New King James Version (NKJV)

The Parable of the Sower

1 Andagain He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and satiniton the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea.

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

3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.

4 And it happened, as he sowed,thatsomeseedfell by the wayside; and the birdsof the aircame and devoured it.

5 Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.

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

7 And someseedfell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded nocrop.

8 But otherseedfell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

9 And He said to them,“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The Purpose of Parables

10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.

11 And He said to them,“To you it has been given toknow themystery of the kingdom of God; but tothose who are outside, all things come in parables,

12 so that

# ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,

And hearing they may hear and not understand;

Lest they should turn,

Andtheirsins be forgiven them.’”

The Parable of the Sower Explained

13 And He said to them,“Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?

14 The sower sows the word.

15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.

18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns;they arethe ones who hear the word,

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

20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word,acceptit,and bearfruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

Light Under a Basket

21 Also He said to them,“Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?

22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.

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

24 Then He said to them,“Take heed what you hear.With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.

25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

The Parable of the Growing Seed

26 And He said,“The kingdom of God is as if a man shouldscatter seed on the ground,

27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout andgrow, he himself does not know how.

28 For the earthyields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.

29 But when the grain ripens, immediatelyhe puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

30 Then He said,“To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?

31 It islike a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth;

32 but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”

Jesus’ Use of Parables

33 And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hearit.

34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone,He explained all things to His disciples.

Wind and Wave Obey Jesus

35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them,“Let us cross over to the other side.”

36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him,“Teacher,do You not care that we are perishing?”

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

40 But He said to them,“Why are you so fearful?Howis itthat you have no faith?”

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

A Demon-Possessed Man Healed

1 Thenthey came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.

2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with anunclean spirit,

3 who hadhisdwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains,

4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.

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

6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.

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

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

9 Then He asked him,“Whatisyour name?”

And he answered, saying, “My nameisLegion; for we are many.”

10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.

11 Now a large herd ofswine was feeding there near the mountains.

12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.”

13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they tolditin the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened.

15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the onewhohadbeendemon-possessed and had the legion,sitting andclothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to himwhohadbeendemon-possessed, and about the swine.

17 Thenthey began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

18 And when He got into the boat,he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.

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

20 And he departed and began toproclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and allmarveled.

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.

22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet

23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come andlay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”

24 SoJesuswent with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.

25 Now a certain womanhad a flow of blood for twelve years,

26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behindHimin the crowd andtouched His garment.

28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt inherbody that she was healed of the affliction.

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself thatpower had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said,“Who touched My clothes?”

31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say,‘Who touched Me?’”

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

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

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

35 While He was still speaking,somecame from the ruler of the synagogue’shousewho said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

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

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

38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those whowept and wailed loudly.

39 When He came in, He said to them,“Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, butsleeping.”

40 And they ridiculed Him.But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and thosewhowerewith Him, and entered where the child was lying.

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

42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve yearsofage.And they wereovercome with great amazement.

43 ButHe commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said thatsomethingshould be given her to eat.

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

1 ThenHe went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him.

2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearingHimwereastonished, saying,“Wheredidthis Mangetthese things? And what wisdomisthis which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!

3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, andbrother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So theywere offended at Him.

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

5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healedthem.

6 AndHe marveled because of their unbelief.Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

Sending Out the Twelve

7 And He called the twelve toHimself,and began to send them outtwobytwo, and gave them power over unclean spirits.

8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper intheirmoney belts—

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

10 Also He said to them,“In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.

11 Andwhoeverwill not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there,shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them.Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

12 So they went out and preached thatpeopleshould repent.

13 And they cast out many demons,and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healedthem.

John the Baptist Beheaded

14 Now King Herod heardofHim,for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and thereforethese powers are at work in him.”

15 Others said, “It is Elijah.”

# And others said, “It is the Prophet,or like one of the prophets.”

16 But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!”

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

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

19 Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not;

20 for Herodfeared John, knowing that hewasa just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

21 Then an opportune day came when Herodon his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chiefmenof Galilee.

22 And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will giveitto you.”

23 He also swore to her,“Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

24 So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?”

And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!”

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

26 And the king was exceedingly sorry;yet,because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.

27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison,

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

29 When his disciples heardofit,they came andtook away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

Feeding the Five Thousand

30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.

31 And He said to them,“Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”Forthere were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.

33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and manyknew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him.

34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were likesheep not having a shepherd. SoHe began to teach them many things.

35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hourislate.

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

37 But He answered and said to them,“You give them something to eat.”

# And they said to Him,“Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give themsomethingto eat?”

38 But He said to them,“How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

# And when they found out they said,“Five, and two fish.”

39 Then Hecommanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.

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

41 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, Helooked up to heaven,blessed and broke the loaves, and gavethemto His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided amongthemall.

42 So they all ate and were filled.

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

44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.

Jesus Walks on the Sea

45 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.

46 And when He had sent them away, Hedeparted to the mountain to pray.

47 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and Hewasalone on the land.

48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, andwould have passed them by.

49 And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was aghost, and cried out;

50 for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them,“Beof good cheer! It is I; do not beafraid.”

51 Then He went up into the boat to them, and the windceased. And they were greatlyamazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.

52 Forthey had not understood about the loaves, because theirheart was hardened.

Many Touch Him and Are Made Well

53 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.

54 And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him,

55 ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.

56 Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him thatthey might just touch thehem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.

Defilement Comes from Within

1 Thenthe Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.

2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, withunwashed hands, they found fault.

3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they washtheirhands in a special way, holding thetradition of the elders.

4 Whentheycomefrom the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold,likethe washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

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

6 He answered and said to them,“Well did Isaiah prophesy of youhypocrites, as it is written:

# ‘This people honors Me withtheirlips,

But their heart is far from Me.

7 And in vain they worship Me,

Teachingasdoctrines the commandments of men.’

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

9 He said to them,“All toowellyoureject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

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

11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother,“Whatever profit you might have received from meisCorban”—’ (that is, a giftto God),

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

13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

14 When He had called all the multitude toHimself,He said to them,“Hear Me, everyone, andunderstand:

15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things thatdefile a man.

16 Ifanyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”

17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.

18 So He said to them,“Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him,

19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated,thuspurifying all foods?”

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

21 For from within, out of the heart of men,proceed evil thoughts,adulteries,fornications, murders,

22 thefts,covetousness, wickedness,deceit,lewdness, an evil eye,blasphemy,pride, foolishness.

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

A Gentile Shows Her Faith

24 From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to knowit,but He could not behidden.

25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came andfell at His feet.

26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

27 But Jesus said to her,“Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throwitto the little dogs.”

28 And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.”

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

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

Jesus Heals a Deaf-Mute

31 Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee.

32 Thenthey brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him.

33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, andHe spat and touched his tongue.

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

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

36 ThenHe commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimedit.

37 And they wereastonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. Hemakes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Feeding the Four Thousand

1 In those days,the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciplestoHimand said to them,

2 “I havecompassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.

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

4 Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?”

5 He asked them,“How many loaves do you have?”

And they said, “Seven.”

6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, brokethemand gavethemto His disciples to set beforethem;and they setthembefore the multitude.

7 They also had a few small fish; andhaving blessed them, He said to set them also beforethem.

8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments.

9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away,

10 immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

The Pharisees Seek a Sign

11 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him.

12 But Hesighed deeply in His spirit, and said,“Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you,no sign shall be given to this generation.”

Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod

13 And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side.

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat.

15 Then He charged them, saying,“Take heed, beware of theleaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “Itisbecause we have no bread.”

17 But Jesus, being aware ofit,said to them,“Why do you reason because you have no bread?Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heartstillhardened?

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

19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?”

They said to Him, “Twelve.”

20 “Also,when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?”

And they said, “Seven.”

21 So He said to them,“Howis ityou do not understand?”

A Blind Man Healed at Bethsaida

22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought ablind man to Him, and begged Him totouch him.

23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And whenHe had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.

24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”

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

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

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

27 Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them,“Who do men say that I am?”

28 So they answered,“John the Baptist; but somesay,Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”

29 He said to them,“But who do you say that I am?”

# Peter answered and said to Him,“You are the Christ.”

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

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

31 AndHe began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and berejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and bekilled, and after three days rise again.

32 He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.

33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, Herebuked Peter, saying,“Get behind Me, Satan! For you are notmindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Take Up the Cross and Follow Him

34 When He had called the people toHimself,with His disciples also, He said to them,“Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

35 Forwhoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.

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

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

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

1 And He said to them,“Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they seethe kingdom of Godpresent with power.”

Jesus Transfigured on the Mount

2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.

3 His clothes became shining, exceedinglywhite, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

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

5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—

6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.

7 And acloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This isMy beloved Son.Hear Him!”

8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioningwhat the rising from the dead meant.

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

12 Then He answered and told them,“Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. Andhow is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things andbe treated with contempt?

13 But I say to you thatElijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”

A Boy Is Healed

14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.

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

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

17 Thenone of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.

18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”

19 He answered him and said,“Ofaithlessgeneration, how long shall I be with you? How long shall Ibear with you? Bring him to Me.”

20 Then they brought him to Him. Andwhen he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

21 So He asked his father,“How long has this been happening to him?”

And he said, “From childhood.

22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

23 Jesus said to him,“Ifyou can believe,all thingsarepossible to him who believes.”

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe;help my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, Herebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it:“Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”

26 Thenthespiritcried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.”

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

28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

29 So He said to them,“This kind can come out by nothing butprayerand fasting.”

Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection

30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to knowit.

31 For He taught His disciples and said to them,“The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they willkill Him. And after He is killed, He willrise the third day.”

32 But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

Who Is the Greatest?

33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them,“What was it youdisputed among yourselves on the road?”

34 But they kept silent, for on the road they haddisputed among themselves whowouldbethegreatest.

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

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

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

Jesus Forbids Sectarianism

38 Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”

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

40 Forhe who is not againstus is onourside.

41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

Jesus Warns of Offenses

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Meto stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.

43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into lifemaimed, rather than having two hands, to go tohell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—

44 where

# ‘Their worm does not die

And the fire is not quenched.’

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

46 where

# ‘Their worm does not die,

And the fire is not quenched.’

47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast intohell fire—

48 where

# ‘Their worm does not die

# And thefire is not quenched.’

Tasteless Salt Is Worthless

49 “For everyone will beseasoned with fire,andevery sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.

50 Saltisgood, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it?Have salt in yourselves, andhave peace with one another.”

Marriage and Divorce

1 ThenHe arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.

2 The Pharisees came and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorcehiswife?” testing Him.

3 And He answered and said to them,“What did Moses command you?”

4 They said,“Moses permittedamanto write a certificate of divorce, and to dismissher.”

5 And Jesus answered and said to them,“Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you thisprecept.

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

7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,

8 and the two shall become one flesh’;so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.

9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

10 In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the samematter.

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

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

Jesus Blesses Little Children

13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who broughtthem.

14 But when Jesus sawit,He was greatly displeased and said to them,“Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; forof such is the kingdom of God.

15 Assuredly, I say to you,whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child willby no means enter it.”

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

Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall Ido that I may inherit eternal life?”

18 So Jesus said to him,“Why do you call Me good? No oneisgood but One,that is,God.

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

20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I havekept from my youth.”

21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him,“One thing you lack: Go your way,sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will havetreasure in heaven; and come,take up the cross, and follow Me.”

22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

With God All Things Are Possible

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

24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them,“Children, how hard it isfor thosewho trust in richesto enter the kingdom of God!

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

26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”

27 But Jesus looked at them and said,“With menit isimpossible, but notwith God; for with God all things are possible.”

28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

29 So Jesus answered and said,“Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or motheror wifeor children orlands, for My sake and the gospel’s,

30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, withpersecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

31 But manywho arefirst will be last, and the last first.”

Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection

32 Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid.Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:

33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles;

34 and they will mock Him, andscourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

Greatness Is Serving

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

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

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

38 But Jesus said to them,“You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink thecup that I drink, and be baptized with thebaptism that I am baptized with?”

39 They said to Him, “We are able.”

# So Jesus said to them,“You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized;

40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, butit is for thosefor whom it is prepared.”

41 And when the ten heardit,they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.

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

43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.

45 For eventhe Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, andto give His life a ransom for many.”

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.

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

48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.

Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”

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

51 So Jesus answered and said to him,“What do you want Me to do for you?”

The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”

52 Then Jesus said to him,“Go your way;your faith hasmade you well.”And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

The Triumphal Entry

1 Nowwhen they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples;

2 and He said to them,“Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bringit.

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

4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it.

5 But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?”

6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go.

7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.

8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spreadthemon the road.

9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna!

# ‘BlessedisHe who comes in the name of theLord!’

10 Blessedisthe kingdom of our father David

That comes in the name of the Lord!

# Hosanna in the highest!”

11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

The Fig Tree Withered

12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.

13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

14 In response Jesus said to it,“Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”

And His disciples heardit.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who solddoves.

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

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

18 Andthe scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, becauseall the people were astonished at His teaching.

19 When evening had come, He went out of the city.

The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree

20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

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

22 So Jesus answered and said to them,“Have faith in God.

23 Forassuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

24 Therefore I say to you,whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receivethem,and you will havethem.

Forgiveness and Prayer

25 “And whenever you stand praying,if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

26 Butif you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Jesus’ Authority Questioned

27 Then they came again to Jerusalem.And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him.

28 And they said to Him, “By whatauthority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”

29 But Jesus answered and said to them,“I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things:

30 Thebaptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”

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

32 But if we say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people, forall counted John to have been a prophet indeed.

33 So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.”

And Jesus answered and said to them,“Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers

1 ThenHe began to speak to them in parables:“A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge aroundit,duga place forthe wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it tovinedressers and went into a far country.

2 Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers.

3 And they tookhimand beat him and senthimaway empty-handed.

4 Again he sent them another servant,and at him they threw stones,woundedhimin the head, and senthimaway shamefully treated.

5 And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others,beating some and killing some.

6 Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

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

8 So they took him andkilledhimand casthimout of the vineyard.

9 “Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others.

10 Have you not even read this Scripture:

# ‘The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone.

11 This was theLord’s doing,

And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

12 And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?

13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him inHiswords.

14 When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach theway of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”

# But He, knowing theirhypocrisy, said to them,“Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may seeit.”

16 So they broughtit.

And He said to them,“Whose image and inscriptionisthis?”They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

17 And Jesus answered and said to them,“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and toGod the things that are God’s.”

And they marveled at Him.

The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?

18 ThensomeSadducees,who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying:

19 “Teacher,Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, and leaveshiswife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

20 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring.

21 And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise.

22 So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also.

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

24 Jesus answered and said to them,“Are you not thereforemistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?

25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, butare like angels in heaven.

26 But concerning the dead, that theyrise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in theburningbushpassage,how God spoke to him, saying,‘Iamthe God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?

27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatlymistaken.”

The Scribes: Which Is the First Commandment of All?

28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”

29 Jesus answered him,“Thefirst of all the commandmentsis:‘Hear, O Israel, theLordour God, theLordis one.

30 And you shalllove theLordyour God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’Thisisthe first commandment.

31 And the second, likeit, isthis:‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no other commandment greater thanthese.”

32 So the scribe said to Him, “Wellsaid,Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God,and there is no other but He.

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

34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him,“You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

# But after that no one dared question Him.

Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?

35 Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple,“Howis itthat the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?

36 For David himself saidby the Holy Spirit:

# ‘TheLordsaid to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand,

Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

37 Therefore David himself calls Him‘Lord’; how is HethenhisSon?”

And the common people heard Him gladly.

Beware of the Scribes

38 ThenHe said to them in His teaching,“Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes,lovegreetings in the marketplaces,

39 thebest seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts,

40 who devour widows’ houses, andfor a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Two Mites

41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put moneyinto the treasury. And manywhowererich put in much.

42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans.

43 So He called His disciples toHimselfand said to them,“Assuredly, I say to you thatthis poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;

44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had,her whole livelihood.”

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple

1 Thenas He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildingsarehere!”

2 And Jesus answered and said to him,“Do you see these great buildings?Notonestone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple,Peter,James,John, andAndrew asked Him privately,

4 “Tell us, when will these things be? And whatwillbethe sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”

5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say:“Take heed that no one deceives you.

6 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I amHe,’ and will deceive many.

7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; forsuch thingsmust happen, but the endisnot yet.

8 For nation will rise against nation, andkingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be faminesand troubles.Thesearethe beginnings ofsorrows.

9 “Butwatch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You willbe broughtbefore rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.

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

11 But when they arrestyouand deliver you up, do not worry beforehand,or premeditatewhat you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak,but the Holy Spirit.

12 Nowbrother will betray brother to death, and a fatherhischild; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.

13 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. Buthe whoendures to the end shall be saved.

The Great Tribulation

14 “So when you see the‘abomination of desolation,’spoken of by Daniel the prophet,standing where it ought not”(let the reader understand),“thenlet those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

15 Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house.

16 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

17 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

18 And pray that your flight may not be in winter.

19 Forinthose days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.

20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

21 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, hereisthe Christ!’ or, ‘Look,He isthere!’ do not believe it.

22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs andwonders to deceive, if possible, even theelect.

23 Buttake heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.

The Coming of the Son of Man

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;

25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will beshaken.

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

27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together Hiselect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

28 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.

29 So you also, when you see these things happening, know thatitis near—at the doors!

30 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

31 Heaven and earth will pass away, butMy words will by no means pass away.

No One Knows the Day or Hour

32 “But of that day and hourno one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only theFather.

33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.

34 It islike a man going to a far country, who left his house and gaveauthority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.

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

36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.

37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”