|
9 You should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
help us to honor
your name.
10 Come and set up
your kingdom,
so that everyone on earth
will obey you,
as you are obeyed
in heaven.
11 Give us our food for today.  c 6.11 our food for today: Or “the food that we need” or “our food for the coming day.”
12 Forgive us for doing wrong,
as we forgive others.
13 Keep us from being tempted
and protect us from evil. d 6.13 evil: Or “the evil one,” that is, the devil. Some manuscripts add, “The kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours forever. Amen.”
14 If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you. 
15 But if you don't forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Worshiping God by Going without Eating
16 When you go without eating, e 6.16 without eating: See the note at 4.2. don't try to look gloomy as those show-offs do when they go without eating. I can assure you that they already have their reward.
17 Instead, comb your hair and wash your face.
18 Then others won't know that you are going without eating. But your Father sees what is done in private, and he will reward you.
Treasures in Heaven
19 Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them.
20 Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them.
21 Your heart will always be where your treasure is.
Light
22 Your eyes are like a window for your body. When they are good, you have all the light you need.
23 But when your eyes are bad, everything is dark. If the light inside you is dark, you surely are in the dark.
Money
24 You cannot be the slave of two masters! You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Worry
25 I tell you not to worry about your life. Don't worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn't life more than food or clothing?
26 Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't you worth more than birds?
27 Can worry make you live longer? f 6.27 live longer: Or “grow taller.”
28 Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don't work hard to make their clothes.
29 But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth g 6.29 Solomon with all his wealth: The Jewish people thought that Solomon was the richest person who had ever lived. wasn't as well clothed as one of them. 6.29 1K 10.4
30 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?
31 Don't worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?”
32 Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these.
33 But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
34 Don't worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.
Judging Others
7
1 Don't condemn others, and God won't condemn you.
2 God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them.
3 You can see the speck in your friend's eye, but you don't notice the log in your own eye.
4 How can you say, “My friend, let me take the speck out of your eye,” when you don't see the log in your own eye?
5 You're nothing but show-offs! First, take the log out of your own eye. Then you can see how to take the speck out of your friend's eye.
6 Don't give to dogs what belongs to God. They will only turn and attack you. Don't throw pearls down in front of pigs. They will trample all over them.
Ask, Search, Knock
7 Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.
8 Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks.
9 Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread?
10 Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish?
11 As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.
12 Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets h 7.12 the Law and the Prophets: See the note at 5.17. are all about.
The Narrow Gate
13 Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate.
14 But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it.
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 Watch out for false prophets! They dress up like sheep, but inside they are wolves who have come to attack you.
16 You can tell what they are by what they do. No one picks grapes or figs from thornbushes.
17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit.
19 Every tree that produces bad fruit will be chopped down and burned.
20 You can tell who the false prophets are by their deeds.
A Warning
21 Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in.
22 On the day of judgment many will call me their Lord. They will say, “We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles.”
23 But I will tell them, “I will have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people!”
Two Builders
24 Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock.
25 Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on solid rock.
26 Anyone who hears my teachings and doesn't obey them is like a foolish person who built a house on sand.
27 The rain poured down, the rivers flooded, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Finally, it fell with a crash.
28 When Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were surprised at his teaching.
29 He taught them like someone with authority, and not like their teachers of the Law of Moses.
Jesus Heals a Man
8
1 As Jesus came down the mountain, he was followed by large crowds.
2 Suddenly a man with leprosy i 8.2 leprosy: In biblical times the word “leprosy” was used for many different kinds of skin diseases. came and knelt in front of Jesus. He said, “Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to.”
3 Jesus put his hand on the man and said, “I want to! Now you are well.” At once the man's leprosy disappeared.
4 Jesus told him, “Don't tell anyone about this, but go and show the priest that you are well. Then take a gift to the temple just as Moses commanded, and everyone will know that you have been healed.” j 8.4 everyone will know that you have been healed: People with leprosy had to be examined by a priest and told that they were well (that is “clean”) before they could once again live a normal life in the Jewish community. The gift that Moses commanded was the sacrifice of some lambs together with flour mixed with olive oil.
Jesus Heals an Army Officer's Servant
5 When Jesus was going into the town of Capernaum, an army officer came up to him and said,
6 “Lord, my servant is at home in such terrible pain that he can't even move.”
7 “I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied.
8 But the officer said, “Lord, I'm not good enough for you to come into my house. Just give the order, and my servant will get well.
9 I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes. I can say to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I can say to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he will do it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you that in all of Israel I've never found anyone with this much faith!
11 Many people will come from everywhere to enjoy the feast in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
12 But the ones who should have been in the kingdom will be thrown out into the dark. They will cry and grit their teeth in pain.”
13 Then Jesus said to the officer, “You may go home now. Your faith has made it happen.”
Right then his servant was healed.
Jesus Heals Many People
14 Jesus went to the home of Peter, where he found that Peter's mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever.
15 He took her by the hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and served Jesus a meal.
16 That evening many people with demons in them were brought to Jesus. And with only a word he forced out the evil spirits and healed everyone who was sick.
17 So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said,
“He healed our diseases
and made us well.”
Some Who Wanted To Go with Jesus
18 When Jesus saw the crowd, k 8.18 saw the crowd: Some manuscripts have “large crowd.” Others have “large crowds.” he went across Lake Galilee.
19 A teacher of the Law of Moses came up to him and said, “Teacher, I'll go anywhere with you!”
20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens, and birds have nests. But the Son of Man doesn't have a place to call his own.”
21 Another disciple said to Jesus, “Lord, let me wait till I bury my father.”
22 Jesus answered, “Come with me, and let the dead bury their dead.” l 8.22 let the dead bury their dead: For the Jewish people a proper burial of their dead was a very important duty. But Jesus teaches that following him is even more important.
A Storm
23 After Jesus left in a boat with his disciples,
24 a terrible storm suddenly struck the lake, and waves started splashing into their boat.
Jesus was sound asleep,
25 so the disciples went over to him and woke him up. They said, “Lord, save us! We're going to drown!”
26 But Jesus replied, “Why are you so afraid? You surely don't have much faith.” Then he got up and ordered the wind and the waves to calm down. And everything was calm.
27 The men in the boat were amazed and said, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him.”
Two Men with Demons in Them
28 After Jesus had crossed the lake, he came to shore near the town of Gadara m 8.28 Gadara: Some manuscripts have “Gergesa.” Others have “Gerasa.” and started down the road. Two men with demons in them came to him from the tombs. n 8.28 tombs: It was thought that demons and evil spirits lived in tombs and in caves that were used for burying the dead. They were so fierce that no one could travel that way.
29 Suddenly they shouted, “Jesus, Son of God, what do you want with us? Have you come to punish us before our time?”
30 Not far from there a large herd of pigs was feeding.
31 So the demons begged Jesus, “If you force us out, please send us into those pigs!”
32 Jesus told them to go, and they went out of the men and into the pigs. All at once the pigs rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.
33 The people taking care of the pigs ran to the town and told everything, especially what had happened to the two men.
34 Everyone in town came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their part of the country.
Jesus Heals a Crippled Man
9
1 Jesus got into a boat and crossed back over to the town where he lived. o 9.1 where he lived: Capernaum (see 4.13).
2 Some people soon brought to him a crippled man lying on a mat. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the crippled man, “My friend, don't worry! Your sins are forgiven.”
3 Some teachers of the Law of Moses said to themselves, “Jesus must think he is God!”
4 But Jesus knew what was in their minds, and he said, “Why are you thinking such evil things?
5 Is it easier for me to tell this crippled man that his sins are forgiven or to tell him to get up and walk?
6 But I will show you that the Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth.” So Jesus said to the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and go on home.”
7 The man got up and went home.
8 When the crowds saw this, they were afraid p 9.8 afraid: Some manuscripts have “amazed.” and praised God for giving such authority to people.
Jesus Chooses Matthew
9 As Jesus was leaving, he saw a tax collector q 9.9 tax collector: See the note at 5.46. named Matthew sitting at the place for paying taxes. Jesus said to him, “Come with me.” Matthew got up and went with him.
10 Later, Jesus and his disciples were having dinner at Matthew's house. r 9.10 Matthew's house: Or “Jesus' house.” Many tax collectors and other sinners were also there.
11 Some Pharisees asked Jesus' disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and other sinners?”
12 Jesus heard them and answered, “Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do.
13 Go and learn what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others.’ I didn't come to invite good people to be my followers. I came to invite sinners.”
People Ask about Going without Eating
14 One day some followers of John the Baptist came and asked Jesus, “Why do we and the Pharisees often go without eating, s 9.14 without eating: See the note at 4.2. while your disciples never do?”
15 Jesus answered:
The friends of a bridegroom don't go without eating while he is still with them. But the time will come when he will be taken from them. Then they will go without eating.
16 No one uses a new piece of cloth to patch old clothes. The patch would shrink and tear a bigger hole.
17 No one pours new wine into old wineskins. The wine would swell and burst the old skins. t 9.17 swell and burst the old skins: While the juice from grapes was becoming wine, it would swell and stretch the skins in which it had been stored. If the skins were old and stiff, they would burst. Then the wine would be lost, and the skins would be ruined. New wine must be put into new wineskins. Both the skins and the wine will then be safe.
A Dying Girl and a Sick Woman
18 While Jesus was still speaking, an official came and knelt in front of him. The man said, “My daughter has just now died! Please come and place your hand on her. Then she will live again.”
19 Jesus and his disciples got up and went with the man.
20 A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and barely touched his clothes.
21 She had said to herself, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will get well.”
22 Jesus turned. He saw the woman and said, “Don't worry! You are now well because of your faith.” At that moment she was healed.
23 When Jesus went into the home of the official and saw the musicians and the crowd of mourners, u 9.23 the crowd of mourners: The Jewish people often hired mourners for funerals.
24 he said, “Get out of here! The little girl isn't dead. She is just asleep.” Everyone started laughing at Jesus.
25 But after the crowd had been sent out of the house, Jesus went to the girl's bedside. He took her by the hand and helped her up.
26 News about this spread all over that part of the country.
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
27 As Jesus was walking along, two blind men began following him and shouting, “Son of David, v 9.27 Son of David: The Jewish people expected the Messiah to be from the family of King David, and for this reason the Messiah was often called the “Son of David.” have pity on us!”
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, the two blind men came up to him. He asked them, “Do you believe I can make you well?”
“Yes, Lord,” they answered.
29 Jesus touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, you will be healed.”
30 They were able to see, and Jesus strictly warned them not to tell anyone about him.
31 But they left and talked about him to everyone in that part of the country.
Jesus Heals a Man Who Could Not Talk
32 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, some people brought to him a man who could not talk because a demon was in him.
33 After Jesus had forced the demon out, the man started talking. The crowds were so amazed that they began saying, “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!”
34 But the Pharisees said, “The leader of the demons gives him the power to force out demons.”
Jesus Has Pity on People
35 Jesus went to every town and village. He taught in their meeting places and preached the good news about God's kingdom. Jesus also healed every kind of disease and sickness.
36 When he saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them. They were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
37 He said to his disciples, “A large crop is in the fields, but there are only a few workers.
38 Ask the Lord in charge of the harvest to send out workers to bring it in.”
Jesus Chooses His Twelve Apostles
10
1 Jesus called together his twelve disciples. He gave them the power to force out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and sickness.
2 The first of the twelve apostles was Simon, better known as Peter. His brother Andrew was an apostle, and so were James and John, the two sons of Zebedee.
3 Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, w 10.3 tax collector: See the note at 5.46. James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus were also apostles.
4 The others were Simon, known as the Eager One, x 10.4 known as the Eager One: The Greek text has “Cananaean,” which probably comes from a Hebrew word meaning “zealous” (see Luke 6.15). “Zealot” was the name later given to the members of a Jewish group that resisted and fought against the Romans. and Judas Iscariot, y 10.4 Iscariot: This may mean “a man from Kerioth” (a place in Judea). But more probably it means “a man who was a liar” or “a man who was a betrayer.” who later betrayed Jesus.
Instructions for the Twelve Apostles
5 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions:
Stay away from the Gentiles and don't go to any Samaritan town.
6 Go only to the people of Israel, because they are like a flock of lost sheep.
7 As you go, announce that the kingdom of heaven will soon be here. z 10.7 will soon be here: Or “is already here.”
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead to life, heal people who have leprosy, a 10.8 leprosy: See the note at 8.2. and force out demons. You received without paying, now give without being paid.
9 Don't take along any gold, silver, or copper coins.
10 And don't carry b 10.9,10 Don't take along ... don't carry: Or “Don't accept ... don't accept.” a traveling bag or an extra shirt or sandals or a walking stick. 10.10 1Co 9.14; 1Ti 5.18.
Workers deserve their food.
11 So when you go to a town or a village, find someone worthy enough to have you as their guest and stay with them until you leave.
12 When you go to a home, give it your blessing of peace.
13 If the home is deserving, let your blessing remain with them. But if the home isn't deserving, take back your blessing of peace.
14 If someone won't welcome you or listen to your message, leave their home or town. And shake the dust from your feet at them. c 10.14 shake the dust from your feet at them: This was a way of showing rejection (see Acts 13.51).
15 I promise you that the day of judgment will be easier for the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah d 10.15 Sodom and Gomorrah: During the time of Abraham the Lord destroyed these towns because the people there were so evil. than for that town.
Warning about Trouble
16 I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. So be as wise as snakes and as innocent as doves.
17 Watch out for people who will take you to court and have you beaten in their meeting places.
18 Because of me, you will be dragged before rulers and kings to tell them and the Gentiles about your faith.
19 But when someone arrests you, don't worry about what you will say or how you will say it. At that time you will be given the words to say.
20 But you will not really be the one speaking. The Spirit from your Father will tell you what to say.
21 Brothers and sisters will betray one another and have each other put to death. Parents will betray their own children, and children will turn against their parents and have them killed.
22 Everyone will hate you because of me. But if you remain faithful until the end, you will be saved.
23 When people mistreat you in one town, hurry to another one. I promise you that before you have gone to all the towns of Israel, the Son of Man will come.
24 Disciples are not better than their teacher, and slaves are not better than their master.
25 It is enough for disciples to be like their teacher and for slaves to be like their master. If people call the head of the family Satan, what will they say about the rest of the family?
The One To Fear
26 Don't be afraid of anyone! Everything that is hidden will be found out, and every secret will be known.
27 Whatever I say to you in the dark, you must tell in the light. And you must announce from the housetops whatever I have whispered to you.
28 Don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but they cannot harm your soul. Instead, you should fear God who can destroy both your body and your soul in hell.
29 Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground.
30 Even the hairs on your head are counted.
31 So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.
Telling Others about Christ
32 If you tell others that you belong to me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you are my followers.
33 But if you reject me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you don't belong to me. 10.33 2Ti 2.12.
Not Peace, but Trouble
34 Don't think that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came to bring trouble, not peace.
35 I came to turn sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, and daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law.
36 Your worst enemies will be in your own family.
37 If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples.
38 And unless you are willing to take up your cross and come with me, you are not fit to be my disciples.
39 If you try to save your life, you will lose it. But if you give it up for me, you will surely find it.
Rewards
40 Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me also welcomes the one who sent me.
41 Anyone who welcomes a prophet, just because that person is a prophet, will be given the same reward as a prophet. Anyone who welcomes a good person, just because that person is good, will be given the same reward as a good person.
42 And anyone who gives one of my most humble followers a cup of cool water, just because that person is my follower, will surely be rewarded.
John the Baptist
11
1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left and began teaching and preaching in the towns. e 11.1 the towns: The Greek text has “their towns,” which may refer to the towns of Galilee or to the towns where Jesus' disciples had lived.
2 John was in prison when he heard what Christ was doing. So John sent some of his followers
3 to ask Jesus, “Are you the one we should be looking for? Or must we wait for someone else?”
4 Jesus answered, “Go and tell John what you have heard and seen.
5 The blind are now able to see, and the lame can walk. People with leprosy f 11.5 leprosy: See the note at 8.2. are being healed, and the deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life, and the poor are hearing the good news.
6 God will bless everyone who doesn't reject me because of what I do.”
7 As John's followers were going away, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John:
What sort of person did you go out into the desert to see? Was he like tall grass blown about by the wind?
8 What kind of man did you go out to see? Was he someone dressed in fine clothes? People who dress like that live in the king's palace.
9 What did you really go out to see? Was he a prophet? He certainly was. I tell you that he was more than a prophet.
10 In the Scriptures God says about him, “I am sending my messenger ahead of you to get things ready for you.”
11 I tell you that no one ever born on this earth is greater than John the Baptist. But whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.
12 From the time of John the Baptist until now, violent people have been trying to take over the kingdom of heaven by force.
13 All the Books of the Prophets and the Law of Moses g 11.13 the Books of the Prophets and the Law of Moses: The Jewish Scriptures, that is, the Old Testament. told what was going to happen up to the time of John.
14 And if you believe them, John is Elijah, the prophet you are waiting for.
15 If you have ears, pay attention!
16 You people are like children sitting in the market and shouting to each other,
17 “We played the flute,
but you would not dance!
We sang a funeral song,
but you would not mourn!”
18 John the Baptist did not go around eating and drinking, and you said, “That man has a demon in him!”
19 But the Son of Man goes around eating and drinking, and you say, “That man eats and drinks too much! He is even a friend of tax collectors h 11.19 tax collectors: See the note at 5.46. and sinners.” Yet Wisdom is shown to be right by what it does.
The Unbelieving Towns
20 In the towns where Jesus had worked most of his miracles, the people refused to turn to God. So Jesus was upset with them and said:
21 You people of Chorazin are in for trouble! You people of Bethsaida are in for trouble too! If the miracles that took place in your towns had happened in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have turned to God long ago. They would have dressed in sackcloth and put ashes on their heads. i 11.21 sackcloth ... ashes on their heads: This was one way that people showed how sorry they were for their sins.
22 I tell you that on the day of judgment the people of Tyre and Sidon will get off easier than you will.
23 People of Capernaum, do you think you will be honored in heaven? You will go down to hell! If the miracles that took place in your town had happened in Sodom, that town would still be standing.
24 So I tell you that on the day of judgment the people of Sodom will get off easier than you.
Come to Me and Rest
25 At that moment Jesus said:
My Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I am grateful that you hid all this from wise and educated people and showed it to ordinary people.
26 Yes, Father, that is what pleased you.
27 My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who truly knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him too.
28 If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. 11.28-30 Si 6.24-30; 24.19; 51.23-26.
29 Take the yoke j 11.29 yoke: Yokes were put on the necks of animals, so that they could pull a plow or wagon. A yoke was a symbol of obedience and hard work. I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.
30 This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.
A Question about the Sabbath
12
1 One Sabbath, Jesus and his disciples were walking through some wheat fields. k 12.1 walking through some wheat fields: It was the custom to let hungry travelers pick grains of wheat. His disciples were hungry and began picking and eating grains of wheat.
2 Some Pharisees noticed this and said to Jesus, “Why are your disciples picking grain on the Sabbath? They are not supposed to do that!”
3 Jesus answered: 12.3,4 1S 21.1-6.
You surely must have read what David did when he and his followers were hungry.
4 He went into the house of God, and then they ate the sacred loaves of bread that only priests are supposed to eat.
5 Haven't you read in the Law of Moses that the priests are allowed to work in the temple on the Sabbath? But no one says that they are guilty of breaking the law of the Sabbath.
6 I tell you that there is something here greater than the temple.
7 Don't you know what the Scriptures mean when they say, “Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others?” If you knew what this means, you would not condemn these innocent disciples of mine.
8 So the Son of Man is Lord over the Sabbath.
A Man with a Crippled Hand
9 Jesus left and went into one of the Jewish meeting places,
10 where there was a man whose hand was crippled. Some Pharisees wanted to accuse Jesus of doing something wrong, and they asked him, “Is it right to heal someone on the Sabbath?”
11 Jesus answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn't you lift it out?
12 People are worth much more than sheep, and so it is right to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 Then Jesus told the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man did, and it became as healthy as the other one.
14 The Pharisees left and started making plans to kill Jesus.
God's Chosen Servant
15 When Jesus found out what was happening, he left there and large crowds followed him. He healed all of their sick,
16 but warned them not to tell anyone about him.
17 So God's promise came true, just as Isaiah the prophet had said,
18 “Here is my chosen servant! 12.18-21 Is 42.1-4 (LXX).
I love him,
and he pleases me.
I will give him my Spirit,
and he will bring justice
to the nations.
19 He won't shout or yell
or call out in the streets.
20 He won't break off a bent reed
or put out a dying flame,
but he will make sure
that justice is done.
21 All nations will place
their hope in him.”
Jesus and the Ruler of the Demons
( Mark 3.20-30; Luke 11.14-23; 12.10)
22 Some people brought to Jesus a man who was blind and could not talk because he had a demon in him. Jesus healed the man, and then he was able to talk and see.
23 The crowds were so amazed that they asked, “Could Jesus be the Son of David?” l 12.23 Could Jesus be the Son of David: Or “Does Jesus think he is the Son of David?” See the note at 9.27.
24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “He forces out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons!”
25 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said to them:
Any kingdom where people fight each other will end up ruined. And a town or family that fights will soon destroy itself.
26 So if Satan fights against himself, how can his kingdom last?
27 If I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons, whose power do your own followers use to force them out? Your followers are the ones who will judge you.
28 But when I force out demons by the power of God's Spirit, it proves that God's kingdom has already come to you.
29 How can anyone break into a strong man's house and steal his things, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can take everything.
30 If you are not on my side, you are against me. If you don't gather in the harvest with me, you scatter it.
31-32 I tell you that any sinful thing you do or say can be forgiven. Even if you speak against the Son of Man, you can be forgiven. But if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you can never be forgiven, either in this life or in the life to come.
A Tree and Its Fruit
33 A good tree produces only good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces.
34 You are a bunch of evil snakes, so how can you say anything good? Your words show what is in your hearts.
35 Good people bring good things out of their hearts, but evil people bring evil things out of their hearts.
36 I promise you that on the day of judgment, everyone will have to account for every careless word they have spoken.
37 On that day they will be told that they are either innocent or guilty because of the things they have said.
A Sign from Heaven
38 Some Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a sign from heaven.”
39 But Jesus replied:
You want a sign because you are evil and won't believe! But the only sign you will get is the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 He was in the stomach of a big fish for three days and nights, just as the Son of Man will be deep in the earth for three days and nights.
41 On the day of judgment the people of Nineveh m 12.41 Nineveh: During the time of Jonah this city was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, which was Israel's worst enemy. But Jonah was sent there to preach, so that the people would turn to the Lord and be saved. will stand there with you and condemn you. They turned to God when Jonah preached, and yet here is something far greater than Jonah.
42 The Queen of the South n 12.42 Queen of the South: Sheba, probably a country in southern Arabia. will also stand there with you and condemn you. She traveled a long way to hear Solomon's wisdom, and yet here is something much greater than Solomon. 12.42 1K 10.1
Return of an Evil Spirit
43 When an evil spirit leaves a person, it travels through the desert, looking for a place to rest. But when the demon doesn't find a place,
44 it says, “I will go back to the home I left.” When it gets there and finds the place empty, clean, and fixed up,
45 it goes off and finds seven other evil spirits even worse than itself. They all come and make their home there, and the person ends up in worse shape than before. That's how it will be with you evil people of today.
Jesus' Mother and Brothers
46 While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside because they wanted to talk with him.
47 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to talk with you.” o 12.47 with you: Some manuscripts do not have verse 47.
48 Jesus answered, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?”
49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “These are my mother and my brothers!
50 Anyone who obeys my Father in heaven is my brother or sister or mother.”
A Story about a Farmer
13
1 That same day Jesus left the house and went out beside Lake Galilee, where he sat down to teach. p 13.1 sat down to teach: See the note at 5.1.
2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he had to sit in a boat, while the people stood on the shore.
3 Then he taught them many things by using stories. He said:
A farmer went out to scatter seed in a field.
4 While the farmer was scattering the seed, some of it fell along the road and was eaten by birds.
5 Other seeds fell on thin, rocky ground and quickly started growing because the soil wasn't very deep.
6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched and dried up, because they did not have enough roots.
7 Some other seeds fell where thornbushes grew up and choked the plants.
8 But a few seeds did fall on good ground where the plants produced a hundred or sixty or thirty times as much as was scattered.
9 If you have ears, pay attention!
Why Jesus Used Stories
10 Jesus' disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you use nothing but stories when you speak to the people?”
11 Jesus answered:
I have explained the secrets about the kingdom of heaven to you, but not to others.
12 Everyone who has something will be given more. But people who don't have anything will lose even what little they have.
13 I use stories when I speak to them because when they look, they cannot see, and when they listen, they cannot hear or understand.
14 So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said, 13.14,15 Is 6.9,10 (LXX).
“These people will listen
and listen,
but never understand.
They will look and look,
but never see.
15 All of them have
stubborn minds!
Their ears are stopped up,
and their eyes are covered.
They cannot see or hear
or understand.
If they could,
they would turn to me,
and I would heal them.”
16 But God has blessed you, because your eyes can see and your ears can hear!
17 Many prophets and good people were eager to see what you see and to hear what you hear. But I tell you that they did not see or hear.
Jesus Explains the Story about the Farmer
18 Now listen to the meaning of the story about the farmer:
19 The seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message about the kingdom, but don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches the message from their hearts.
20 The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it right away.
21 But they don't have deep roots, and they don't last very long. As soon as life gets hard or the message gets them in trouble, they give up.
22 The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life and are fooled by the desire to get rich. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything.
23 The seeds that fell on good ground are the people who hear and understand the message. They produce as much as a hundred or sixty or thirty times what was planted.
Weeds among the Wheat
24 Jesus then told them this story:
The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a farmer scattered good seed in a field.
25 But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and scattered weed seeds in the field and then left.
26 When the plants came up and began to ripen, the farmer's servants could see the weeds.
27 The servants came and asked, “Sir, didn't you scatter good seed in your field? Where did these weeds come from?”
28 “An enemy did this,” he replied.
His servants then asked, “Do you want us to go out and pull up the weeds?”
29 “No!” he answered. “You might also pull up the wheat.
30 Leave the weeds alone until harvest time. Then I'll tell my workers to gather the weeds and tie them up and burn them. But I'll have them store the wheat in my barn.”
Stories about a Mustard Seed and Yeast
31 Jesus told them another story:
The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a farmer plants a mustard seed in a field.
32 Although it is the smallest of all seeds, it grows larger than any garden plant and becomes a tree. Birds even come and nest on its branches.
33 Jesus also said:
The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a woman mixes a little yeast into three big batches of flour. Finally, all the dough rises.
The Reason for Teaching with Stories
34 Jesus used stories when he spoke to the people. In fact, he did not tell them anything without using stories.
35 So God's promise came true, just as the prophet q 13.35 the prophet: Some manuscripts have “the prophet Isaiah.” had said,
“I will use stories
to speak my message
and to explain things
that have been hidden
since the creation
of the world.”
Jesus Explains the Story about the Weeds
36 After Jesus left the crowd and went inside, r 13.36 went inside: Or “went home.” his disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the story about the weeds in the wheat field.”
37 Jesus answered:
The one who scattered the good seed is the Son of Man.
38 The field is the world, and the good seeds are the people who belong to the kingdom. The weed seeds are those who belong to the evil one,
39 and the one who scattered them is the devil. The harvest is the end of time, and angels are the ones who bring in the harvest.
40 Weeds are gathered and burned. That's how it will be at the end of time.
41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everyone who does wrong or causes others to sin.
42 Then he will throw them into a flaming furnace, where people will cry and grit their teeth in pain.
43 But everyone who has done right will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. If you have ears, pay attention!
A Hidden Treasure
44 The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when someone finds treasure hidden in a field and buries it again. A person like that is happy and goes and sells everything in order to buy that field.
A Valuable Pearl
45 The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a shop owner is looking for fine pearls.
46 After finding a very valuable one, the owner goes and sells everything in order to buy that pearl.
A Fish Net
47 The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a net is thrown into a lake and catches all kinds of fish.
48 When the net is full, it is dragged to the shore, and the fishermen sit down to separate the fish. They keep the good ones, but throw the bad ones away.
49 That's how it will be at the end of time. Angels will come and separate the evil people from the ones who have done right.
50 Then those evil people will be thrown into a flaming furnace, where they will cry and grit their teeth in pain.
New and Old Treasures
51 Jesus asked his disciples if they understood all these things. They said, “Yes, we do.”
52 So he told them, “Every student of the Scriptures who becomes a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like someone who brings out new and old treasures from the storeroom.”
The People of Nazareth Turn against Jesus
53 When Jesus had finished telling these stories, he left
54 and went to his hometown. He taught in their meeting place, and the people were so amazed that they asked, “Where does he get all this wisdom and the power to work these miracles?
55 Isn't he the son of the carpenter? Isn't Mary his mother, and aren't James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers?
56 Don't his sisters still live here in our town? How can he do all this?”
57 So the people were very unhappy because of what he was doing.
But Jesus said, “Prophets are honored by everyone, except the people of their hometown and their own family.”
58 And because the people did not have any faith, Jesus did not work many miracles there.
The Death of John the Baptist
14
1 About this time Herod the ruler s 14.1 Herod the ruler: Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great (see 2.1). heard the news about Jesus
2 and told his officials, “This is John the Baptist! He has come back from death, and that's why he has the power to work these miracles.”
3-4 Herod had earlier arrested John and had him chained and put in prison. He did this because John had told him, “It isn't right for you to take Herodias, the wife of your brother Philip.”
5 Herod wanted to kill John. But the people thought John was a prophet, and Herod was afraid of what they might do.
6 When Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests. She pleased Herod
7 so much that he swore to give her whatever she wanted.
8 But the girl's mother told her to say, “Here on a platter I want the head of John the Baptist!”
9 The king was sorry for what he had said. But he did not want to break the promise he had made in front of his guests. So he ordered a guard
10 to go to the prison and cut off John's head.
11 It was taken on a platter to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.
12 John's followers took his body and buried it. Then they told Jesus what had happened.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
( Mark 6.30-44; Luke 9.10-17; John 6.1-14)
13 After Jesus heard about John, he crossed Lake Galilee t 14.13 crossed Lake Galilee: To the east side. to go to some place where he could be alone. But the crowds found out and followed him on foot from the towns.
14 When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw the large crowd. He felt sorry for them and healed everyone who was sick.
15 That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This place is like a desert, and it is already late. Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the villages and buy some food.”
16 Jesus replied, “They don't have to leave. Why don't you give them something to eat?”
17 But they said, “We have only five small loaves of bread u 14.17 small loaves of bread: These would have been flat and round or in the shape of a bun. and two fish.”
18 Jesus asked his disciples to bring the food to him,
19 and he told the crowd to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples, and they gave it to the people.
20 After everyone had eaten all they wanted, Jesus' disciples picked up twelve large baskets of leftovers.
21 There were about five thousand men who ate, not counting the women and children.
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Right away, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and start back across the lake. v 14.22 back across the lake: To the west side. But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away.
23 Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray. Later that evening, he was still there.
24 By this time the boat was a long way from the shore. It was going against the wind and was being tossed around by the waves.
25 A little while before morning, Jesus came walking on the water toward his disciples.
26 When they saw him, they thought he was a ghost. They were terrified and started screaming.
27 At once, Jesus said to them, “Don't worry! I am Jesus. Don't be afraid.”
28 Peter replied, “Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come on!” Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward him.
30 But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
31 Right away, Jesus reached out his hand. He helped Peter up and said, “You surely don't have much faith. Why do you doubt?”
32 When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind died down.
33 The men in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You really are the Son of God!”
Jesus Heals Sick People in Gennesaret
34 Jesus and his disciples crossed the lake and came to shore near the town of Gennesaret.
35 The people found out that he was there, and they sent word to everyone who lived in that part of the country. So they brought all the sick people to Jesus.
36 They begged him just to let them touch his clothes, and everyone who did was healed.
The Teaching of the Ancestors
15
1 About this time some Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses came from Jerusalem. They asked Jesus,
2 “Why don't your disciples obey what our ancestors taught us to do? They don't even wash their hands w 15.2 wash their hands: The Jewish people had strict laws about washing their hands before eating, especially if they had been out in public. before they eat.”
3 Jesus answered:
Why do you disobey God and follow your own teaching?
4 Didn't God command you to respect your father and mother? Didn't he tell you to put to death all who curse their parents?
5 But you let people get by without helping their parents when they should. You let them say that what they have has been offered to God. x 15.5 has been offered to God: According to Jewish custom, when people said something was offered to God, it belonged to him and could not be used for anyone else, not even for their own parents.
6 Is this any way to show respect to your parents? You ignore God's commands in order to follow your own teaching.
7 And you are nothing but show-offs! Isaiah the prophet was right when he wrote that God had said,
8 “All of you praise me
with your words,
but you never really
think about me.
9 It is useless for you
to worship me,
when you teach rules
made up by humans.”
What Really Makes People Unclean
10 Jesus called the crowd together and said, “Pay attention and try to understand what I mean.
11 The food that you put into your mouth doesn't make you unclean and unfit to worship God. The bad words that come out of your mouth are what make you unclean.”
12 Then his disciples came over to him and asked, “Do you know that you insulted the Pharisees by what you said?”
13 Jesus answered, “Every plant that my Father in heaven did not plant will be pulled up by the roots.
14 Stay away from those Pharisees! They are like blind people leading other blind people, and all of them will fall into a ditch.”
15 Peter replied, “What did you mean when you talked about the things that make people unclean?”
16 Jesus then said:
Don't any of you know what I am talking about by now?
17 Don't you know that the food you put into your mouth goes into your stomach and then out of your body?
18 But the words that come out of your mouth come from your heart. And they are what make you unfit to worship God.
19 Out of your heart come evil thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others.
20 These are what make you unclean. Eating without washing your hands will not make you unfit to worship God.
A Woman's Faith
21 Jesus left and went to the territory near the cities of Tyre and Sidon.
22 Suddenly a Canaanite woman y 15.22 Canaanite woman: This woman was not Jewish. from there came out shouting, “Lord and Son of David, z 15.22 Son of David: See the note at 9.27. have pity on me! My daughter is full of demons.”
23 Jesus did not say a word. But the woman kept following along and shouting, so his disciples came up and asked him to send her away.
24 Jesus said, “I was sent only to the people of Israel! They are like a flock of lost sheep.”
25 The woman came closer. Then she knelt down and begged, “Please help me, Lord!”
26 Jesus replied, “It isn't right to take food away from children and feed it to dogs.” a 15.26 feed it to dogs: The Jewish people sometimes referred to Gentiles as dogs.
27 “Lord, that's true,” the woman said, “but even dogs get the crumbs that fall from their owner's table.”
28 Jesus answered, “Dear woman, you really do have a lot of faith, and you will be given what you want.” At that moment her daughter was healed.
Jesus Heals Many People
29 From there, Jesus went along Lake Galilee. Then he climbed a hill and sat down.
30 Large crowds came and brought many people who were crippled or blind or lame or unable to talk. They placed them, and many others, in front of Jesus, and he healed them all.
31 Everyone was amazed at what they saw and heard. People who had never spoken could now speak. The lame were healed, the crippled could walk, and the blind were able to see. Everyone was praising the God of Israel.
Jesus Feeds Four Thousand
32 Jesus called his disciples together and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been with me for three days, and they don't have anything to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry. They might faint on their way home.”
33 His disciples said, “This place is like a desert. Where can we find enough food to feed such a crowd?”
34 Jesus asked them how much food they had. They replied, “Seven small loaves of bread b 15.34 small loaves of bread: See the note at 14.17. and a few little fish.”
35 After Jesus had told the people to sit down,
36 he took the seven loaves of bread and the fish and gave thanks. He then broke them and handed them to his disciples, who passed them around to the crowds.
37 Everyone ate all they wanted, and the leftovers filled seven large baskets.
38 There were four thousand men who ate, not counting the women and children.
39 After Jesus had sent the crowds away, he got into a boat and sailed across the lake. He came to shore near the town of Magadan. c 15.39 Magadan: The location is unknown.
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