then can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” Jesus answered them, “The light will be with you just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; for those who walk in darkness do not know where they are going. While you have the light, put your trust in the light, so that you may become children of the light.”
160 . MOST STILL REJECT JESUS
Matthew 21 : 17 ; Mark 11 : 19 ; John 1 2 : 36 b– 50
1 . After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid himself from the crowd. Although he had done so many miracles before them, still they did not believe in him. This was so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the power of the Lord been revealed?” Therefore they could not believe. And Isaiah had foretold that as well:
He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
lest they should see with their eyes,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn, and I would heal them.
Isaiah said these things because he foresaw Jesus’ glory and spoke of him.
2 . Nevertheless many people, even among the leaders of the Jews, did believe in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, out of fear that they would be expelled from the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men more than the approval of God.
3 . Then Jesus said in a loud voice, “He who believes in me, does not believe in me only, but also in the one who sent me. And he who sees me is also seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light into the world, so that whoever believes in me shall not remain in darkness. If any one hears my words and does not follow them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me and rejects my teachings will nonetheless have a judge; he will be judged on the last day in accordance with the words that I have spoken. For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has himself told me what I should say and how I should say it. And I know that his commandments lead to eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say just as the Father has bidden me.”
4 . And when evening came, Jesus left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and he lodged there for the night.
HOLY TUESDAY
161 . THE FIG TREE IS COMPLETELY WITHERED
Matthew 21 : 20 – 22 ; Mark 11 : 20 – 26
1 . As Jesus and his disciples passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Master, look! The fig tree that you cursed has completely withered.”
2 . When the disciples saw this they marveled, asking, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. I tell you truly, if you have faith, you will not only be able to do what has been done to the fig tree, but you can even say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and cast into the sea.’ If you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you.
3 . “Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have already received it, and it will be yours.
4 . “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against any one, first forgive them; so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your own transgressions. For if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.”
1 62 . THE TEMPLE LEADERS CHALLENGE JESUS’ AUTHORITY
Matthew 21 : 23 – 27 ; Mark 11 : 27 – 33 ; Luke 20 : 1 – 8
1 . Then they came again to Jerusalem and entered the temple. As Jesus was walking in the temple courtyards, teaching the people and preaching the gospel, the chief priests, scribes and elders 203 came up and asked, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you that authority?”
2 . Jesus answered them, “I in turn will ask you one question; and if you give me the answer, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. So tell me! John’s authority to perform baptisms 204 —where did that come from? From heaven or from men?
3 . The delegation took council among themselves. “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 205 But if we say, ‘From men,’ then the people will stone us, for they are all convinced that John was a true prophet.”
4 . So they answered Jesus, “We do not know where it was from.” And Jesus said to them, “Then neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
163 . PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS
Matthew 21 : 28 – 32 ; Mark 12 : 1 a; Luke 20 : 9 a
1 . Jesus then began to speak to the people in parables, reproaching them for their failure to recognize the Messiah . 206
2 . “What would you think about this? A man had two sons, and he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And the son answered, ‘I will not;’ but afterward he repented and went. Then the man went to the second son and said the same thing; and this son answered, ‘I will go, sir,’ but did not go.
3 . “Now, which of the two obeyed the will of his father?” “The first,” they said.
4 . Jesus said to them, “I tell you truly, the tax gatherers and harlots will get into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you and showed you the path of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax gatherers and the harlots did believe him. And even after you saw this happening, you still did not repent and believe him.” 207
164 . PARABLE OF THE WICKED TENANTS
Matthew 21 : 33 – 44 ; Mark 12 : 1 b– 11 ; Luke 20 : 9 b– 18
1 . “Listen to another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard. He set a wall around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it out to tenants, and went on a long journey to another country.
2 . “When the harvest time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to collect his share of the fruits of the vineyard. But the tenants took the servant and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Then the man sent another servant to them, and they beat him on the head, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed as well. And he sent yet a third; this one they stoned and threw out of the vineyard. And he sent another, and that one they killed. And so later with many others, some they beat and some they killed.
3 . “The owner of the vineyard said to himself, ‘What shall I do?’ But he still had one more, a son whom he loved. Last of all he sent that one to the tenants, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw him, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and then his inheritance will be ours.’ So they seized him, took him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
4 . “Now when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?” The people replied, “He will see that those horrible men are put to a horrible death.” “ Even more ,” said Jesus. “He will destroy those tenants and then lease out the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at the proper seasons.”
5 . When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!” But Jesus looked straight at them and said, “What then is the meaning of this scripture:
The very stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone;
This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and whomever it falls on will be crushed to powder. Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will bring forth the proper fruit.”
165 . PARABLE OF THE WEDDING GARMENT
Matthew 21 : 45 — 22 : 14 ; Mark 12 : 1 2 ; Luke 20 : 19
1 . Jesus spoke still another parable, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son; and he sent his servants to call those who were invited to the feast, but they refused to come.
2 . “So he sent other servants, saying to them, ‘Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have prepared the dinner; my oxen and my fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast!’ But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm and another to his business. The rest seized his servants, treated them dishonorably, and then killed them. The king was enraged; he sent his soldiers and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
3 . “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go out to the town gates and invite to the feast as many people as you find.’ And the servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, the bad as well as the good; and so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
4 . “But when the king came in to greet the guests, he noticed a man who was not wearing a wedding garment; and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ The man had no response to that. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” 208
6 . When the scribes and the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they realized that he was speaking against them. They wanted to arrest him at once, but they were afraid of the crowd, because the people held Jesus to be a prophet; so they left him alone and went away.
166 . RENDERING UNTO CAESAR
Matthew 22 : 15 – 22 ; Mark 12 : 13 – 17 ; Luke 20 : 20 – 26
1 . Then the Pharisees took counsel on how they might ensnare Jesus in his talk. So they watched him, and sent some of their disciples to him, along with some agents of Herod, who pretended to be righteous men. They hoped to catch Jesus in some remark so that they could deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.
2 . These spies came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity, and show no partiality; for you do not pay heed to the status of men, but speak and teach what is right, and truly teach the way of God.
3 . “Tell us, then, what you think. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?”
4 . But Jesus, aware of their guile, said, “Why are you trying to trap me, you hypocrites? 209 Bring me a coin used for paying the tax, and let me look at it.” So they brought a denarius. Jesus asked them, “Whose likeness is this on it, and whose name?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then Jesus said to them, “Therefore render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”
5 . And so they were not able to catch Jesus by what he said before the people. When they heard his answer they marveled, and were silent; and they left him and went away.
167 . HUMAN NATURE AFTER THE RESURRECTION
Matthew 22 : 23 – 33 ; Mark 1 2 : 18 – 27 ; Luke 20 : 27 – 39
1 . That same day, in a further effort to catch Jesus in his words, some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question. “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, then the man must marry the widow, and have children with her to carry on his brother’s line.
2 . “Now imagine there were seven brothers among us. The first married, and died, and having no children he left his wife to his brother. The second brother took her, and then died, leaving no children. And the third likewise, and on down to the seventh; and indeed, none of the seven left any children. Last of all the woman died as well. In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be? For all seven had married her.”
3 . Jesus answered them, “You going astray here because you do not understand the scriptures or the power of God. The children of this world marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy to reach the next world, when they rise from the dead, will neither marry nor be given in marriage, for they can never more die, but will be like angels in heaven. They are the children of God, being children of the resurrection.
4 . “And as for the fact of the resurrection, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, 210 how Moses himself showed you that the dead are raised? For there God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not a God of the dead, but of the living, for the people of all generations are alive in his sight. So you are greatly mistaken.”
5 . When the crowd heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. And some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, that was well said.”
168 . A QUESTION ABOUT THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT
Matthew 22 : 34 – 40 ; Mark 12 : 28 – 3 4 a
1 . When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together themselves. One of them, a specialist in religious law, went over in time to hear them disputing with one another; and recognizing that Jesus answered them well, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the law?”
2 . Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and thou shalt 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 and greatest commandment.
3 . “And the second is like unto it: ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ On these two commandments hang all of the law and the prophets. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
4 . And the legal scholar said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have spoken the truth that he is one, and there is no other but he. And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength; and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
5 . When Jesus saw that the scholar answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
169 . JESUS ESTABLISHES HIS ROUTINE
Luke 21 : 37 – 38
1 . B y this time Jesus had established a daily practice.
2 . Every day he would teach at the temple, and all the people would assemble there early in the morning to hear him. And each evening he went out of the city to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives. 211
HOLY WEDNESDAY
17 0 . ANCESTRY OF THE CHRIST
Matthew 22 : 41 – 46 ; Mark 12 : 34 b– 37 ; Luke 20 : 40 – 44
1 . T he next morning , as Jesus taught in the temple courtyards, and the Pharisees were gathered together, he asked them a question, saying, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 212 What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?”
2 . “The son of David,” they said to him.
3 . Jesus replied, “Then how is it that David, guided by the Holy Spirit, calls him ‘my Lord’? For David himself says in the Book of Psalms,
The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit thou at my right hand,
until I make thy enemies
A footstool beneath thy feet.
If David himself thus calls the Christ ‘my Lord,’ how can the Christ be his son?” 213
4 . The great throng listened to Jesus with delight. No one was able to say a word in answer to this, nor from that day on did any one dare to ask him any more questions.
171 . “WOE UNTO YOU, PHARISEES!” 214
Matthew 23 : 1 – 36 ; Mark 12 : 38 – 40 ; Luke 11 : 42 – 52 , 12 : 1 – 3 , 20 : 45 – 47
1 . Then with all the crowd listening, Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “Beware of the scribes! They and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat; so understand and follow all the rules that they teach you. But do not follow their example, for they do not practice what they preach. 215
2 . “They do all their deeds only to be seen by others; and so they make their prayer boxes large and the fringe on their garments long. 216 They like to walk about in long robes, and they love having the places of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called ‘Teacher’ by men. But they devour widows’ houses, even while they make long prayers for pretense. Such people will receive a special damnation.
3 . “You, however, are not to let anyone call you teacher, for you all have only one teacher, and you are all brothers together. And call no man on earth your father, for you have only one Father, who is in heaven. Nor yet be called leaders, for you have only one leader, the Christ. The one who is greatest among you shall be your servant; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
4 . One of the experts in religious law answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us as well.”
5 . And Jesus said, “Woe unto you lawyers! For you bundle up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but you yourselves will not lift a finger to help move them.
6 . “Woe unto you, lawyers and scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You shut the door to the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You do not enter in yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.
7 . “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and sea to make a single convert, and when he becomes a convert, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
8 . “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If any one swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if any one swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by that oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If any one swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if any one swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by that oath.’ You blind men! Which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; and whoever swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells within it; and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who sits upon it.
9 . “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay the tithe on even your mint and rue and dill and cumin, and every little herb, but have neglected the weightier matters of the law—justice and mercy and the love of God. You ought to have paid the tithes without neglecting these other things. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat from your drinking water , but swallow a camel!
10 . “Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have places of honor in the synagogues and greetings in the market places!
11 . “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the bowl, while inside they remain full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and of the bowl, and then the outside can become clean as well.
12 . “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. And you are like unmarked graves which are not seen, and men walk over them unawares.
13 . “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have joined with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ But in saying that you are witnesses against yourselves, that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets, and that you consent to their deeds; for they killed them, and you build their tombs. And now you can go on to complete their works of wickedness. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how can you escape being condemned to hell? For God in his wisdom has said, ‘I will send them more prophets and wise men and teachers, some of whom they will kill and crucify, and some of whom they will scourge in their synagogues and persecute from town to town.’ Then upon you will fall the guilt for all the righteous blood shed from the foundation of the world—from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered in the temple between the sanctuary and the altar. I tell you truly, the judgment for all these things shall fall upon this generation.”
14 . While Jesus was speaking a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so closely pressed that they were stepping on one another. Jesus turned to his disciples and warned them first of all, “Be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be shouted from the housetops.”
172 . THE WIDOW’S MITE
Mark 12 : 41 – 44 ; Luke 21 : 1 – 4
1 . Then Jesus sat down opposite the temple treasury, and watched people putting money and gifts into the collection boxes. Many rich people put in large sums; and then a poor widow came, and dropped in two mites, the smallest of copper coins, which together make a penny. 217
2 . Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others; for they all gave what they could spare out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has given everything she had, all that she had to live on.”
1 73 . TEACHINGS ABOUT THE SECOND COMING
Matthew 24 : 1 – 44 , 25 : 1 – 46 ; Mark 1 3 : 1 – 37 ; Luke 12 : 39 – 40 , 17 : 2 6 – 37 , 21 : 5 – 36
The destruction of Jerusalem
Matthew 24 : 1 – 2 ; Mark 13 : 1 – 2 ; Luke 21 : 5 – 6
1 . Jesus then left the temple, and was walking away when his disciples came to him and pointed out how it was adorned with beautiful stonework and offerings to God. “Look, Teacher, what massive stones and splendid buildings!” But Jesus responded, “Do you see all these things? I tell you truly, one day there will not be one stone left upon another; every one of them will be thrown down.” 218
Jesus’ followers must stand firm
Matthew 24 : 3 – 14 ; Mark 13 : 3 – 13 ; Luke 21 : 7 – 19
2 . Later, as Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, “Teacher, tell us, when will all these things happen, and what will show that they are about to take place? What sign will signal your coming and the end of the age?” 219
3 . And Jesus answered them, “Take care that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and ‘The time is at hand!’ and they will lead many astray. Do not follow them.
4 . “You will hear of wars, and rumors of wars, and upheavals among the people, but see that you are not frightened; these things must happen first, but the end will not come at once. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be famines, pestilences, and great earthquakes in various places; and there will be terrible sights and great portents from heaven. But all this is only the beginning of the travails.
5 . “So take heed to yourselves. Before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you up to the councils of the Jews , and you will be beaten in synagogues and prisons; and you will be brought before the governors and kings of the Romans. Then they will hand you over for confinement and execution, because you are my followers.
6 . “But this will be an opportunity for you to bear testimony before them. When they arrest you and deliver you up for trial, settle it in your minds not to worry beforehand about how to defend yourselves. Say whatever is given to you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit. And I will give you words and wisdom, which none of your enemies will be able to resist or prove wrong.
7 . “You will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be betrayed even by parents and kinsmen and friends and brothers, and some of you they will put to death. Many false prophets will arise and lead people astray. And because lawlessness will increase, most men’s love will grow cold.
8 . “But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will protect your lives; and he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
9 . “This gospel about the kingdom must first be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.
Signs of the second coming
Matthew 24 : 15 – 27 , 24 : 29 – 31 ; Mark 13 : 14 – 27 ; Luke 17 : 31 – 33 , 21 : 20 – 28
10 . “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that the time of its destruction is near. And when you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel, set up where it ought not to be, standing in the holy place 220 —let the reader understand!—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let those who are out in the country not enter it.
11 . “On that day, let no one who is on the rooftop, with his possessions inside the house, go down and enter it to take anything out; and let no one who is in the field turn back to fetch his cloak. For these are the days of vengeance, so that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Remember Lot’s wife! 221
12 . “Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.
13 . “Alas for the pregnant women and the nursing mothers in those days! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trodden underfoot by the Gentiles, until the span of time appointed to the Gentiles has been completed.
14 . “Pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the sabbath. For then there will be such tribulation as has not been seen, from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be seen again. And if the Lord had not resolved to cut short the days, no human flesh would survive; but for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, those days will be shortened.
15 . “And at that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be on your guard. Behold, I have told you all things beforehand.
16 . “If they say to you, ‘Lo, he is out in the desert,’ do not go out; if they say, ‘Lo, he is hidden in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. Just as the lightning comes out of the east and blazes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
17 . “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars:
The sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
The stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers of heaven will be shaken.
And upon the earth, the nations will be in distress, disoriented at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men’s hearts failing them with fear and with foreboding of what is to come upon the world.
18 . “And then the sign of the Son of Man 222 will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will lament, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with great power and glory. And he will send out his angels with a mighty blast on the trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.
19 . “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Watch and pray!
Matthew 24 : 28 , 24 : 32 – 42 ; Mark 13 : 28 – 33 ; Luke 17 : 26 – 30 , 17 : 34 – 3 7 , 21 : 29 – 36
20 . And he told them this parable. “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as its twigs become tender and its leaves come out, you can see that and know for yourselves that summer is near. So too, when you see these things happening, you will know that the kingdom of God is near, at the very gates. I tell you truly, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
21 . “But no one knows when that day and hour will come, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
22 . “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In the days before the flood, the people ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, up until the day when Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing of what would happen until the flood came and swept them all away. So too shall be the coming of the Son of Man. And it will be as it was in the days of Lot. People ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and brimstone rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. Thus it shall be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
23 . “I tell you, on that night there will be two people in the same bed; the one shall be taken and the other left behind. There will be two women grinding grain at the mill; one shall be taken and the other left behind. Two men will be in the field; one shall be taken and the other left.
24 . “Take heed, watch, and pray! Be on guard, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing and drunkenness and the cares of this life, and that day close upon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all those who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. So watch at all times, praying that you may be found worthy to escape all these things that are about to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man. Watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
25 . His disciples asked him, “Where will this happen, Lord?” And he said to them, “Wherever there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather. 223
Unpredictable as a thief in the night
Matthew 24 : 43 – 4 4 ; Mark 13 : 34 – 37 ; Luke 12 : 39 – 40
26 . “It is like a man going on a journey. He leaves his home and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned tasks, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.
27 . “So you too must be watchful, for you do not know when the master of the house will come—in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning—lest he come suddenly and find you sleeping.
28 . “And be certain of this, that if the owner of the house had known at what hour of the night the thief was coming, he would have been awake, and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you too must always be ready; for the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. What I say to you I say to all: Watch.
Parable of the wise and foolish virgins
Matthew 25 : 1 – 13
29 . “Or the coming of the kingdom of heaven may be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 224 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the ones that were foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil along with their lamps.
30 . “When the bridegroom was long in coming, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom comes! Come out to meet him!’
31 . “Then all the virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No; there may not be enough for us and for you; go instead to the dealers and buy oil for yourselves.’ And while they were away buying it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.
32 . “Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us.’ But he replied, ‘I tell you truly, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come.
Parable of the silver talents
Matthew 25 : 14 – 30
33 . “Or it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talent-weights of silver , to another two, and to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he set off. 225
34 . “The one who had received the five talents went out immediately and began to trade with them; and he made five talents more. Likewise, the one who had received the two talents put them to work and made two talents more. But the one who had received the single talent went and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
35 . “After a long time the master of those servants returned and called them for an accounting. The one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; and see, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over small things, so I will put you in charge of large ones; come and share the joy of your master.’ Likewise, the one who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; and see, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over small things, so I will set you over large ones; come and share the joy of your master.’
36 . “And then the one who had received the single talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter any seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Now see, you have what is yours.’
37 . “But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed? Then you should have invested my money with the moneychangers, so that at my coming I should have received back my property with interest. Take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents! For to every one who has, more will be given, and he shall have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. Now cast this useless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The last judgment
Matthew 25 : 31 – 46
38 . “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 226
39 . “Then the King will say to those on his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
40 . “And the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we ever see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and take thee in, or naked and clothe thee? Or when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘I tell you truly, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 . “Then he will say to those on his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you accursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not take me in, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
42 . “And they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘I tell you truly, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
174 . THE FINAL CRISIS DRAWS CLOSER
Matthew 26 : 1 – 5 ; Mark 14 : 1 – 2 ; Luke 22 : 1 – 2
1 . When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “You know that the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, is coming in two days—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
2 . At the same time, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and took counsel together, as to how they might arrest Jesus through some deceit and put him to death. “But not during the feast,” they said, “so that there will not be a riot among the people;” for they feared the people. 227
175 . JUDAS AGREES TO A BETRAYAL
Matthew 26 : 14 – 16 ; Mark 14 : 10 – 11 ; Luke 22 : 3 – 6
1 . Then Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; and he went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed how he might betray Jesus to them.
2 . When they heard this offer they were greatly pleased, and they covenanted with him for money. “How much will you give me if I deliver him to you?” Judas asked. They counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 228 And Judas consented.
3 . And from then on Judas watched for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them when no crowd was present.
MAUNDY THURSDAY 229
176 . PREPARATIONS FOR THE LAST SUPPER
Matthew 26 : 17 – 20 ; Mark 14 : 1 2 – 17 ; Luke 22 : 7 – 16 ; John 13 : 1 – 2 a
1 . Then came the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb is sacrificed. 230 Jesus sent Peter and John ahead, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover meal.” And they asked him, “Where would you have us prepare it?”
2 . He replied, “As you go into the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house which he enters, and tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, My appointed time is near. Where is the guest room, where I will keep the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you to a large upper room, furnished and prepared; make everything ready for us there.”
3 . The disciples set out and went to the city, and found things as Jesus had told them. So they did as he had directed, and they prepared the Passover meal. 231
4 . And when it was evening, Jesus arrived with the twelve. It was just before the feast of the Passover. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. But having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
5 . So Jesus and his apostles reclined together at the table. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I shall not eat another one until its meaning has been fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And then the supper was served.
177 . WASHING THE DISCIPLES’ FEET
Luke 22 : 24 – 30 ; John 13 : 2 b– 19
1 . Now the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Jesus. And a dispute also arose among the apostles, as to which of them should be considered the foremost.
2 . Jesus knew that the Father had put all matters into his hands, and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he rose from supper, laid aside his outer garments, and took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to dry them with the towel that was tied around him.
3 . He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later on you will understand.” Peter said to him, “No; you shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you can have no part in me.”
4 . Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed does not need to wash again, except for his feet, and then he is clean all over. And you are clean, but not all of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him; and that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
5 . When he had finished washing the disciples’ feet, he put his garments back on and resumed his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?,” he asked them. “You call me Master 232 and Lord; and rightly so, for that is what I am. But if I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, then you should also wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, so that you should do as I have done for you.
6 . “I tell you truly, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them call themselves ‘benefactors.’ But let it not be so with you. Rather, the greatest among you should become like the youngest, and the one who leads should become like the one who serves.
7 . “Now that you understand these things, blessed are you if you do them. For who is greater, the one who sits at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
8 . “You are the ones who have stood by me in my trials; and just as my Father has granted me a kingdom, so I grant to you that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
9 . “I am not speaking about all of you; I well know those whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, so that when it does take place you will believe that I am the one.”
17 8 . JUDAS DECLINES A FINAL CHANCE TO REPENT
Matthew 26 : 21 – 25 ; Mark 14 : 18 – 21 ; Luke 22 : 21 – 23 ; John 13 : 21 – 30
1 . When Jesus had said these things, and as they were reclining at the table eating, he became troubled in spirit, and he declared to them, “I tell you truly, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me. The hand of him who betrays me is with mine on the table.”
2 . The disciples looked at one another, wondering of whom he spoke. They were deeply distressed, and they questioned one another, asking which of them would do such a thing. And they began to say to him, one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”
3 . He answered, “It is one of the twelve, someone who is dipping bread in the same bowl with me, who will betray me. The Son of Man will die, just as it is written of him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.”
4 . One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, 233 was reclining at the table next to him. Simon Peter gestured to this disciple to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So leaning back against Jesus’s chest, 234 he asked him quietly , “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the bowl.” Then, taking the bread and dipping it, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
5 . Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “I am the one, Teacher?” Jesus replied, “You have said it yourself.”
6 . When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan again entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” No one at the table knew why Jesus said this. Some thought that, because Judas had charge of the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy the things we need for the feast;” or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, Judas immediately went out; and it was night.
179 . INSTITUTION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Matthew 26 : 26 – 29 ; Mark 14 : 22 – 2 5 ; Luke 22 : 17 – 20 ; John 13 : 31 – 35 ; 1 Corinthians 11 : 24 – 25
1 . After Judas had gone out, 235 Jesus said, “Now the time has come when the Son of Man is glorified, and God will be glorified through him. And as God is glorified through the Son, God himself will also glorify the Son, and he will do so quickly.”
2 . As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and gave thanks, and blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat. This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
3 . And after supper he took a cup in the same way, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you,” and they all drank of it. “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.” 236
4 . And he said to them, “I tell you truly, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
5 . Then Jesus said to them, “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will seek me; but as I said to the priests and the Pharisees, so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’
6 . “So I am giving you a new commandment: that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so too you should love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.”
180 . JESUS PREDICTS THAT PETER WILL DISAVOW HIM
Matthew 26 : 31 – 35 ; Mark 14 : 27 – 31 ; Luke 22 : 31 – 38 ; John 13 : 36 – 38
1 . Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow now; but you shall follow me later.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why cannot I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
2 . Jesus answered, “You will lay down your life for me? This night you will all fall away because of what will happen to me; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
3 . Peter declared to him, “Even if all others desert you because of what will happen to you, I will not desert you.” “Simon, Simon,” Jesus answered, “understand this, that Satan has asked to have all of you handed over to him, so that he might sift you like wheat. 237 But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned back to yourself and to me, then strengthen your brethren.” And Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you, both into prison and to death.”
4 . Jesus said to him, “I tell you truly, Peter, this very night, before the cock crows tomorrow morning, 238 you will deny three times that you even know me.”
5 . But Peter said emphatically, “Even if it means I must die with you, I will never deny you.” And so said all the disciples.
6 . Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out without a wallet or traveling bag or walking shoes, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they said. He said to them, “But now, let him who has a wallet take it with him, and likewise a traveling bag. And let him who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors;’ for that which is written about me will now come to pass.”
7 . They said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “That is enough.” 239
181 . “I AM THE WAY”
John 14 : 1 – 15
1 . T hen Jesus relaxed and said, “But do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; and believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are rooms for all his people . 240 If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And when I have gone and made a place ready for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may also be. And you know the way to the place where I am going.”
2 . Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; so how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
3 . “If you had truly known me, you would already know my Father as well; but from now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Can I have been with you for such a long time, Philip, and still you do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
4 . “The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who does the works you have seen . Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe me on the evidence of the works themselves.
5 . “I tell you truly, he who believes in me will also do the works that I have been doing; and he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 241 Whatever you may ask in my name, that I shall do, so that the Father may be glorified through the Son. If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it.
6 . “And if you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
182 . THE PROMISE TO SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 14 : 16 – 31
1 . “And I will ask the Father, and he will send you another Counselor, to be with you forever—the Spirit of Truth. 242 The world cannot accept this spirit, because it neither sees him nor knows him; but you know him, for he already lives with you, and shall remain in you.
2 . “I will not leave you comfortless; I will come back to you. Just a little while longer, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. And because I live, you will live also. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I in you. Whoever knows my commandments and keeps them, that is one who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will show myself to him.” 243
3 . The other Judas—not Judas Iscariot—said to him, “Why is it, Lord, that you will show yourself to us, and not to the whole world?” Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will follow my teachings, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. But he who does not love me will not follow my teachings. This judgment which you hear is not mine, but it is from the Father who sent me.
4 . “I have told you these things now, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name—he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
5 . “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give this to you as the world gives. So do not let your hearts be troubled, nor let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 244 I have told you this now, before it takes place, so that when it does take place you will believe.
6 . “I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of this world is coming. 245 He has no power over me; but I will do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.
7 . “Come now, let us be on our way.”
183 . FAREWELL DISCOURSE ON THE WAY TO GETHSEMANE
Matthew 2 6 : 30 ; Mark 14 : 26 ; Luke 22 : 39 ; John 15 : 1 — 16 : 33
1 . And when they had sung a hymn, Jesus left for the Mount of Olives, as was his custom; and the disciples went with him. 246 And as they walked he spoke to them.
Parable of the vine
2 . “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of me that bears no fruit; and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it may bear still more fruit. You are already pruned clean by the teachings I have given you. Abide with me, and I will abide with you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
3 . “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If a man abides in me, and I in him, then he will bear much fruit; for without me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a cut-off branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. But if you remain in me, and my words remain in you, then you may ask for whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. In this way my Father is glorified, when you bear much fruit, and so prove yourselves to be my disciples.
The commandment to love one another
4 . “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; continue in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete.
5 . “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you servants, for the servant is not informed of his master’s business; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
6 . “You did not choose me, but I chose you; and I appointed you to go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should endure. Then whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. And this I command you, to love one another.
Warning of trials to come
7 . “If the world hates you, know that it hated me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
8 . “Remember what I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they had followed my teaching, they would also follow yours. But they will do all these things to you on account of me, because they do not know the one who sent me.
9 . “If I had not come and taught them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them such works as no other man ever did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have seen the works and yet still hate both me and my Father. This is to fulfill what is written in their law, ‘They hated me without cause.’
10 . “But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father—the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father 247 —he will declare the truth about me; and you too shall bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
1 1 . “I have told you these things so that your faith will not be shaken. They will expel you from the synagogues; indeed, the time is coming when whoever kills you will think he is doing good service to God. They will do this to you because they have not known the Father, or me. But I am telling you these things now, so that when they come to pass, you will remember that I told you of them.
Preparing the disciples for his departure
12 . “I did not say these things to you at the beginning, because I was still with you. Now I am going away to the one who sent me; and yet none of you has asked me, ‘Where are you going?’ Instead, because of what I have told you, sorrow has filled your hearts.
13 . “But I tell you this truth: it is better for you that I am going away. If I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I do go, I will send him to you.
14 . “And when the Counselor comes, he will show the world its errors concerning sin, and righteousness, and the coming judgment. Its errors concerning sin, because men have not believed in me; concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no more; and concerning the coming judgment, because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
15 . “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own authority, but he will speak everything he hears, and he will disclose to you the things that are to come. He will bring glory to me, for he will take all the things that I teach and am, and make them known to you. All things whatsoever that pertain to the Father pertain to me as well; therefore I said that the Spirit will take of what is mine and make it known to you.
16 . “A little while, and you will see me no more; then a little while longer and you will see me again, because I am going to the Father.”
1 7 . Some of his disciples asked one another, “What is this that he is saying to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me; and a little while longer, and you will see me;’ and ‘because I am going to the Father’?” They asked, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not understand.”
18 . Jesus realized that they wanted to ask him about this; so he said to them, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant by saying, ‘A little while, and you will see me no more; and a little while longer, and you will see me again’? I tell you truly, you will weep and mourn, even while the world rejoices. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. When a woman is in labor she feels sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child has been born into the world. So too with you. You feel sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take that joy away from you. On that day you will ask nothing more of me.
19 . “I tell you truly, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Now ask, and you shall receive, so that your joy may be made complete.
20 . “I have spoken with you about these matters in figures of speech; but the time is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figurative language but will tell you plainly about the Father. On that day you will ask in my name. I need not undertake to ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself already loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came forth from the Father and have entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
21 . His disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly, not in figures of speech or parables! Now we are sure that you know all things, and need not even wait for the question to be asked. From this we believe that you came from God.” 248
22 . “You believe at last!” Jesus replied. “But remember that the time is coming, indeed it is already here, when you will be scattered, each one to his own way, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not all alone, for the Father is with me.
2 3 . “I have told you these things, so that through me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But be of good heart; I have overcome the world.”
184 . PRAYER FOR HIS FOLLOWERS
John 17 : 1 – 26
1 . When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and prayed.
2 . “Father, the hour has come. Glorify thy Son, so that the Son may glorify thee. Just as you have given him authority over all humanity, he will give eternal life to all those people that you have granted to him. And this is their way to eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on earth, by accomplishing the work which thou hast given me to do; and now, Father, glorify me in heaven by bringing me back into the glory I shared with you before the world was made.
3 . “I have made your name known to the people that you have given to me out of the world. 249 They were yours; and you gave them to me; and they have kept thy word. Now they understand that everything you have given me truly comes from thee; for I have passed on to them the words which you gave to me, and they have accepted this message, and know in truth that I came from thee; and they believe that you did send me.
4 . “My prayer is for them. My prayer is not for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All my things are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified through them. Now I am staying in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to thee.
5 . “Holy Father, protect them by thy name—the name which you have given me—so that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them in the world, I guarded them by the power of thy name. Those that thou gave me I have kept, and not one of them is lost, except only the son of perdition, and that only so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to thee; and so I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they might be filled with the same joy that I have.
6 . “I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from evil. For they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
7 . “Sanctify them through the truth; thy word is truth. Even as you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I consecrate myself, 250 so that they too may be made holy through the truth.
8 . “My prayer is not for these only, but also for those who will come to believe in me through their teaching, so that they all may be one. Even as you, Father, are in me, and I in thee, let them be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. The glory which you gave me I have given to them, so that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in me. May they become perfectly united, so that the world will know that you have sent me, and have loved them even as you have loved me.
9 . “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am. 251 Then they may see the glory which you gave me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world has not known thee, but I have known thee; and these disciples know that you have sent me. I have made your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”
185 . THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN
Matthew 26 : 36 – 46 ; Mark 14 : 32 – 42 ; Luke 22 : 40 – 46 ; John 18 : 1
1 . When Jesus had finished this prayer, he continued across the Kidron Valley, to a garden called Gethsemane, 252 which he and the disciples entered.
2 . Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, James and John, along with him; and when he came to the place he began to be grieved and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrows, even unto death,” he said to them. “Remain here and keep watch with me. And pray that you do not fall into temptation.”
3 . Going a little farther, about a stone’s throw beyond them, Jesus knelt down, and then fell face down on the ground, and he prayed that if it were possible, the hour of his suffering might pass him by. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for thee. If you are willing, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. And in his anguish he prayed still more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the earth.
4 . When he rose from prayer, he went back to the disciples and found them asleep, overcome with sorrow, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch with me for one hour? And why are all of you sleeping? Rise, and watch, and pray, so that you will not fall into temptation. For indeed the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
5 . Then for a second time he went away and prayed, saying the same words as before. “My Father, if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, then thy will be done.” And again he returned and found the disciples sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him.
6 . So, leaving them once more, he went away and prayed for a third time, saying the same words. Then he came back the third time and said to the disciples, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough of that! Behold, the time has come, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer approaches!”
X. Trial and Crucifixion
GOOD FRIDAY
186 . BETRAYAL AND ARREST
Matthew 26 : 47 – 56 ; Mark 14 : 43 – 52 ; Luke 22 : 47 – 5 4 a; John 18:2–12
1 . The man called Judas, one of the twelve, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas arrived, leading a great crowd, including a band of soldiers and some temple guards, sent from the chief priests, the scribes, the elders and the Pharisees. They were carrying lanterns and torches, and were armed with swords and clubs.
2 . The betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, “The one that I kiss is the man you want; arrest him and take him away under guard.” Judas therefore approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” Then Judas went at once to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Master!,” 253 and kissed him affectionately. And Jesus said to him, “My friend, do what you came to do.”
3 . Then Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon him, stepped forward and said to the crowd, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was once more standing with the crowd. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they backed away and fell to the ground. 254
4 . Therefore he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you are looking for me, let these other men go.” He said this to fulfill the words that he had spoken, “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”
5 . Then men from the crowd came up, and laid hands on Jesus and held him.
6 . When the disciples who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said, “Lord, should we fight them with our swords?” Simon Peter, who had a sword, reached for it, drew it out, and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. But Jesus said to Peter, “No more of this!” And he touched the servant’s ear and healed him.
7 . “Put your sword back into its sheath,” Jesus said to Peter, “for all those who live by the sword shall die by the sword. Do you think that I could not call upon my Father, and he would not at once send me more than a dozen legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must be so? Shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?”
8 . Then Jesus said to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I some dangerous insurrectionist, 255 that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? I sat with you every day, teaching in the temple courtyards, and you did not lay a hand on me. Now this is your hour, when the power of darkness rules. But all this has taken place so that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”
9 . Then the band of soldiers and their commanding officer and the temple guards of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him, and led him away.
10 . At that point all the disciples deserted Jesus and fled. One young man followed behind Jesus, with a linen cloth cast about his bare body. They laid hold of him, but he slipped out of the covering and ran away naked.
187 . THE INITIAL EXAMINATION BEFORE ANNAS
Matthew 26 : 57 a; Mark 1 4 : 53 a; John 18 : 13 – 14 , 19 – 24
1 . Those who had arrested Jesus took him first to Annas; for he was a former high priest and the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year. 256 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient for one man to die for the sake of the people.
2 . The former high priest Annas then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where Jews have always come together; I have said nothing in secret. 257 And why are you asking me about these things? Ask my listeners what I said to them. They know what I said.”
3 . When he had said this, one of the guards standing nearby slapped Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” Jesus replied, “If I have spoken wrongly, explain what is wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why did you strike me?”
4 . Annas then sent Jesus, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest, and his captors took him into the high priest’s house.
1 88 . TWO DISCIPLES FOLLOW TO THE HIGH PRIEST’S HOUSE
Matthew 26 : 58 ; Mark 14 : 54 ; Luke 22 : 54 b– 55 ; John 18 : 15 – 16 , 18
1 . Simon Peter had followed Jesus at a distance, and so had another disciple, all the way to the courtyard of the high priest. 258
2 . Because this other disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard, while Peter stood outside at the gate. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept the gate, and brought Peter inside.
3 . It was cold, and the servants and guards had kindled a charcoal fire in the middle of the courtyard, where they stood and warmed themselves. Peter stood with them, and when they had sat down together, Peter sat down among them to see what would happen, also warming himself at the fire.
189 . INFORMAL TRIAL BEFORE THE HIGH PRIEST
Matthew 26 : 57 b, 59 – 68 ; Mark 14 : 53 b, 55 – 65 ; Luke 22 : 63 – 65
1 . I nside the house of the high priest, all the chief priests, scribes and elders had gathered.
2 . The chief priests and the whole council sought for evidence against Jesus, so that they might put him to death; but they found none. Though many came forward and bore false witness, their testimony did not agree. Finally two came forward and swore falsely against Jesus, saying, “We heard this man say, ‘I will destroy the temple of God, which is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” Yet even on this their testimony did not agree.
3 . The high priest stood up before the gathering and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What of the testimony these men are giving against you?” But Jesus was silent and gave no answer.
4 . Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One? I charge you under oath in the name of the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” And Jesus said to him, “I am; it is just as you say. 259 And I tell you, before long you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
5 . At this the high priest rent his garments and said, “Blasphemy! What more witnesses do we need? Now you have heard his blasphemy yourselves. What is your judgment?” And they all answered, “He deserves death.”
6 . Then the guards who were holding Jesus began to mock him and hit him with their fists. Some began to spit in his face. And some blindfolded him and slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you ‘Messiah’! Who was it that just hit you?” And they said many other blasphemous things to him.
190 . PETER DENIES JESUS THREE TIMES
Matthew 26 : 69 – 75 ; Mark 1 4 : 66 – 72 ; Luke 22 : 56 – 62 ; John 18 : 17 , 25 – 27
1 . Meanwhile Peter was outside, sitting below in the courtyard. One of the servant girls of the high priest, the one who kept the gate, saw Peter as he sat in the firelight warming himself, and came up to him. She looked closely at him and said, “This man also was with the Galilean, Jesus of Nazareth.” And she challenged Peter, “Are you not also one of that man’s disciples?” But he denied it before them all, saying, “Woman, I am not; I do not know him. I do not even know what you are talking about.”
2 . A little later Peter went out into the gateway. In the darkness outside a bird called . 260 When the servant girl saw him there, she again said to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” And another maid saw him, and she accused Peter, “ Yes, you too are one of them.” And she repeated to the bystanders, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” At that Simon Peter moved back to the fire and began to stand and warm himself. But the bystanders pressed him, “Are you not also one of his disciples?” Again Peter denied it with an oath, saying, “My friend, I am not. I do not know the man.”
3 . After an interval of about an hour, the bystanders came up to Peter again, and one of them insisted, “Certainly you are also one of them, for you are a Galilean. Your accent gives you away.” And one of the servants of the high priest, a kinsman of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter once more denied it, and he began to curse and he swore an oath, “Friend, I do not understand what you are saying. I do not know this man you are talking about.”
4 . And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. Just at that time Jesus was being taken across the courtyard on the way to his formal judgment . 261 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
191 . FORMAL CONDEMNATION
Matthew 27 : 1 – 2 ; Mark 15 : 1 ; Luke 22 : 66 — 23 : 1 ; John 18 : 28 a
1 . As soon as it was morning, 262 the formal council of the Sanhedrin assembled—the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes—and the whole group reached the decision to put Jesus to death.
2 . Jesus was brought before them, and they asked him, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe me; and if I ask you a question, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the Almighty God.”
3 . They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” And he said to them, “It is just as you say.” And they said, “What further evidence do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own mouth.”
4 . Then the whole company of them rose and bound Jesus, and led him from Caiaphas to the palace of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. 263
192 . SUICIDE OF JUDAS
Matthew 27 : 3 – 10 ; Acts 1 : 18 – 19
1 . When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he felt remorse 264 and brought the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
2 . “What is that to us?,” they replied. “Deal with it yourself.”
3 . Judas flung the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed. Then he went and hanged himself. When he was cut down , he fell headlong and his body burst open in the middle, and all his bowels spilled out. 265
4 . The chief priests took up the pieces of silver, but said, “It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since they are blood money.” So they took counsel among themselves and used the coins to buy the potter’s field, where Judas had hanged himself , as a place to bury strangers. This story became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that to this day the field is called in their language Akeldama, that is, the Field of Blood.
5 . I n this way, through the agency of the priests, Judas acquired a field with the reward he got for his wickedness. 266 And thus the words spoken by the prophet Jeremiah were fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price that had been set upon him by the sons of Israel, and they gave them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord directed.”
193 . APPEARANCE BEFORE PONTIUS PILATE
Matthew 27 : 11 – 14 ; Mark 15 : 2 – 5 ; Luke 23 : 2 – 7 ; John 18 : 28 b– 38
1 . By now it was early morning. The men holding Jesus did not enter the governor’s palace; they wanted to avoid ceremonial uncleanness, 267 so that they would be able to take the Passover meal. Pilate therefore went out to them. 268 Jesus stood before the governor, and Pilate asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”
2 . They answered him, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have brought him before you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” But they said to him, “We do not have the authority to put anyone to death.” This happened to fulfill the words Jesus had spoken, when he revealed the kind of death he was going to die.
3 . Then the chief priests and elders began to accuse Jesus of many things, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, and forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”
4 . So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And Jesus answered him, “Yes; just as you say.”
5 . But to the accusations made by the chief priests and elders, Jesus gave no reply. Then Pilate asked him, “Have you no answer to make? Do you not hear how many charges they are bringing against you?” But Jesus said never a word, not even to answer a single charge, so that the governor was greatly astonished.
6 . Pilate went back into the palace and summoned Jesus to him, and asked him again , “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Is this your own question, or did others say this to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?”
7 . Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my people would fight, so that I might not be handed over to the high priest and the council; but in fact my kingdom is not an earthly kingdom.”
8 . Pilate said to him, “So you are a king then?” Jesus answered, “Yes, just as you say; I am a king. But in this sense: I was born and have come into the world to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of truth listens to my voice.” And Pilate said to him, “Truth. What is truth?” 269
9 . After he had said this, Pilate went out to the chief priests and the crowd again, and said to all of them, “I do not find that this man has done any crime.” But they were insistent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all the lands of the Jews, beginning from Galilee even to here.”
10 . When Pilate heard Galilee spoken of, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that Jesus came under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
194 . APPEARANCE BEFORE HEROD
Luke 23 : 8 – 12
1 . Herod was greatly pleased to see Jesus. He had long desired to meet him, because he had heard about him and had been hoping to see Jesus perform a miracle.
2 . So Herod questioned him at great length; but Jesus gave him no answer at all. Meanwhile the chief priests and the scribes stood nearby, vehemently accusing him.
3 . Then Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and began to ridicule him. Finally, Herod put a magnificent robe on Jesus and sent him back to Pilate. And on that day Herod and Pilate became friends, although before this there had been tension between them. 270
195 . RETURN TO PILATE
Matthew 27 : 19 ; Luke 23 : 13 – 16
1 . Pilate then called together the chief priests, the other leaders, and the people, and he said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was subverting the people; but after examining him in your presence, I have not found him guilty of any of your charges against him. And neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us.
2 . “As you can see, he has done nothing that deserves death; I will therefore have him whipped and then release him.”
3 . And while Pilate was sitting in judgment on the case, his wife sent word to him, “Do nothing against that innocent man, for I have suffered much today because of a dream I had about him.”
196 . THE CROWD CHOOSES BARABBAS
Matthew 27 : 15 – 18 , 20 – 23 ; Mark 1 5 : 6 – 14 ; Luke 23 : 17 – 23 ; John 18 : 3 9 – 40
1 . Now it was the governor’s custom at the Passover feast to release any one prisoner that the crowd desired.
2 . At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas, a bandit who was jailed among the rebels who had committed murder during an insurrection that had taken place in the city. 271 And the crowd came up and asked Pilate to follow his usual custom with them.
3 . So Pilate asked them, “Whom do you want me to release to you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ? Do you want me to release the ‘King of the Jews’ for you?” For he knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests and the elders stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead, and to destroy Jesus. So when the governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” they cried out together, “Barabbas! Not this man! Away with him, and give us Barabbas!”
5 . Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate spoke to them again. “What shall I do then with Jesus, called Christ, whom you call the King of the Jews?” They all cried out, “Let him be crucified.”
6 . A third time Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in this man no crime deserving death; I will therefore chastise him and release him.” But the crowd was insistent, and they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified! Crucify him!” And their voices prevailed.
1 97 . PILATE WASHES HIS HANDS
Matthew 27 : 24 – 26 ; Mark 15 : 15 ; Luke 23 : 24 – 25 a; John 19 : 1
1 . When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but rather that a riot was beginning, he announced that it would be as they demanded. He took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; anything after this is your responsibility.” 272 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us, and on our children!” 273
2 . Then Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas, the man who had been cast into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for. And after having Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.
198 . THE SOLDIERS MOCK JESUS
Matthew 27 : 27 – 30 ; Mark 15 : 16 – 19 ; John 19 : 2 – 3
1 . So the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the palace, known as the Praetorium, and they assembled all the soldiers of the guard around him.
2 . The soldiers stripped Jesus, and they clothed him in a scarlet cloak, and put a purple robe upon him. 274 They plaited together a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a reed staff in his right hand. Then they knelt down before him as if in homage and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
3 . Then they took the reed and began to strike him on the head with it; and they spat upon him; and they slapped him in the face.
199 . FINAL APPEAL AND THE DEATH SENTENCE
Matthew 27 : 31 ; Mark 15 : 20 ; Luke 2 3 : 25 b; John 19 : 4 – 16
1 . B ut then Pilate had second thoughts. He went out once more, and said to the crowd, “Behold, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may see that I cannot find any grounds for a charge against him.” Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Look at the man!” 275
2 . But when the chief priests and their officials saw him, they cried out, “Crucify, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him.” They answered him, “We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has called himself the Son of God.”
3 . When Pilate heard these words, he became all the more afraid. He went back into the palace and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not understand that I have the power to release you, and the power to crucify you?”
4 . Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me at all unless it had been given to you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you bears an even greater sin than yours .”
5 . From then on Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the crowd cried out loudly, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar; every one who calls himself a king is speaking against Caesar.”
6 . When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out, and he sat down in the judgment seat at the place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was the day of preparation for the Passover, in the morning. 276
7 . Pilate said to the crowd, “Here is your king.” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
8 . Then Pilate delivered Jesus up to their will. After the soldiers had finished mocking him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
20 0 . THE ROAD TO CALVARY
Matthew 27 : 32 ; Mark 15 : 21 ; Luke 23 : 26 – 32 ; John 19 : 17 a
1 . So Jesus went out, bearing his own cross.
2 . As the soldiers were taking him out, they came upon a passer-by, one Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country. They seized him and laid the cross on him, and compelled him to carry it behind Jesus.
3 . And there followed behind Jesus a great multitude of the people, and of women who mourned and wailed for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. For the days are coming when you will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if men will do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 277
4 . And two other men, who were criminals, were also led out to be put to death with him.
201 . THE CRUCIFIXION
Matthew 27 : 33 – 34 , 37 – 38 ; Mark 15 : 22 – 24 a, 25 – 28 ; Luke 2 3 : 33 – 34 a, 38 ; John 19 : 17 b– 22
1 . They brought Jesus to the place called Calvary or Golgotha, which in Hebrew means The Place of the Skull. 278 And they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall and myrrh; 279 but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.
2 . There they crucified him, and with him the two bandits, 280 one on his right and one on his left, and Jesus between them. And so the scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was numbered with the transgressors.” It was nine o’clock when they crucified him.
3 . Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
4 . Pilate had a notice prepared of the charges against Jesus, and they put it on the cross over his head. It read, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 281 Many of the Jews read this, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and the notice was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. The chief priests then said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
20 2 . INSULTS ON THE CROSS
Matthew 27 : 35 – 36 , 39 – 44 ; Mark 15 : 24 b, 29 – 32 ; Luke 23 : 34 b– 37 , 39 – 43 ; John 19 : 23 – 24
1 . When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and divided them into four shares, one for each soldier, casting lots to decide what each should take. They also took his inner tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven in one piece from top to bottom; so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it as well , to see whose it shall be.”
2 . This was to fulfill the scripture, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did this; and then they sat down and kept guard over him.
3 . The people stood by, watching; but their leaders scoffed at Jesus. The ones who passed by called out insults at him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who were going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
4 . The chief priests, scribes and elders mocked him in the same way among themselves. “He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let him do that, if he is the Messiah of God, his Chosen One! He is the King of Israel! Then let this Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, and we will see and believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he will have him; for this man said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
5 . The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
6 . And the bandits who were crucified with Jesus taunted him in the same way. One of the criminals hanging there railed at him, saying, “Are you in truth the Christ? Then save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are condemned in the same way that he is? But indeed we are condemned justly; for we are receiving the due reward for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”
7 . And he said, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “I tell you truly, today you shall be with me in Paradise.”
203 . LAST HOURS
Matthew 27 : 45 – 56 ; Mark 15 : 33 – 41 ; Luke 23 : 44 – 49 ; John 19 : 25 – 37
1 . Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 282 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Good woman, this is now your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “This is your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took Jesus’ mother into his own home. 283
2 . It was now about noon, and there was darkness over all the land until three o’clock, for the sun’s light failed.
3 . And at three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi lema sabachthani?,” which is to say, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Upon hearing this, some of the bystanders said, “Behold, he is calling for Elijah.” 284
4 . After this, knowing that all things were now completed, and so that the scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A bowl full of sour wine 285 stood there, so one of the men at once ran and soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, lifted it to Jesus’ mouth, and offered it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”
5 . When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he called out with a loud voice, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit!” And having said this he bowed his head, breathed his last, and gave up the ghost. 286
6 . At that moment the veil of the temple 287 was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were rent; and the graves were opened; and the bodies of many godly people who had died were raised to life, and after Jesus’ resurrection they came out of the tombs and went into the holy city and appeared to many.
7 . When the centurion and his companions, who were standing in front of Jesus, keeping guard over him, saw the earthquake and all else that took place, and heard his cry and saw the way he died, they were filled with fear, and the centurion praised God and said, “Certainly this was a righteous man; and truly this was the Son of God.”
8 . When the crowds who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home beating their breasts. But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who had followed him in Galilee and ministered to him, stood at a distance and watched things to the end. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger 288 and of Joses, and Salome the mother of Zebedee’s sons. 289 And many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.
9 . It was the day of preparation, and the sabbath the next day was to be a special high day. 290 So that the bodies would not remain on the crosses on the sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate that the men’s legs be broken, and that they then be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man, and then of the other who had been crucified with Jesus; but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out a flow of blood and water.
1 0 . The man who saw this has borne witness so that you too may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth. For these things took place so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “Not one of his bones shall be broken.” And as another scripture says, “They shall look upon the one whom they have pierced.”
204 . THE BURIAL OF JESUS
Matthew 27 : 57 – 61 ; Mark 15 : 4 2 – 47 ; Luke 23 : 50 – 56 a; John 19 : 38 – 42
1 . It was the day of preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath. As evening approached, there came a rich man named Joseph, from Arimathea, a city of Judea. He was a distinguished member of the council, a good man and a just one, who had not consented to the council’s purpose and actions, and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.
2 . Now this Joseph of Arimathea had himself become a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of his colleagues. He gathered his courage and went in to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
3 . Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus had already died; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether Jesus was truly dead. And when the centurion confirmed it, Pilate ordered that the body be given to Joseph.
4 . So Joseph bought some linen cloth, and took down the body of Jesus, and took it away. With him was Nicodemus, who had once come to Jesus by night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.
5 . They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in the clean linen cloths, 291 along with the spices, which is the burial custom of the Jews.
6 . Now near the place where Jesus was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden was Joseph’s own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock, and where no one had ever yet been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of preparation, and the sabbath was about to begin, and as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. Then Joseph rolled a great stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and departed.
7 . The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee had followed Joseph and were sitting there, facing the tomb. Among them were Mary Magdalene and the other Mary the mother of Joses. They saw the tomb, and how Jesus’ body was laid in it. And then they returned home.
HOLY SATURDAY
205 . THE TOMB IS SEALED
Matthew 27 : 62 – 66
1 . The next day, that is, the day after the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that deceiver said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ Therefore give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may come and steal the body away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead;’ and that last deception will be worse than the first.”
2 . Pilate said to them, “Take a guard of soldiers; go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and secured the tomb by putting a seal on the entrance stone and setting a guard.
206 . THE WOMEN PREPARE TO ANOINT THE BODY
Mark 16 : 1 ; Luke 23 : 56 b— 24 : 1 a
1 . On the sabbath the women rested according to the commandment.
2 . But on Saturday evening, when the sabbath was past, 292 Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, 293 and Salome went and bought aromatic herbs, and prepared spices and ointments, so that they might go and anoint Jesus’ body.
XI. The Resurrection
EASTER SUNDAY
207 . THE EMPTY TOMB
Matthew 28 : 1 – 8 ; Mark 16 : 2 – 8 ; Luke 24 : 1 b– 8 , 10 ; John 20 : 1 – 2
1 . After the sabbath, 294 very early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to see the sepulchre, taking the spices which the women had prepared. With her were the other Mary the mother of James, Joanna, Salome, and the other women.
2 . A bout the time they were setting out there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His face shone like lightning, and his garments were as white as snow. And for fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.
3 . A s they walked toward the sepulchre, the women asked each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” They reached the tomb when the sun had just risen. And looking up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled away.
4 . But when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two angels stood near them, in the form of men 295 in dazzling apparel. The women were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground.
5 . O ne angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here; for he is risen, just as he said. Come, see the place where they laid him. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” And then they remembered his words.
6 . Entering the tomb they saw the second angel , like a young man, sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe. And he said to them, “Then go quickly and tell his disciples and Peter that he has risen from the dead. 296 And behold, he is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him, as he said. That is my message for you.” So the women departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
7 . But as they fled from the tomb, trembling and astonishment came upon most of the women, and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.
8 . B ut Mary Magdalene ran on, 297 and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”
208 . TWO APOSTLES VISIT THE TOMB
Luke 2 4 : 12 ; John 20 : 3 – 10
1 . Peter then rose and went out, along with the other disciple, and they hurried together toward the tomb. Both men ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. Stooping down to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there; but he did not go in.
2 . Then Simon Peter came up, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the burial cloth, which had been around Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in. They saw and believed that something extraordinary had taken place, but they still did not understand the scripture, that Jesus must rise from the dead.
3 . So the disciples went back home wondering at what had happened.
209 . APPEARANCE TO MARY MAGDALENE AND THE WOMEN
Matthew 28 : 9 – 10 ; Mark 16 : 9 – 11 ; Luke 2 4 : 9 , 11 ; John 20 : 11 – 18
1 . When Jesus rose early on that first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
2 . Mary had followed the two apostles to the tomb, and now was left alone there. Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she again saw the two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have put him.”
3 . After she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He said to her, “Good woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will go and get him.”
4 . Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and cried out in Hebrew, “Rabboni!,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
5 . Mary went back to tell those who had been with him. Along the way she met the women who had been with her earlier. 298 Then behold, Jesus met them and said, “All hail!” The women came and clasped his feet and worshiped him. And Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
6 . The women went to the disciples, who were mourning and weeping. Mary Magdalene said to them, “I have seen the Lord;” and she told them the things that he had said to her. But when they heard that he was alive and that she had seen him, they would not believe it. Then all the women recounted the events to the eleven and to all the rest, but the words seemed to them an idle tale, and they still did not believe them.
210 . THE GUARDS’ PACT WITH THE CHIEF PRIESTS
Matthew 28 : 11 – 15
1 . While the women were going to the apostles, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. And when the priests had met with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were sleeping.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will intercede with him and keep you safe.”
2 . So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed; and this story is widely told among the Jewish people to this day. 299
211 . ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
Mark 16 : 12 – 13 ; Luke 24 : 13 – 35
1 . After this, Jesus appeared in another form to two of his followers, as they were walking into the country.
2 . That same day the two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all that had happened. While they were talking and discussing matters, Jesus himself approached and began to walk with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
3 . He asked them, “What is it that you are talking about as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who has not heard of the things that have just happened there?” “What things?” Jesus asked. And they said, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. Our chief priests and leaders delivered him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him, but we had been hoping that he was the one who would redeem Israel.
4 . “What is more, this is the third day since these things happened. And now some women of our company have amazed us. They were at the tomb early this morning, but they did not find his body. They came back saying that they had instead seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of our companions went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.”
5 . Then Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things before entering into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the scriptures about himself.
6 . So they drew near to the village where they were going. Jesus seemed to be planning to continue further, but they prevailed on him not to, saying, “Stay with us, for it is almost evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.
7 . When he was at dinner with them, he took the bread, and blessed and broke it, and began to give it to them. At that moment their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and then he vanished out of their sight.
8 . They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked on the road, while he explained the scriptures to us?” Within the hour they arose and started back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven apostles, together with those others who had gathered with them, who said, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two walkers told what had happened on the road, and how they recognized Jesus at the breaking of the bread, but some of the disciples did not believe them. 300
212 . APPEARANCE TO THE DISCIPLES
Mark 16 : 14 ; Luke 24 : 36 – 43 ; John 20 : 1 9 – 23
1 . But then Jesus himself appeared as the eleven were still discussing this. On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, while the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the temple authorities, Jesus himself came and stood among them as they sat at their meal. “Peace be with you,” he said.
2 . The disciples were startled and frightened, and supposed that they were seeing a ghost. So he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this he showed them his hands and his feet and his side.
3 . While they still could hardly believe it for joy and amazement, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it before them. And he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. Then the disciples were overjoyed as they looked upon the Lord.
4 . Jesus said to them once more, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; and if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
LATER EVENTS
2 13 . FORTY DAYS IN THE WORLD
Acts 1 : 3 ; 1 Corinthians 15 : 6 a, 7
1 . Later Jesus showed his apostles by many convincing proofs that he was alive after his passion. He appeared to them over a period of forty days, and spoke of things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
2 . He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time. Then he was seen by James, 301 and after that by all the apostles. 302
214 . DOUBTING THOMAS
John 20 : 24 – 29
1 . Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came that first evening . So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the marks of the nails in his hands, and place my finger in the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
2 . Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus appeared and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and reach out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not doubt, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
3 . Jesus said to him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet still believe.”
215 . REUNION IN GALILEE
Matthew 28 : 16 a; John 21 : 1 – 14
1 . After this the eleven disciples went to Galilee, and Jesus revealed himself again to them by the Sea of Tiberias. 303 It happened in this way:
2 . Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were all together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going out to fish.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat; but all that night they caught nothing.
3 . Just as dawn was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it there, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the multitude of fish.
4 . Then the disciple whom Jesus loved exclaimed to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic, for he was stripped for work, and jumped into the water. The other disciples came behind with the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from the shore, but only about a hundred yards off.
5 . When they got out on land, they found a fire of burning coals, with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed into the boat and pulled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
6 . Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?,” for they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus had appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
216 . THE CHARGE TO PETER
John 21 : 15 – 23
1 . When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do?” He replied, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
2 . A second time Jesus asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
3 . Then he asked him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed because Jesus had now asked him three times, “Do you love me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” And Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 304
4 . “I tell you truly, when you were young, you used to fasten your own belt and went wherever you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” Jesus said this to show by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. 305 And after this he said to him, “Follow me.”
5 . Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. This was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I wish him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me!” So a rumor spread among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say that he would not die, but only, “If I wish him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
217 . THE GREAT COMMISSION
Matthew 28 : 16 b– 20 a; Mark 16 : 1 5 – 18 ; Luke 24 : 44 – 48
1 . Then the disciples went to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 306 And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some still doubted.
2 . And Jesus came to them and said, “ Remember the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds so they might understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
3 . “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore into all the world and preach the good news of the gospel to the whole creation. Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
4 . “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; with their hands they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; and they will lay their hands on the sick, and the sick will recover.” 307
218 . FINAL WORDS TO HIS FOLLOWERS
Matthew 28 : 20 b; Luke 24 : 49 – 50 ; Acts 1 : 4 – 8
1 . B ack in Jerusalem , the Lord Jesus and his apostles assembled for his final words : “I am going to send you what my Father promised, which you have heard of from me. For John baptized with water, but before many days pass you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. So remain here in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
2 . Then after he had spoken to them, he led them out in the direction of Bethany. When they were gathered together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the sovereignty and kingship to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has set by his own authority.
3 . “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Then he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
219 . THE ASCENSION
Mark 16 : 19 ; Luke 24 : 51 – 5 3 ; Acts 1 : 9 – 12
1 . And it came to pass that when the Lord Jesus had said this, while he was blessing them, and as they were looking on, he parted from them and was taken up into heaven, and a cloud received him and took him out of their sight, and he sat down at the right hand of God.
2 . While the apostles were staring intently into heaven after Jesus, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking at the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will return from heaven in the same way that you saw him going up.”
3 . And the apostles worshiped him; and then they returned to Jerusalem with great joy from the Mount of Olives, which is close by the city, a sabbath day’s journey away; 308 and they were continuously in the temple praising God.
22 0 . THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH
Mark 16 : 20 a; Acts 2 : 1 – 4 a
1 . Ten days later, when the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all assembled in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. What seemed to be flames or divided tongues of fire appeared among them, and a tongue settled upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
2 . And they went forth and proclaimed the good news of the gospel everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed their message by the miraculous signs that accompanied it. 309
221 . THE EPILOGUES OF JOHN AND MARK
Mark 16 : 20 b; John 20 : 3 0 – 31 ; 21 : 24 – 25
1 . Now Jesus did many other miracles in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book. Were every one of them to be recorded, I suppose that the world itself could not contain all the books that would be written.
2 . But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. It is the disciple whom Jesus loved who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things down; and we know that his testimony is true.
3 . Amen.