The One Gospel: Part 2

68. PARABLES ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Matthew 13 : 1 – 53 ; Mark 4 : 1 – 34 ; Luke 8 : 4 – 18 , 13 : 18 – 21

That same day Yeshua went out of the house and sat by the sea, and began to teach about the kingdom of God. 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

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 Yeshua finished saying this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

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. Yeshua 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. 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.

“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.”

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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“ 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.”

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.”

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

Then Yeshua presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven 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.

"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?’

"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

Yeshua 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.

"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

And Yeshua 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.”

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.”

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

After that, Yeshua 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.”

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.

"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

"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.

"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.

"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.

"Have you understood all these things?” Yeshua 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 Yeshua 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

Later that day, when evening had come, Yeshua 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.

So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep.

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 Yeshua stayed asleep on the cushion in the stern.

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.

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

After this they came into the country of the Gadarenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Yeshua 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.

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.

When this man saw Yeshua 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, Yeshua, Son of the Most High God? I command you in God’s name, do not torment me!' For Yeshua had said to him, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit!”

Then Yeshua asked him, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”

Many demons had entered him. Now they cried out, “Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” And they begged Yeshua desperately not to command them to depart into the abyss.

A large herd of swine was feeding nearby on the hillside; and the demons begged Yeshua, “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.

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 Yeshua, 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.

Then all the people of the area were afraid, and when they met with Yeshua they begged him to leave their territory. So he got into the boat and departed.

As Yeshua was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged to go with him. But Yeshua 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 Yeshua 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

When Yeshua 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.

And there came a man named Jairus, who was a leader at the synagogue. Seeing Yeshua, 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 Yeshua rose and went with him, along with his disciples.

As Yeshua 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.

She had heard the reports about Yeshua, 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.

Yeshua 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 Yeshua 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.

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 Yeshua, 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 Yeshua 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.

While Yeshua 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 Yeshua 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. Yeshua 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.

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 . Yeshua 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

When Yeshua 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 Yeshua 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.

Then Yeshua 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.

As they were on their way out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not speak was brought in to Yeshua. 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

7FINAL ### 39. REJECTION AT NAZARETH

Matthew 13 : 54 – 58 ; Mark 6 : 1 – 6 a

Then Yeshua 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!”

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.

And Yeshua 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

After this Yeshua 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.

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

So Yeshua 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

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.

“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

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

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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?

“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.

“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

"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

"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.

"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.”

1When Yeshua had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

1And 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

At this time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Yeshua, and of all that he was doing, for Yeshua’ name had become well known.

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.”

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 Yeshua.

77 . THE APOSTLES RETURN

Mark 6 : 30 – 3 2 ; Luke 9 : 10 ; John 6 : 1

A fter a while the apostles returned to Yeshua, and reported to him all they had done and taught.

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

But many people saw Yeshua 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 Yeshua performed on those who were sick, and they got to the landing place ahead of them.

As Yeshua 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.

When Yeshua 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.

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.”

But Yeshua 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?” Yeshua 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?”

Yeshua 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?”

Yeshua 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, Yeshua 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.

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 . Yeshua AVOIDS BEING MADE KING

Matthew 14 : 22 – 23 ; Mark 6 : 45 – 46 ; John 6 : 14 – 17 a

When the people saw the miracle which Yeshua 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, Yeshua 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.

And after he had sent the people away, he went up into the hills 113 by himself to pray.

When evening came, his disciples went down to the water, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. But Yeshua 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

It was now dark, and the boat was in the midst of the sea, and Yeshua was alone on the land, and had not yet come to them. And the sea rose because of a great wind that blew.

Yeshua 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.

He intended to go on past them, but when the disciples saw Yeshua 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 Yeshua immediately spoke to them and said, “Take heart! It is I. Be not afraid.”

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Yeshua said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Yeshua. But when he saw the strength of the wind he was afraid; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Yeshua at once reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O ye of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Then the disciples were willing to take him into the boat. And when Yeshua and Peter got into the boat with them, the wind ceased.

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

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 Yeshua 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.

And wherever Yeshua 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

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 Yeshua 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 Yeshua was no longer there, nor his disciples, they got into these boats and went to Capernaum, seeking him.

When they found Yeshua on the other side of the sea, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Yeshua 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.”

Then the people asked him, “What must we do, to be doing the work of God?” Yeshua answered, “The work of God is this—that you believe in the one whom he has sent.”

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.’” Yeshua 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.”

Yeshua 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.

“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

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 Yeshua, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

8 . Yeshua 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.

“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 Yeshua 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.” Yeshua said these things as he taught in the synagogue at Capernaum.

83 . MANY DISCIPLES FALL AWAY

John 6 : 60 – 71

On hearing this, many of his disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?” And Yeshua, 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.”

For Yeshua 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.”

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. Yeshua 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.” Yeshua 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

Later a group of Pharisees and scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Yeshua, 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.

So the Pharisees and the scribes asked Yeshua, “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.”

Yeshua 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.

“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.”

Then Yeshua 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.”

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.”

Then Peter and the other disciples said to him, “Explain the teaching to us.” And Yeshua 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, Yeshua declared all foods clean.

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

Leaving the place where he had given this lesson , Yeshua 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.

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.”

Now the woman was a Gentile— by territory a Canaanite, and by nationality a Syro-Phoenician. 119 And she begged Yeshua 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.”

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.”

Then Yeshua 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 . Yeshua DOETH ALL THINGS WELL

Mark 7 : 31 – 37

Soon after this Yeshua 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.

Taking the man aside, away from the crowd, Yeshua 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.

Yeshua 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

From there Yeshua passed along by the Sea of Galilee. And he went up into the hills, and there he sat down.

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.

Because the crowd grew very great, and they had nothing to eat, Yeshua 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.”

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.”

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.

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

After sending away the crowds, Yeshua got into the boat with his disciples, and went to the region of Magdala 122 and Dalmanutha.

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.

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.”

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

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, Yeshua 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.”

Becoming aware of this, Yeshua 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?

“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

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

Then they came to Bethsaida. There some people brought a blind man to Yeshua and begged Yeshua to touch him.

Yeshua 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, Yeshua asked him, “Can you see anything?” And the man looked up and said, “I see people; they look like walking trees.”

Yeshua 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 Yeshua 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

Yeshua and his disciples continued to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. Along the way, Yeshua 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?”

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.”

He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

And Yeshua 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

Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

92 . Yeshua FORETELLS HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION

Matthew 16 : 21 – 28 ; Mark 8 : 31 – 9 : 1 ; Luke 9 : 22 – 27

From that time Yeshua 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.

Peter took Yeshua aside and tried to dissuade him from these thoughts, saying, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But when Yeshua 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.”

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.

“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?

“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

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

Six days 132 after saying these things, Yeshua took Peter, and James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves to pray. 133

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.

And suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor and began talking with Yeshua. They spoke of his approaching death, which he would soon bring about at Jerusalem.

Peter and his companions had been heavy with sleep, but now they were fully awake, and they saw the glory of Yeshua and saw the two men who stood with him.

And as the men were parting from Yeshua, 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.

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!”

When the disciples heard this, they fell face down on the ground, and were filled with awe. But Yeshua 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 Yeshua only.

94 . JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS ELIJAH

Matthew 17 : 9 – 13 ; Mark 9 : 9 – 13 ; Luke 9 : 36 b

As they were coming down the mountain, Yeshua 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.

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.

“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

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

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 Yeshua they were greatly excited and they all ran at once to greet him.

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.”

And Yeshua 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.

While the boy was still approaching, the spirit saw Yeshua and immediately it convulsed the boy, so that he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.

Yeshua 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.”

“‘If you can!’” Yeshua 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!”

When Yeshua 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. Yeshua took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he got to his feet; and Yeshua gave him back to his father. And all were amazed at the majesty of God.

9 . When Yeshua 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

Even while the people were marveling at all the things Yeshua had done, he and his disciples left that place and passed through Galilee. And Yeshua did not want anyone to know of their passage, for he was teaching the disciples.

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.”

The disciples were greatly distressed. But they did not understand what Yeshua 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

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.

Before he could say anything, Yeshua 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 Yeshua said, “Then we, the children of God, should be exempt from the temple tax. 135

“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 . Yeshua BEGINS TO THINK ABOUT LEAVING FOR JERUSALEM

John 7 : 1 – 9

After this Yeshua went about only in Galilee, deliberately staying away from Judea because the leaders of the Jews there were waiting to take his life.

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

Yeshua 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.”

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

During those days an argument arose among the disciples as to which of them was the foremost. When Yeshua 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

When Yeshua 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.”

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.

“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.”

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 Yeshua 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

“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.

“Woe to the world for temptations toward sin! It is inevitable that temptations come, but woe to the man by whom they come!

“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.

“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

“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.

"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

And Yeshua 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.

“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

“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.”

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 Yeshua 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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“When the other servants saw this they were greatly offended, and they went and reported to their master all that had happened.

“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.

“So likewise my heavenly Father will treat every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

101 . Yeshua LEAVES SECRETLY FOR JERUSALEM

Luke 9 : 51 ; John 7 : 10

As the time approached for him to ascend to heaven, Yeshua set a determined face to go to Jerusalem.

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

Yeshua 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.

When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”

But Yeshua 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

As they were walking along the road, a scribe came up and said to Yeshua, “Master, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Yeshua 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.”

To another of the disciples he said, “Follow me.” The disciple replied, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Yeshua 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.”

Still another man said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” And Yeshua 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

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.

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.”

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.

“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.

“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!

“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.

“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.

“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

And Yeshua began to denounce the cities where most of his great miracles had been performed, because they had not repented and changed their ways.

“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.

“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

L ater the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we call upon your name!”

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

And in that moment Yeshua 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.

“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.”

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 Yeshua

John 7 : 11 – 13

The crowds in Jerusalem were looking for Yeshua at the Feast of Tabernacles, 146 and saying, “Where is he?”

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 . Yeshua SHOWS HIMSELF AT THE TEMPLE

John 7 : 14 – 24

Then, midway through the festival, Yeshua 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?”

So Yeshua 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.

“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?”

Yeshua 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

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.”

So Yeshua 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.”

Then they wished to seize Yeshua; 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?”

The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Yeshua, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him. Yeshua 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.”

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’?”

On the last day of the feast, the Great Day, Yeshua 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, Yeshua 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 Yeshua had not yet been glorified.

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.

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 Yeshua, 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 Yeshua went to the Mount of Olives.

111 . THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY

John 8 : 2 – 11

Early in the morning Yeshua returned to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them.

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.

Yeshua 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.

When the accusers heard this, they slipped away, one by one, beginning with the eldest, even to the last, until only Yeshua was left, with the woman still standing before him.

Yeshua stood up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Yeshua said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.”

112 . THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Luke 10 : 25 – 37

One day a specialist in religious law stood up to put Yeshua to the test, asking, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Yeshua 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 Yeshua said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this, and you will live.”

But the scholar, wanting to justify his question, asked Yeshua, “And who is my neighbor?”

Yeshua 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.

“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.’

“Which of these three, do you think,” Yeshua 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 Yeshua said to him, “Go, and do likewise.”

113 . THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

John 8 : 12 – 30

Later Yeshua 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.”

But the Pharisees challenged him, saying, “You are testifying about yourself; and your own testimony is not sufficient.” Yeshua 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.

“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.”

So then they asked him, “Where is your Father?” Yeshua 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.

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’?”

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?” Yeshua 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.

So Yeshua 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 Yeshua said these things, many came to believe in him.

114 . EXASPERATION WITH THE COMPLACENT

John 8 : 31 – 59

Then Yeshua 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.”

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’?”

Yeshua 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.

“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.”

They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Yeshua 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.”

They said to him, “We were not born of fornication. 152 We have only one father, and that is God.” Yeshua 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.

“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.

“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.”

The crowd answered him, “Truly we are right when we say that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon!”

10 . Yeshua 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.”

1The 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?”

1Yeshua 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 The crowd then said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?” Yeshua 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 Yeshua hid himself from their sight and went out of the temple.

115 . AT THE HOME OF MARTHA AND MARY

Luke 10 : 38 – 42

O ne day as Yeshua 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.

But Martha was distracted with the labor of much serving, and she went to Yeshua and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

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

One day as Yeshua 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?”

Yeshua 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.”

After he had said this, Yeshua 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.

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.”

So they asked him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Yeshua 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.”

They said to him, “Where is he?” He replied, “I do not know.”

So they brought the man who had once been blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a sabbath day when Yeshua 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.”

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.”

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 Yeshua as the Christ, he was to be expelled from the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

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.”

1They 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?”

1At 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.

1Yeshua 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.” Yeshua 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.

1Yeshua 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?” Yeshua 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

“I tell you truly,” Yeshua 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.” Yeshua used this image with the crowd around him, but they did not understand his meaning.

So Yeshua 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.

“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.

“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.

“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.”

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

One day Yeshua 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 Yeshua said to them, “When you pray, pray with persistence .” 155

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.’

“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.

“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.

“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

One day, while Yeshua 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 Yeshua did not first ceremonially wash his hands before eating.

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

And as Yeshua 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

Someone in the crowd outside called to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide our father’s inheritance with me.”

But Yeshua 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.”

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.’

“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?’

“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.

“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.”