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Matthew New Living Translation (NLT)
Chapter 1
The Record of Jesus Ancestors
1This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of King David and of Abraham:
2
Abraham was the father of Isaac.
Isaac was the father of Jacob.
Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.
3
Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (their mother was Tamar).
Perez was the father of Hezron.
Hezron was the father of Ram.
4
Ram was the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.
Nahshon was the father of Salmon.
5
Salmon was the father of Boaz (his mother was Rahab).
Boaz was the father of Obed (his mother was Ruth).
Obed was the father of Jesse.
6
Jesse was the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon (his mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).
7
Solomon was the father of Rehoboam.
Rehoboam was the father of Abijah.
Abijah was the father of Asaph.
8
Asaph was the father of Jehoshaphat.
Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram.
Jehoram was the father of Uzziah.
9
Uzziah was the father of Jotham.
Jotham was the father of Ahaz.
Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah.
10
Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh.
Manasseh was the father of Amos.
Amos was the father of Josiah.
11
Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon).
12
After the Babylonian exile:
Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel.
Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel.
13
Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud.
Abiud was the father of Eliakim.
Eliakim was the father of Azor.
14
Azor was the father of Zadok.
Zadok was the father of Akim.
Akim was the father of Eliud.
15
Eliud was the father of Eleazar.
Eleazar was the father of Matthan.
Matthan was the father of Jacob.
16
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Mary was the mother of Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
17All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to King David, and fourteen
from David's time to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.
The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
18Now this is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to
Joseph. But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19Joseph, her
fiance, being a just man, decided to break the engagement quietly, so as not to disgrace her publicly.
20As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.
"Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary.
For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21And she will have a son, and you
are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22All of this happened to fulfill
the Lord's message through his prophet:
23
"Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and he will be called Immanuel
(meaning, God is with us)."
24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. He brought Mary home
to be his wife, 25but she remained a virgin until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
Chapter 2
The Visit of the Wise Men
1Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that
time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2"Where is the newborn king
of the Jews? We have seen his star as it arose, and we have come to worship him."
3Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, as was all of Jerusalem. 4He called a meeting of
the leading priests and teachers of religious law. "Where did the prophets say the Messiah would
be born?" he asked them.
5"In Bethlehem," they said, "for this is what the prophet wrote:
6
`O Bethlehem of Judah,
you are not just a lowly village in Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.' "
7Then Herod sent a private message to the wise men, asking them to come see him. At this
meeting he learned the exact time when they first saw the star. 8Then he told them, "Go to
Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so
that I can go and worship him, too!"
9After this interview the wise men went their way. Once again the star appeared to them, guiding
them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.
10When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11They entered the house where the child and
his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him. Then they opened
their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12But when it was time
to leave, they went home another way, because God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
The Escape to Egypt
13After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up and
flee to Egypt with the child and his mother," the angel said. "Stay there until I tell you to return,
because Herod is going to try to kill the child." 14That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child
and Mary, his mother, 15and they stayed there until Herod's death. This fulfilled what the Lord had
spoken through the prophet: "I called my Son out of Egypt."
16Herod was furious when he learned that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill
all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, because the wise men
had told him the star first appeared to them about two years earlier. 17Herod's brutal action
fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah:
18
"A cry of anguish is heard in Ramah--
weeping and mourning unrestrained.
Rachel weeps for her children,
refusing to be comforted--for they are dead."
The Return to Nazareth
19When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and told him,
20"Get up and take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were
trying to kill the child are dead." 21So Joseph returned immediately to Israel with Jesus and his
mother. 22But when he learned that the new ruler was Herod's son Archelaus, he was afraid. Then,
in another dream, he was warned to go to Galilee. 23So they went and lived in a town called
Nazareth. This fulfilled what was spoken by the prophets concerning the Messiah: "He will be
called a Nazarene."
Chapter 3
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1In those days John the Baptist began preaching in the Judean wilderness. His message was,
2"Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near." 3Isaiah had
spoken of John when he said,
"He is a voice shouting in the wilderness:
`Prepare a pathway for the Lord's coming!
Make a straight road for him!' "
4John's clothes were woven from camel hair, and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and
wild honey. 5People from Jerusalem and from every section of Judea and from all over the Jordan
Valley went out to the wilderness to hear him preach. 6And when they confessed their sins, he
baptized them in the Jordan River.
7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he denounced them.
"You brood of snakes!" he exclaimed. "Who warned you to flee God's coming judgment? 8Prove
by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God. 9Don't just say,
`We're safe--we're the descendants of Abraham.' That proves nothing. God can change these
stones here into children of Abraham. 10Even now the ax of God's judgment is poised, ready to
sever your roots. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and
thrown into the fire.
11"I baptize with water those who turn from their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming
soon who is far greater than I am--so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave. He
will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12He is ready to separate the chaff from the
grain with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, storing the grain in his
barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire."
The Baptism of Jesus
13Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14But John didn't want
to baptize him. "I am the one who needs to be baptized by you," he said, "so why are you coming
to me?"
15But Jesus said, "It must be done, because we must do everything that is right." So then John
baptized him.
16After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, "This is
my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him."
Chapter 4
The Temptation of Jesus
1Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the Devil.
2For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry. 3Then the Devil came and
said to him, "If you are the Son of God, change these stones into loaves of bread."
4But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say,
`People need more than bread for their life;
they must feed on every word of God.' "
5Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6and said, "If you
are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
`He orders his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you with their hands
to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.' "
7Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, `Do not test the Lord your God.' "
8Next the Devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the
world and all their glory. 9"I will give it all to you," he said, "if you will only kneel down and
worship me."
10"Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say,
`You must worship the Lord your God;
serve only him.' "
11Then the Devil went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus.
The Ministry of Jesus Begins
12When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 13But
instead of going to Nazareth, he went to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of
Zebulun and Naphtali. 14This fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy:
15
"In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali,
beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River--
in Galilee where so many Gentiles live--
16
the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light.
And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow,
a light has shined."
17From then on, Jesus began to preach, "Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the
Kingdom of Heaven is near."
The First Disciples
18One day as Jesus was walking along the shore beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two
brothers--Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew--fishing with a net, for they were commercial
fishermen. 19Jesus called out to them, "Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for
people!" 20And they left their nets at once and went with him.
21A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with
their father, Zebedee, mending their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22They immediately
followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
The Ministry of Jesus in Galilee
23Jesus traveled throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues, preaching everywhere the Good
News about the Kingdom. And he healed people who had every kind of sickness and disease.
24News about him spread far beyond the borders of Galilee so that the sick were soon coming to
be healed from as far away as Syria. And whatever their illness and pain, or if they were possessed
by demons, or were epileptics, or were paralyzed--he healed them all. 25Large crowds followed
him wherever he went--people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and
from east of the Jordan River.
Chapter 5
The Sermon on the Mount
1One day as the crowds were gathering, Jesus went up the mountainside with his disciples and sat
down to teach them.
The Beatitudes
2This is what he taught them:
3
"God blesses those who realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.
4
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5
God blesses those who are gentle and lowly,
for the whole earth will belong to them.
6
God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice,
for they will receive it in full.
7
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
9
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
10
God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11"God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my
followers. 12Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And
remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.
Teaching about Salt and Light
13"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it
useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14You are the light of the
world--like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. 15Don't hide your light under a
basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. 16In the same way, let your good deeds
shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Teaching about the Law
17"Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the
writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. 18I assure you, until heaven and earth
disappear, even the smallest detail of God's law will remain until its purpose is achieved. 19So if
you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the
Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be great in the
Kingdom of Heaven.
20"But I warn you--unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the
Pharisees do, you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!
Teaching about Anger
21"You have heard that the law of Moses says, `Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are
subject to judgment.' 22But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If
you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you
curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
23"So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you
suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24leave your sacrifice there beside
the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 25Come
to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over
to an officer, and thrown in jail. 26I assure you that you won't be free again until you have paid the
last penny.
Teaching about Adultery
27"You have heard that the law of Moses says, `Do not commit adultery.' 28But I say, anyone who
even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29So if your eye--even if it is your good eye--causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It
is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
30And if your hand--even if it is your stronger hand--causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it
away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown
into hell.
Teaching about Divorce
31"You have heard that the law of Moses says, `A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a
letter of divorce.' 32But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful,
causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Teaching about Vows
33"Again, you have heard that the law of Moses says, `Do not break your vows; you must carry
out the vows you have made to the Lord.' 34But I say, don't make any vows! If you say, `By
heaven!' it is a sacred vow because heaven is God's throne. 35And if you say, `By the earth!' it is a
sacred vow because the earth is his footstool. And don't swear, `By Jerusalem!' for Jerusalem is
the city of the great King. 36Don't even swear, `By my head!' for you can't turn one hair white or
black. 37Just say a simple, `Yes, I will,' or `No, I won't.' Your word is enough. To strengthen your
promise with a vow shows that something is wrong.
Teaching about Revenge
38"You have heard that the law of Moses says, `If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person
who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.' 39But I say,
don't resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. 40If you are
ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. 41If a soldier demands that
you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. 42Give to those who ask, and don't turn away
from those who want to borrow.
Teaching about Love for Enemies
43"You have heard that the law of Moses says, `Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. 44But I
say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45In that way, you will be acting as
true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and
he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. 46If you love only those who love you, what good
is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47If you are kind only to your friends, how are
you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48But you are to be perfect, even as your
Father in heaven is perfect.
Chapter 6
Teaching about Giving to the Needy
1"Take care! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the
reward from your Father in heaven. 2When you give a gift to someone in need, don't shout about
it as the hypocrites do--blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their
acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3But when you
give to someone, don't tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. 4Give your gifts in secret,
and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.
Teaching about Prayer and Fasting
5"And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly
on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the
reward they will ever get. 6But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you,
and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.
7"When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers
are answered only by repeating their words again and again. 8Don't be like them, because your
Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be honored.
10
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done here on earth,
just as it is in heaven.
11
Give us our food for today,
12
and forgive us our sins,
just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.
13
And don't let us yield to temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
14"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15But if you
refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
16"And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale and
disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I assure you, that is the only reward they
will ever get. 17But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18Then no one will suspect
you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in secret. And your Father, who
knows all secrets, will reward you.
Teaching about Money and Possessions
19"Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and
where thieves break in and steal. 20Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become
moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. 21Wherever your treasure is, there
your heart and thoughts will also be.
22"Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. 23But an evil eye
shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. If the light you think you have is really
darkness, how deep that darkness will be!
24"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one
and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
25"So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food, drink, and
clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? 26Look at the birds. They don't need
to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far
more valuable to him than they are. 27Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of
course not.
28"And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or
make their clothing, 29yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.
30And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he
more surely care for you? You have so little faith!
31"So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. 32Why be like the pagans who
are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs,
33and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of
God your primary concern.
34"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is
enough for today.
Chapter 7
Dont Condemn Others
1"Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. 2For others will treat you as you treat them.
Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged. 3And
why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? 4How can you
think of saying, `Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the
log in your own eye? 5Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will
see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.
6"Don't give what is holy to unholy people. Don't give pearls to swine! They will trample the
pearls, then turn and attack you.
Effective Prayer
7"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find.
Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. 8For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who
seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks. 9You parents--if your children ask
for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them
a snake? Of course not! 11If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how
much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
The Golden Rule
12"Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in
the law and the prophets.
The Narrow Gate
13"You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and
its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. 14But the gateway to life is small, and the
road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.
The Tree and Its Fruit
15"Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will
tear you apart. 16You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its
fruit. You don't pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. 17A healthy tree produces
good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit. 18A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a
bad tree can't produce good fruit. 19So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped
down and thrown into the fire. 20Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit
that is produced.
True Disciples
21"Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as `Lord,' but they
still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in
heaven. 22On judgment day many will tell me, `Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast
out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' 23But I will reply, `I never
knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.'
Building on a Solid Foundation
24"Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on
solid rock. 25Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against
that house, it won't collapse, because it is built on rock. 26But anyone who hears my teaching and
ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27When the rains and floods come
and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash."
28After Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29for he taught as one
who had real authority--quite unlike the teachers of religious law.
Chapter 8
Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy
1Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. 2Suddenly, a man with leprosy
approached Jesus. He knelt before him, worshiping. "Lord," the man said, "if you want to, you
can make me well again."
3Jesus touched him. "I want to," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared.
4Then Jesus said to him, "Go right over to the priest and let him examine you. Don't talk to
anyone along the way. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have
been healed of leprosy, so everyone will have proof of your healing."
Faith of the Roman Officer
5When Jesus arrived in Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6"Lord, my
young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and racked with pain."
7Jesus said, "I will come and heal him."
8Then the officer said, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word
from where you are, and my servant will be healed! 9I know, because I am under the authority of
my superior officers and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, `Go,' and they go,
or `Come,' and they come. And if I say to my slaves, `Do this or that,' they do it."
10When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd, he said, "I tell you the truth, I
haven't seen faith like this in all the land of Israel! 11And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will
come from all over the world and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the
Kingdom of Heaven. 12But many Israelites--those for whom the Kingdom was prepared--will be
cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
13Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, "Go on home. What you have believed has happened."
And the young servant was healed that same hour.
Jesus Heals Many People
14When Jesus arrived at Peter's house, Peter's mother-in-law was in bed with a high fever. 15But
when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.
16That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. All the spirits fled when he
commanded them to leave; and he healed all the sick. 17This fulfilled the word of the Lord through
Isaiah, who said, "He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases."
The Cost of Following Jesus
18When Jesus noticed how large the crowd was growing, he instructed his disciples to cross to the
other side of the lake.
19Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you no matter
where you go!"
20But Jesus said, "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Son of Man, have no
home of my own, not even a place to lay my head."
21Another of his disciples said, "Lord, first let me return home and bury my father."
22But Jesus told him, "Follow me now! Let those who are spiritually dead care for their own dead."
Jesus Calms the Storm
23Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24Suddenly, a terrible
storm came up, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went to
him and woke him up, shouting, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
26And Jesus answered, "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" Then he stood up and
rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly all was calm. 27The disciples just sat there in awe.
"Who is this?" they asked themselves. "Even the wind and waves obey him!"
Jesus Heals Two Demon-Possessed Men
28When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake in the land of the Gadarenes, two men who
were possessed by demons met him. They lived in a cemetery and were so dangerous that no one
could go through that area. 29They began screaming at him, "Why are you bothering us, Son of
God? You have no right to torture us before God's appointed time!" 30A large herd of pigs was
feeding in the distance, 31so the demons begged, "If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs."
32"All right, go!" Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the
pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.
33The herdsmen fled to the nearby city, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed
men. 34The entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them
alone.
Chapter 9
Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
1Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. 2Some people brought to him a
paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Take heart, son! Your sins are
forgiven."
3"Blasphemy! This man talks like he is God!" some of the teachers of religious law said among themselves.
4Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why are you thinking such evil thoughts? 5Is it
easier to say, `Your sins are forgiven' or `Get up and walk'? 6I will prove that I, the Son of Man, have the
authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, take your
mat, and go on home, because you are healed!"
7And the man jumped up and went home! 8Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen right
before their eyes. They praised God for sending a man with such great authority.
Jesus Calls Matthew
9As Jesus was going down the road, he saw Matthew sitting at his tax-collection booth. "Come, be my
disciple," Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.
10That night Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to be his dinner guests, along with his fellow tax
collectors and many other notorious sinners. 11The Pharisees were indignant. "Why does your teacher eat
with such scum?" they asked his disciples.
12When he heard this, Jesus replied, "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do." 13Then he added,
"Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: `I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices.' For
I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough."
A Discussion about Fasting
14One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, "Why do we and the Pharisees
fast, but your disciples don't fast?"
15Jesus responded, "Should the wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Someday he will be
taken from them, and then they will fast. 16And who would patch an old garment with unshrunk cloth? For
the patch shrinks and pulls away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger hole than before. 17And no one
puts new wine into old wineskins. The old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining
the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins. That way both the wine and the wineskins are
preserved."
Jesus Heals in Response to Faith
18As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt down before him. "My daughter has
just died," he said, "but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand upon her."
19As Jesus and the disciples were going to the official's home, 20a woman who had had a hemorrhage for
twelve years came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, 21for she thought, "If I can just touch
his robe, I will be healed."
22Jesus turned around and said to her, "Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well." And the
woman was healed at that moment.
23When Jesus arrived at the official's home, he noticed the noisy crowds and heard the funeral music. 24He
said, "Go away, for the girl isn't dead; she's only asleep." But the crowd laughed at him. 25When the crowd
was finally outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! 26The report of this
miracle swept through the entire countryside.
Jesus Heals the Blind and Mute
27After Jesus left the girl's home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, "Son of David, have
mercy on us!"
28They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, "Do you believe I can make
you see?"
"Yes, Lord," they told him, "we do."
29Then he touched their eyes and said, "Because of your faith, it will happen." 30And suddenly they could
see! Jesus sternly warned them, "Don't tell anyone about this." 31But instead, they spread his fame all over
the region.
32When they left, some people brought to him a man who couldn't speak because he was possessed by a
demon. 33So Jesus cast out the demon, and instantly the man could talk. The crowds marveled. "Nothing like
this has ever happened in Israel!" they exclaimed.
34But the Pharisees said, "He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of demons."
The Need for Workers
35Jesus traveled through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing
the Good News about the Kingdom. And wherever he went, he healed people of every sort of disease and
illness. 36He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn't
know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. 37He said to his disciples, "The harvest
is so great, but the workers are so few. 38So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to
send out more workers for his fields."
Chapter 10
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
1Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every
kind of disease and illness. 2Here are the names of the twelve apostles:
first Simon (also called Peter),
then Andrew (Peter's brother),
James (son of Zebedee),
John (James's brother),
3
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Thomas,
Matthew (the tax collector),
James (son of Alphaeus),
Thaddaeus,
4
Simon (the Zealot),
Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).
5Jesus sent the twelve disciples out with these instructions: "Don't go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans,
6but only to the people of Israel--God's lost sheep. 7Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is
near. 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you
have received!
9"Don't take any money with you. 10Don't carry a traveler's bag with an extra coat and sandals or even a
walking stick. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed. 11Whenever
you enter a city or village, search for a worthy man and stay in his home until you leave for the next town.
12When you are invited into someone's home, give it your blessing. 13If it turns out to be a worthy home, let
your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. 14If a village doesn't welcome you or listen to you,
shake off the dust of that place from your feet as you leave. 15I assure you, the wicked cities of Sodom and
Gomorrah will be better off on the judgment day than that place will be.
16"Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Be as wary as snakes and harmless as doves. 17But
beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and beaten in the synagogues. 18And you must stand trial
before governors and kings because you are my followers. This will be your opportunity to tell them about
me--yes, to witness to the world. 19When you are arrested, don't worry about what to say in your defense,
because you will be given the right words at the right time. 20For it won't be you doing the talking--it will be
the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21"Brother will betray brother to death, fathers will betray their own children, and children will rise against
their parents and cause them to be killed. 22And everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to me.
But those who endure to the end will be saved. 23When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I
assure you that I, the Son of Man, will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.
24"A student is not greater than the teacher. A servant is not greater than the master. 25The student shares
the teacher's fate. The servant shares the master's fate. And since I, the master of the household, have
been called the prince of demons, how much more will it happen to you, the members of the household! 26But
don't be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is
secret will be made public. 27What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What
I whisper in your ears, shout from the housetops for all to hear!
28"Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul.
Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny,
can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.
31So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.
32"If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father
in heaven. 33But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven.
34"Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, I came to bring a sword. 35I have come to set
a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her
mother-in-law. 36Your enemies will be right in your own household! 37If you love your father or mother more
than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you
are not worthy of being mine. 38If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of
being mine. 39If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it.
40"Anyone who welcomes you is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who
sent me. 41If you welcome a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will receive the same reward a prophet
gets. And if you welcome good and godly people because of their godliness, you will be given a reward like
theirs. 42And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be
rewarded."
Chapter 11
Jesus and John the Baptist
1When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went off teaching and preaching
in towns throughout the country.
2John the Baptist, who was now in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his
disciples to ask Jesus, 3"Are you really the Messiah we've been waiting for, or should we keep looking for
someone else?"
4Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him about what you have heard and seen-- 5the blind see, the
lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being
preached to the poor. 6And tell him: `God blesses those who are not offended by me.' "
7When John's disciples had gone, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. "Who is this man in the
wilderness that you went out to see? Did you find him weak as a reed, moved by every breath of wind? 8Or
were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? Those who dress like that live in palaces, not
out in the wilderness. 9Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. 10John is the
man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,
`Look, I am sending my messenger before you,
and he will prepare your way before you.'
11"I assure you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the most
insignificant person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! 12And from the time John the Baptist
began preaching and baptizing until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent
people attack it. 13For before John came, all the teachings of the Scriptures looked forward to this present
time. 14And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come.
15Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!
16"How shall I describe this generation? These people are like a group of children playing a game in the public
square. They complain to their friends, 17`We played wedding songs, and you weren't happy, so we played
funeral songs, but you weren't sad.' 18For John the Baptist didn't drink wine and he often fasted, and you
say, `He's demon possessed.' 19And I, the Son of Man, feast and drink, and you say, `He's a glutton and a
drunkard, and a friend of the worst sort of sinners!' But wisdom is shown to be right by what results from it."
Judgment for the Unbelievers
20Then Jesus began to denounce the cities where he had done most of his miracles, because they hadn't
turned from their sins and turned to God. 21"What horrors await you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the
miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have sat in deep repentance
long ago, clothed in sackcloth and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 22I assure you, Tyre
and Sidon will be better off on the judgment day than you! 23And you people of Capernaum, will you be
exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you
had been done in Sodom, it would still be here today. 24I assure you, Sodom will be better off on the
judgment day than you."
Jesus Prayer of Thanksgiving
25Then Jesus prayed this prayer: "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from
those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike. 26Yes, Father, it pleased
you to do it this way!
27"My Father has given me authority over everything. No one really knows the Son except the Father, and no
one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
28Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
29Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your
souls. 30For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."
Chapter 12
Controversy about the Sabbath
1At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so
they began breaking off heads of wheat and eating the grain. 2Some Pharisees saw them do it and protested,
"Your disciples shouldn't be doing that! It's against the law to work by harvesting grain on the Sabbath."
3But Jesus said to them, "Haven't you ever read in the Scriptures what King David did when he and his
companions were hungry? 4He went into the house of God, and they ate the special bread reserved for the
priests alone. That was breaking the law, too. 5And haven't you ever read in the law of Moses that the
priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? 6I tell you, there is one here who is even greater
than the Temple! 7But you would not have condemned those who aren't guilty if you knew the meaning of
this Scripture: `I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices.' 8For I, the Son of Man, am master
even of the Sabbath."
9Then he went over to the synagogue, 10where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees
asked Jesus, "Is it legal to work by healing on the Sabbath day?" (They were, of course, hoping he would say
yes, so they could bring charges against him.)
11And he answered, "If you had one sheep, and it fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn't you get to work
and pull it out? Of course you would. 12And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, it is right
to do good on the Sabbath." 13Then he said to the man, "Reach out your hand." The man reached out his
hand, and it became normal, just like the other one. 14Then the Pharisees called a meeting and discussed
plans for killing Jesus.
Jesus, Gods Chosen Servant
15But Jesus knew what they were planning. He left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all
the sick among them, 16but he warned them not to say who he was. 17This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah
concerning him:
18
"Look at my Servant,
whom I have chosen.
He is my Beloved,
and I am very pleased with him.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19
He will not fight or shout;
he will not raise his voice in public.
20
He will not crush those who are weak,
or quench the smallest hope,
until he brings full justice with his final victory.
21
And his name will be the hope
of all the world."
Jesus and the Prince of Demons
22Then a demon-possessed man, who was both blind and unable to talk, was brought to Jesus. He healed the
man so that he could both speak and see. 23The crowd was amazed. "Could it be that Jesus is the Son of
David, the Messiah?" they wondered out loud.
24But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, "No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets
his power from Satan, the prince of demons."
25Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, "Any kingdom at war with itself is doomed. A city or home divided
against itself is doomed. 26And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is fighting against himself. His own kingdom
will not survive. 27And if I am empowered by the prince of demons, what about your own followers? They
cast out demons, too, so they will judge you for what you have said. 28But if I am casting out demons by the
Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29Let me illustrate this. You can't enter a
strong man's house and rob him without first tying him up. Only then can his house be robbed! 30Anyone who
isn't helping me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me.
31"Every sin or blasphemy can be forgiven--except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which can never be
forgiven. 32Anyone who blasphemes against me, the Son of Man, can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the
Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.
33"A tree is identified by its fruit. Make a tree good, and its fruit will be good. Make a tree bad, and its fruit
will be bad. 34You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is
in your heart determines what you say. 35A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil
person produces evil words from an evil heart. 36And I tell you this, that you must give an account on
judgment day of every idle word you speak. 37The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will
be justified by them or you will be condemned."
The Sign of Jonah
38One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we want you to
show us a miraculous sign to prove that you are from God."
39But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, faithless generation would ask for a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will
give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days
and three nights, so I, the Son of Man, will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
41The people of Nineveh will rise up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, because they
repented at the preaching of Jonah. And now someone greater than Jonah is here--and you refuse to repent.
42The queen of Sheba will also rise up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, because she
came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And now someone greater than Solomon is
here--and you refuse to listen to him.
43"When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. 44Then it says,
`I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and clean.
45Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there.
And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation."
The True Family of Jesus
46As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers were outside, wanting to talk with him.
47Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you."
48Jesus asked, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" 49Then he pointed to his disciples and said,
"These are my mother and brothers. 50Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and
sister and mother!"
Chapter 13
Story of the Farmer Scattering Seed
1Later that same day, Jesus left the house and went down to the shore, 2where an immense crowd soon
gathered. He got into a boat, where he sat and taught as the people listened on the shore. 3He told many
stories such as this one:
"A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4As he scattered it across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath,
and the birds came and ate them. 5Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The plants sprang up
quickly, 6but they soon wilted beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the
shallow soil. 7Other seeds fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades. 8But some seeds
fell on fertile soil and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been
planted. 9Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!"
10His disciples came and asked him, "Why do you always tell stories when you talk to the people?"
11Then he explained to them, "You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven,
but others have not. 12To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they
will have an abundance of knowledge. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken
away from them. 13That is why I tell these stories, because people see what I do, but they don't really see.
They hear what I say, but they don't really hear, and they don't understand. 14This fulfills the prophecy of
Isaiah, which says:
`You will hear my words,
but you will not understand;
you will see what I do,
but you will not perceive its meaning.
15
For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes--
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.'
16"But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17I assure you, many
prophets and godly people have longed to see and hear what you have seen and heard, but they could not.
18"Now here is the explanation of the story I told about the farmer sowing grain: 19The seed that fell on the
hard path represents those who hear the Good News about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the
evil one comes and snatches the seed away from their hearts. 20The rocky soil represents those who hear
the message and receive it with joy. 21But like young plants in such soil, their roots don't go very deep. At
first they get along fine, but they wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they believe
the word. 22The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the
message is crowded out by the cares of this life and the lure of wealth, so no crop is produced. 23The good
soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God's message and produce a huge harvest--thirty,
sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted."
Story of the Wheat and Weeds
24Here is another story Jesus told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.
25But that night as everyone slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat. 26When the crop
began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. 27The farmer's servants came and told him, `Sir, the
field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds!'
28" `An enemy has done it!' the farmer exclaimed.
" `Shall we pull out the weeds?' they asked.
29"He replied, `No, you'll hurt the wheat if you do. 30Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell
the harvesters to sort out the weeds and burn them and to put the wheat in the barn.' "
Illustration of the Mustard Seed
31Here is another illustration Jesus used: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.
32It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants and grows into a tree where birds
can come and find shelter in its branches."
Illustration of the Yeast
33Jesus also used this illustration: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast used by a woman making bread. Even
though she used a large amount of flour, the yeast permeated every part of the dough."
34Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke
to them without using such parables. 35This fulfilled the prophecy that said,
"I will speak to you in parables.
I will explain mysteries hidden since the creation of the world."
The Wheat and Weeds Explained
36Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, "Please explain the story of
the weeds in the field."
37"All right," he said. "I, the Son of Man, am the farmer who plants the good seed. 38The field is the world,
and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil
one. 39The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the world,
and the harvesters are the angels.
40"Just as the weeds are separated out and burned, so it will be at the end of the world. 41I, the Son of
Man, will send my angels, and they will remove from my Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do
evil, 42and they will throw them into the furnace and burn them. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
43Then the godly will shine like the sun in their Father's Kingdom. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen
and understand!
Illustration of the Hidden Treasure
44"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid
it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field--and to get the treasure, too!
Illustration of the Pearl Merchant
45"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46When he
discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!
Illustration of the Fishing Net
47"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that is thrown into the water and gathers fish of every
kind. 48When the net is full, they drag it up onto the shore, sit down, sort the good fish into crates, and
throw the bad ones away. 49That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and
separate the wicked people from the godly, 50throwing the wicked into the fire. There will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth. 51Do you understand?"
"Yes," they said, "we do."
52Then he added, "Every teacher of religious law who has become a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like
a person who brings out of the storehouse the new teachings as well as the old."
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
53When Jesus had finished telling these stories, he left that part of the country. 54He returned to Nazareth,
his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was astonished and said, "Where does he
get his wisdom and his miracles? 55He's just a carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his
brothers--James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. 56All his sisters live right here among us. What makes him so
great?" 57And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own
family." 58And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.
Chapter 14
The Death of John the Baptist
1When Herod Antipas heard about Jesus, 2he said to his advisers, "This must be John the Baptist come back
to life again! That is why he can do such miracles." 3For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor
to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod's brother Philip). 4John kept telling Herod, "It is illegal for you to
marry her." 5Herod would have executed John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed
John was a prophet.
6But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias's daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, 7so he
promised with an oath to give her anything she wanted. 8At her mother's urging, the girl asked, "I want the
head of John the Baptist on a tray!" 9The king was sorry, but because of his oath and because he didn't want
to back down in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. 10So John was beheaded in the prison,
11and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 12John's disciples
came for his body and buried it. Then they told Jesus what had happened.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
13As soon as Jesus heard the news, he went off by himself in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the
crowds heard where he was headed and followed by land from many villages. 14A vast crowd was there as he
stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15That evening the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and it is getting late. Send the
crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves."
16But Jesus replied, "That isn't necessary--you feed them."
17"Impossible!" they exclaimed. "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish!"
18"Bring them here," he said. 19Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. And he took the five loaves
and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God's blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into
pieces, he gave some of the bread and fish to each disciple, and the disciples gave them to the people.
20They all ate as much as they wanted, and they picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 21About five
thousand men had eaten from those five loaves, in addition to all the women and children!
Jesus Walks on Water
22Immediately after this, Jesus made his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the
lake while he sent the people home. 23Afterward he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while
he was there alone. 24Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had
risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.
25About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the water. 26When the disciples saw
him, they screamed in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 27But Jesus spoke to them at once. "It's all right," he
said. "I am here! Don't be afraid."
28Then Peter called to him, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you by walking on water."
29"All right, come," Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30But when he looked around
at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted.
31Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed him. "You don't have much faith," Jesus said. "Why did
you doubt me?" 32And when they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.
33Then the disciples worshiped him. "You really are the Son of God!" they exclaimed.
34After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. 35The news of their arrival spread quickly
throughout the whole surrounding area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. 36The sick
begged him to let them touch even the fringe of his robe, and all who touched it were healed.
Chapter 15
Jesus Teaches about Inner Purity
1Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to interview Jesus. 2"Why do your
disciples disobey our age-old traditions?" they demanded. "They ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand
washing before they eat."
3Jesus replied, "And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? 4For instance,
God says, `Honor your father and mother,' and `Anyone who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to
death.' 5But you say, `You don't need to honor your parents by caring for their needs if you give the money
to God instead.' 6And so, by your own tradition, you nullify the direct commandment of God. 7You hypocrites!
Isaiah was prophesying about you when he said,
8
`These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far away.
9
Their worship is a farce,
for they replace God's commands with their own man-made teachings.' "
10Then Jesus called to the crowds and said, "Listen to what I say and try to understand. 11You are not
defiled by what you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do."
12Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just
said?"
13Jesus replied, "Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be rooted up, 14so ignore them. They
are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch."
15Then Peter asked Jesus, "Explain what you meant when you said people aren't defiled by what they eat."
16"Don't you understand?" Jesus asked him. 17"Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes
out of the body. 18But evil words come from an evil heart and defile the person who says them. 19For from
the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20These
are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands could never defile you and make you unacceptable to God!"
The Faith of a Gentile Woman
21Jesus then left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22A Gentile woman who lived there
came to him, pleading, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter has a demon in her, and it
is severely tormenting her."
23But Jesus gave her no reply--not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. "Tell her to
leave," they said. "She is bothering us with all her begging."
24Then he said to the woman, "I was sent only to help the people of Israel--God's lost sheep--not the
Gentiles."
25But she came and worshiped him and pleaded again, "Lord, help me!"
26"It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs," he said.
27"Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even dogs are permitted to eat crumbs that fall beneath their master's table."
28"Woman," Jesus said to her, "your faith is great. Your request is granted." And her daughter was instantly
healed.
Jesus Heals Many People
29Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down. 30A vast crowd brought him the lame,
blind, crippled, mute, and many others with physical difficulties, and they laid them before Jesus. And he
healed them all. 31The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn't been able to speak were talking, the crippled
were made well, the lame were walking around, and those who had been blind could see again! And they
praised the God of Israel.
Jesus Feeds Four Thousand
32Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me
for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry, or they will faint
along the road."
33The disciples replied, "And where would we get enough food out here in the wilderness for all of them to
eat?"
34Jesus asked, "How many loaves of bread do you have?"
They replied, "Seven, and a few small fish." 35So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. 36Then
he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, broke them into pieces, and gave them to the
disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd.
37They all ate until they were full, and when the scraps were picked up, there were seven large baskets of
food left over! 38There were four thousand men who were fed that day, in addition to all the women and
children. 39Then Jesus sent the people home, and he got into a boat and crossed over to the region of
Magadan.
Chapter 16
Leaders Demand a Miraculous Sign
1One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus' claims by asking him to show them a miraculous
sign from heaven.
2He replied, "You know the saying, `Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow, 3red sky in the morning
means foul weather all day.' You are good at reading the weather signs in the sky, but you can't read the
obvious signs of the times! 4Only an evil, faithless generation would ask for a miraculous sign, but the only
sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah." Then Jesus left them and went away.
Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees
5Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring
any food. 6"Watch out!" Jesus warned them. "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
7They decided he was saying this because they hadn't brought any bread. 8Jesus knew what they were
thinking, so he said, "You have so little faith! Why are you worried about having no food? 9Won't you ever
understand? Don't you remember the five thousand I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of food that were
left over? 10Don't you remember the four thousand I fed with seven loaves, with baskets of food left over?
11How could you even think I was talking about food? So again I say, `Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees
and Sadducees.' "
12Then at last they understood that he wasn't speaking about yeast or bread but about the false teaching of
the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Peters Declaration about Jesus
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the
Son of Man is?"
14"Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the
other prophets."
15Then he asked them, "Who do you say I am?"
16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
17Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you.
You did not learn this from any human being. 18Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom
of Heaven. Whatever you lock on earth will be locked in heaven, and whatever you open on earth will be
opened in heaven." 20Then he sternly warned them not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Jesus Predicts His Death
21From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that he had to go to Jerusalem, and he told them what
would happen to him there. He would suffer at the hands of the leaders and the leading priests and the
teachers of religious law. He would be killed, and he would be raised on the third day.
22But Peter took him aside and corrected him. "Heaven forbid, Lord," he said. "This will never happen to you!"
23Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing
things merely from a human point of view, and not from God's."
24Then Jesus said to the disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish
ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. 25If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if
you give up your life for me, you will find true life. 26And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but
lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul? 27For I, the Son of Man, will come
in the glory of my Father with his angels and will judge all people according to their deeds. 28And I assure you
that some of you standing here right now will not die before you see me, the Son of Man, coming in my
Kingdom."
Chapter 17
The Transfiguration
1Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. 2As
the men watched, Jesus' appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became
dazzling white. 3Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. 4Peter blurted out, "Lord,
this is wonderful! If you want me to, I'll make three shrines, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
5But even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved
Son, and I am fully pleased with him. Listen to him." 6The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the
ground.
7Jesus came over and touched them. "Get up," he said, "don't be afraid." 8And when they looked, they saw
only Jesus with them. 9As they descended the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Don't tell anyone what
you have seen until I, the Son of Man, have been raised from the dead."
10His disciples asked, "Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah
comes?"
11Jesus replied, "Elijah is indeed coming first to set everything in order. 12But I tell you, he has already come,
but he wasn't recognized, and he was badly mistreated. And soon the Son of Man will also suffer at their
hands." 13Then the disciples realized he had been speaking of John the Baptist.
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
14When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, a huge crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt
before Jesus and said, 15"Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly. He often
falls into the fire or into the water. 16So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn't heal him."
17Jesus replied, "You stubborn, faithless people! How long must I be with you until you believe? How long
must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 18Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him.
From that moment the boy was well.
19Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, "Why couldn't we cast out that demon?"
20"You didn't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard
seed you could say to this mountain, `Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be
impossible."
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
22One day after they had returned to Galilee, Jesus told them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed. 23He
will be killed, but three days later he will be raised from the dead." And the disciples' hearts were filled with
grief.
Payment of the Temple Tax
24On their arrival in Capernaum, the tax collectors for the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, "Doesn't
your teacher pay the Temple tax?"
25"Of course he does," Peter replied. Then he went into the house to talk to Jesus about it.
But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, "What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own
people or the foreigners they have conquered?"
26"They tax the foreigners," Peter replied.
"Well, then," Jesus said, "the citizens are free! 27However, we don't want to offend them, so go down to the
lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a coin. Take the coin
and pay the tax for both of us."
Chapter 18
The Greatest in the Kingdom
1About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Which of us is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"
2Jesus called a small child over to him and put the child among them. 3Then he said, "I assure you, unless
you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.
4Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5And
anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. 6But if anyone causes one of these
little ones who trusts in me to lose faith, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a
large millstone tied around the neck.
7"How terrible it will be for anyone who causes others to sin. Temptation to do wrong is inevitable, but how
terrible it will be for the person who does the tempting. 8So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off
and throw it away. It is better to enter heaven crippled or lame than to be thrown into the unquenchable fire
with both of your hands and feet. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is
better to enter heaven half blind than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.
10"Beware that you don't despise a single one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels
are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.
Story of the Lost Sheep
12"If a shepherd has one hundred sheep, and one wanders away and is lost, what will he do? Won't he leave
the ninety-nine others and go out into the hills to search for the lost one? 13And if he finds it, he will surely
rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn't wander away! 14In the same way, it is not my
heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish.
Correcting a Fellow Believer
15"If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and
confesses it, you have won that person back. 16But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you
and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17If that person
still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. If the church decides you are right, but the other person
won't accept it, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. 18I tell you this: Whatever you
prohibit on earth is prohibited in heaven, and whatever you allow on earth is allowed in heaven.
19"I also tell you this: If two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in
heaven will do it for you. 20For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among
them."
Story of the Unforgiving Debtor
21Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven
times?"
22"No!" Jesus replied, "seventy times seven!
23"For this reason, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up
to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24In the process, one of his debtors was brought in
who owed him millions of dollars. 25He couldn't pay, so the king ordered that he, his wife, his children, and
everything he had be sold to pay the debt. 26But the man fell down before the king and begged him, `Oh, sir,
be patient with me, and I will pay it all.' 27Then the king was filled with pity for him, and he released him and
forgave his debt.
28"But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He
grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. 29His fellow servant fell down before him and
begged for a little more time. `Be patient and I will pay it,' he pleaded. 30But his creditor wouldn't wait. He
had the man arrested and jailed until the debt could be paid in full.
31"When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him
what had happened. 32Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, `You evil servant! I forgave
you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33Shouldn't you have mercy on your fellow servant,
just as I had mercy on you?' 34Then the angry king sent the man to prison until he had paid every penny.
35"That's what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters in your
heart."
Chapter 19
Discussion about Divorce and Marriage
1After Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went southward to the region of Judea and
into the area east of the Jordan River. 2Vast crowds followed him there, and he healed their sick.
3Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: "Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife
for any reason?"
4"Haven't you read the Scriptures?" Jesus replied. "They record that from the beginning `God made them male
and female.' 5And he said, `This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife,
and the two are united into one.' 6Since they are no longer two but one, let no one separate them, for God
has joined them together."
7"Then why did Moses say a man could merely write an official letter of divorce and send her away?" they
asked.
8Jesus replied, "Moses permitted divorce as a concession to your hard-hearted wickedness, but it was not
what God had originally intended. 9And I tell you this, a man who divorces his wife and marries another
commits adultery--unless his wife has been unfaithful."
10Jesus' disciples then said to him, "Then it is better not to marry!"
11"Not everyone can accept this statement," Jesus said. "Only those whom God helps. 12Some are born as
eunuchs, some have been made that way by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the
Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone who can, accept this statement."
Jesus Blesses the Children
13Some children were brought to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. The disciples
told them not to bother him. 14But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the
Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." 15And he put his hands on their heads and blessed them
before he left.
The Rich Young Man
16Someone came to Jesus with this question: "Teacher, what good things must I do to have eternal life?"
17"Why ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "Only God is good. But to answer your question, you can
receive eternal life if you keep the commandments."
18"Which ones?" the man asked.
And Jesus replied: " `Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely. 19Honor
your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.' "
20"I've obeyed all these commandments," the young man replied. "What else must I do?"
21Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22But when the young man heard this, he went
sadly away because he had many possessions.
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to get into the
Kingdom of Heaven. 24I say it again--it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich
person to enter the Kingdom of God!"
25The disciples were astounded. "Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked.
26Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is
possible."
27Then Peter said to him, "We've given up everything to follow you. What will we get out of it?"
28And Jesus replied, "I assure you that when I, the Son of Man, sit upon my glorious throne in the Kingdom,
you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And
everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my
sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will have eternal life. 30But many who seem to be
important now will be the least important then, and those who are considered least here will be the greatest
then.
Chapter 20
Story of the Vineyard Workers
1"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out early one morning to hire workers
for his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.
3"At nine o'clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing
around doing nothing. 4So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of
the day. 5At noon and again around three o'clock he did the same thing. 6At five o'clock that evening he was
in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, `Why haven't you been working
today?'
7"They replied, `Because no one hired us.'
"The owner of the estate told them, `Then go on out and join the others in my vineyard.'
8"That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first.
9When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage. 10When those hired earlier
came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage.
11When they received their pay, they protested, 12`Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid
them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.'
13"He answered one of them, `Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual
wage? 14Take it and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15Is it against the law for me to
do what I want with my money? Should you be angry because I am kind?'
16"And so it is, that many who are first now will be last then; and those who are last now will be first then."
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
17As Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was
going to happen to him. 18"When we get to Jerusalem," he said, "the Son of Man will be betrayed to the
leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 19Then they will hand him
over to the Romans to be mocked, whipped, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the
dead."
Jesus Teaches about Serving Others
20Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt
respectfully to ask a favor. 21"What is your request?" he asked.
She replied, "In your Kingdom, will you let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one at your right
and the other at your left?"
22But Jesus told them, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of
sorrow I am about to drink?"
"Oh yes," they replied, "we are able!"
23"You will indeed drink from it," he told them. "But I have no right to say who will sit on the thrones next to
mine. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen."
24When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 25But Jesus
called them together and said, "You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the
people beneath them. 26But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you
must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must become your slave. 28For even I, the Son of
Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
29As Jesus and the disciples left the city of Jericho, a huge crowd followed behind. 30Two blind men were
sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, "Lord, Son
of David, have mercy on us!" 31The crowd told them to be quiet, but they only shouted louder, "Lord, Son of
David, have mercy on us!"
32Jesus stopped in the road and called, "What do you want me to do for you?"
33"Lord," they said, "we want to see!" 34Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they
could see! Then they followed him.
Chapter 21
The Triumphal Entry
1As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of
Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2"Go into the village over there," he said, "and you will see a
donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them here. 3If anyone asks what you are
doing, just say, `The Lord needs them,' and he will immediately send them." 4This was done to fulfill the
prophecy,
5
"Tell the people of Israel,
`Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey--
even on a donkey's colt.' "
6The two disciples did as Jesus said. 7They brought the animals to him and threw their garments over the
colt, and he sat on it.
8Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road ahead of Jesus, and others cut branches from the trees
and spread them on the road. 9He was in the center of the procession, and the crowds all around him were
shouting,
"Praise God for the Son of David!
Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Praise God in highest heaven!"
10The entire city of Jerusalem was stirred as he entered. "Who is this?" they asked.
11And the crowds replied, "It's Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
Jesus Clears the Temple
12Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the merchants and their customers. He knocked over the
tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves. 13He said, "The Scriptures declare, `My
Temple will be called a place of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves!"
14The blind and the lame came to him, and he healed them there in the Temple. 15The leading priests and
the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the little children in the Temple
shouting, "Praise God for the Son of David." But they were indignant 16and asked Jesus, "Do you hear what
these children are saying?"
"Yes," Jesus replied. "Haven't you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, `You have taught children and
infants to give you praise.' " 17Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
18In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, 19and he noticed a fig tree beside the
road. He went over to see if there were any figs on it, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, "May
you never bear fruit again!" And immediately the fig tree withered up.
20The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?"
21Then Jesus told them, "I assure you, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and
much more. You can even say to this mountain, `May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and it will
happen. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
23When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and other leaders came up to
him. They demanded, "By whose authority did you drive out the merchants from the Temple? Who gave you
such authority?"
24"I'll tell you who gave me the authority to do these things if you answer one question," Jesus replied. 25"Did
John's baptism come from heaven or was it merely human?"
They talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn't believe him.
26But if we say it was merely human, we'll be mobbed, because the people think he was a prophet." 27So
they finally replied, "We don't know."
And Jesus responded, "Then I won't answer your question either.
Story of the Two Sons
28"But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, `Son, go out and work in the
vineyard today.' 29The son answered, `No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway.
30Then the father told the other son, `You go,' and he said, `Yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go. 31Which of the
two was obeying his father?"
They replied, "The first, of course."
Then Jesus explained his meaning: "I assure you, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the
Kingdom of God before you do. 32For John the Baptist came and showed you the way to life, and you didn't
believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to
turn from your sins and believe him.
Story of the Evil Farmers
33"Now listen to this story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for
pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and
moved to another country. 34At the time of the grape harvest he sent his servants to collect his share of the
crop. 35But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36So the landowner
sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.
37"Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, `Surely they will respect my son.'
38"But when the farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, `Here comes the heir to this estate.
Come on, let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!' 39So they grabbed him, took him out of the vineyard,
and murdered him.
40"When the owner of the vineyard returns," Jesus asked, "what do you think he will do to those farmers?"
41The religious leaders replied, "He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to
others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest."
42Then Jesus asked them, "Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures?
`The stone rejected by the builders
has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous to see.'
43What I mean is that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will
produce the proper fruit. 44Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush
anyone on whom it falls."
45When the leading priests and Pharisees heard Jesus, they realized he was pointing at them--that they were
the farmers in his story. 46They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid to try because the crowds
considered Jesus to be a prophet.
Chapter 22
Story of the Great Feast
1Jesus told them several other stories to illustrate the Kingdom. He said, 2"The Kingdom of Heaven can be
illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. 3Many guests were invited,
and when the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify everyone that it was time to come. But they
all refused! 4So he sent other servants to tell them, `The feast has been prepared, and choice meats have
been cooked. Everything is ready. Hurry!' 5But the guests he had invited ignored them and went about their
business, one to his farm, another to his store. 6Others seized his messengers and treated them shamefully,
even killing some of them.
7"Then the king became furious. He sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their city. 8And he
said to his servants, `The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren't worthy of the honor. 9Now
go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.'
10"So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled
with guests. 11But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the
proper clothes for a wedding. 12`Friend,' he asked, `how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?'
And the man had no reply. 13Then the king said to his aides, `Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into
the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14For many are called, but few are
chosen."
Taxes for Caesar
15Then the Pharisees met together to think of a way to trap Jesus into saying something for which they
could accuse him. 16They decided to send some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to ask
him this question: "Teacher, we know how honest you are. You teach about the way of God regardless of the
consequences. You are impartial and don't play favorites. 17Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right
to pay taxes to the Roman government or not?"
18But Jesus knew their evil motives. "You hypocrites!" he said. "Whom are you trying to fool with your trick
questions? 19Here, show me the Roman coin used for the tax." When they handed him the coin, 20he asked,
"Whose picture and title are stamped on it?"
21"Caesar's," they replied.
"Well, then," he said, "give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given
to God." 22His reply amazed them, and they went away.
Discussion about Resurrection
23That same day some Sadducees stepped forward--a group of Jews who say there is no resurrection after
death. They posed this question: 24"Teacher, Moses said, `If a man dies without children, his brother should
marry the widow and have a child who will be the brother's heir.' 25Well, there were seven brothers. The
oldest married and then died without children, so the second brother married the widow. 26This brother also
died without children, and the wife was married to the next brother, and so on until she had been the wife of
each of them. 27And then she also died. 28So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For she was
the wife of all seven of them!"
29Jesus replied, "Your problem is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God.
30For when the dead rise, they won't be married. They will be like the angels in heaven. 31But now, as to
whether there will be a resurrection of the dead--haven't you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long
after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said, 32`I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the
God of Jacob.' So he is the God of the living, not the dead."
33When the crowds heard him, they were impressed with his teaching.
The Most Important Commandment
34But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they thought up a fresh
question of their own to ask him. 35One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this
question: 36"Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?"
37Jesus replied, " `You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'
38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39A second is equally important: `Love your neighbor as
yourself.' 40All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two
commandments."
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
41Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question: 42"What do you think about the
Messiah? Whose son is he?"
They replied, "He is the son of David."
43Jesus responded, "Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, call him Lord? For
David said,
44
`The LORD said to my Lord,
Sit in honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.'
45Since David called him Lord, how can he be his son at the same time?"
46No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Chapter 23
Jesus Warns the Religious Leaders
1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2"The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the
official interpreters of the Scriptures. 3So practice and obey whatever they say to you, but don't follow their
example. For they don't practice what they teach. 4They crush you with impossible religious demands and
never lift a finger to help ease the burden.
5"Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses
inside, and they wear extra long tassels on their robes. 6And how they love to sit at the head table at
banquets and in the most prominent seats in the synagogue! 7They enjoy the attention they get on the
streets, and they enjoy being called `Rabbi.' 8Don't ever let anyone call you `Rabbi,' for you have only one
teacher, and all of you are on the same level as brothers and sisters. 9And don't address anyone here on
earth as `Father,' for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. 10And don't let anyone call you `Master,' for
there is only one master, the Messiah. 11The greatest among you must be a servant. 12But those who exalt
themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
13"How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you won't let
others enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and you won't go in yourselves. 15Yes, how terrible it will be for you
teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you
turn him into twice the son of hell as you yourselves are.
16"Blind guides! How terrible it will be for you! For you say that it means nothing to swear `by God's
Temple'--you can break that oath. But then you say that it is binding to swear `by the gold in the Temple.'
17Blind fools! Which is greater, the gold, or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? 18And you say that to
take an oath `by the altar' can be broken, but to swear `by the gifts on the altar' is binding! 19How blind! For
which is greater, the gift on the altar, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20When you swear `by the
altar,' you are swearing by it and by everything on it. 21And when you swear `by the Temple,' you are
swearing by it and by God, who lives in it. 22And when you swear `by heaven,' you are swearing by the
throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.
23"How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful
to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you ignore the important things of the law--justice, mercy,
and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things. 24Blind guides!
You strain your water so you won't accidentally swallow a gnat; then you swallow a camel!
25"How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are so careful to
clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy--full of greed and self-indulgence! 26Blind
Pharisees! First wash the inside of the cup, and then the outside will become clean, too.
27"How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are like
whitewashed tombs--beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of
impurity. 28You try to look like upright people outwardly, but inside your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and
lawlessness.
29"How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs
for the prophets your ancestors killed and decorate the graves of the godly people your ancestors destroyed.
30Then you say, `We never would have joined them in killing the prophets.'
31"In saying that, you are accusing yourselves of being the descendants of those who murdered the
prophets. 32Go ahead. Finish what they started. 33Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment
of hell? 34I will send you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. You will kill some by crucifixion
and whip others in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city. 35As a result, you will become guilty of
murdering all the godly people from righteous Abel to Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered in the
Temple between the altar and the sanctuary. 36I assure you, all the accumulated judgment of the centuries
will break upon the heads of this very generation.
Jesus Grieves over Jerusalem
37"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have
wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let
me. 38And now look, your house is left to you, empty and desolate. 39For I tell you this, you will never see
me again until you say, `Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!' "
Chapter 24
Jesus Foretells the Future
1As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. 2But
he told them, "Do you see all these buildings? I assure you, they will be so completely demolished that not
one stone will be left on top of another!"
3Later, Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and asked, "When
will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the
world?"
4Jesus told them, "Don't let anyone mislead you. 5For many will come in my name, saying, `I am the Messiah.'
They will lead many astray. 6And wars will break out near and far, but don't panic. Yes, these things must
come, but the end won't follow immediately. 7The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other,
and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8But all this will be only the beginning
of the horrors to come.
9"Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your
allegiance to me. 10And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11And many false
prophets will appear and will lead many people astray. 12Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of
many will grow cold. 13But those who endure to the end will be saved. 14And the Good News about the
Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the
end will come.
15"The time will come when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about: the sacrilegious object that
causes desecration standing in the Holy Place"--reader, pay attention! 16"Then those in Judea must flee to
the hills. 17A person outside the house must not go inside to pack. 18A person in the field must not return
even to get a coat. 19How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for mothers nursing their babies in those
days. 20And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21For that will be a time of greater
horror than anything the world has ever seen or will ever see again. 22In fact, unless that time of calamity is
shortened, the entire human race will be destroyed. But it will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen
ones.
23"Then if anyone tells you, `Look, here is the Messiah,' or `There he is,' don't pay any attention. 24For false
messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great miraculous signs and wonders so as to deceive, if
possible, even God's chosen ones. 25See, I have warned you.
26"So if someone tells you, `Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,' don't bother to go and look. Or, `Look,
he is hiding here,' don't believe it! 27For as the lightning lights up the entire sky, so it will be when the Son of
Man comes. 28Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that
the end is near.
29"Immediately after those horrible days end,
the sun will be darkened,
the moon will not give light,
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers of heaven will be shaken.
30And then at last, the sign of the coming of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens, and there will be
deep mourning among all the nations of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds of
heaven with power and great glory. 31And he will send forth his angels with the sound of a mighty trumpet
blast, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.
32"Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you
know without being told that summer is near. 33Just so, when you see the events I've described beginning to
happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34I assure you, this generation will not pass
from the scene before all these things take place. 35Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will
remain forever.
36"However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven
or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
37"When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. 38In those days before the Flood, the
people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat.
39People didn't realize what was going to happen until the Flood came and swept them all away. That is the
way it will be when the Son of Man comes.
40"Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41Two women will be
grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. 42So be prepared, because you don't know what
day your Lord is coming.
43"Know this: A homeowner who knew exactly when a burglar was coming would stay alert and not permit the
house to be broken into. 44You also must be ready all the time. For the Son of Man will come when least
expected.
45"Who is a faithful, sensible servant, to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his
household and feeding his family? 46If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job,
there will be a reward. 47I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48But if the
servant is evil and thinks, `My master won't be back for a while,' 49and begins oppressing the other servants,
partying, and getting drunk-- 50well, the master will return unannounced and unexpected. 51He will tear the
servant apart and banish him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Chapter 25
Story of the Ten Bridesmaids
1"The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to
meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The five who were foolish took no oil
for their lamps, 4but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5When the bridegroom was
delayed, they all lay down and slept. 6At midnight they were roused by the shout, `Look, the bridegroom is
coming! Come out and welcome him!'
7"All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8Then the five foolish ones asked the others, `Please
give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.' 9But the others replied, `We don't have enough for
all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.'
10"But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to
the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood
outside, calling, `Sir, open the door for us!' 12But he called back, `I don't know you!'
13"So stay awake and be prepared, because you do not know the day or hour of my return.
Story of the Three Servants
14"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a trip. He called together
his servants and gave them money to invest for him while he was gone. 15He gave five bags of gold to one,
two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the last--dividing it in proportion to their abilities--and
then left on his trip. 16The servant who received the five bags of gold began immediately to invest the money
and soon doubled it. 17The servant with two bags of gold also went right to work and doubled the money.
18But the servant who received the one bag of gold dug a hole in the ground and hid the master's money for
safekeeping.
19"After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had
used his money. 20The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of gold said, `Sir, you gave me five
bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.' 21The master was full of praise. `Well done, my good
and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more
responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!'
22"Next came the servant who had received the two bags of gold, with the report, `Sir, you gave me two
bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.' 23The master said, `Well done, my good and faithful
servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more
responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!'
24"Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, `Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting
crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. 25I was afraid I would lose your money, so I
hid it in the earth and here it is.'
26"But the master replied, `You wicked and lazy servant! You think I'm a hard man, do you, harvesting crops
I didn't plant and gathering crops I didn't cultivate? 27Well, you should at least have put my money into the
bank so I could have some interest. 28Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten
bags of gold. 29To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an
abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away. 30Now throw
this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
The Final Judgment
31"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious
throne. 32All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate them as a shepherd separates
the sheep from the goats. 33He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34Then the
King will say to those on the right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave
me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I
was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'
37"Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty
and give you something to drink? 38Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?
39When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' 40And the King will tell them, `I assure you,
when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'
41"Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, `Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal
fire prepared for the Devil and his demons! 42For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you
didn't give me anything to drink. 43I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked,
and you gave me no clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'
44"Then they will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in
prison, and not help you?' 45And he will answer, `I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these
my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.' 46And they will go away into eternal punishment, but
the righteous will go into eternal life."
Chapter 26
The Plot to Kill Jesus
1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he said to his disciples, 2"As you know, the Passover
celebration begins in two days, and I, the Son of Man, will be betrayed and crucified."
3At that same time the leading priests and other leaders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high
priest, 4to discuss how to capture Jesus secretly and put him to death. 5"But not during the Passover," they
agreed, "or there will be a riot."
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had leprosy. 7During supper, a woman
came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. 8The disciples were indignant
when they saw this. "What a waste of money," they said. 9"She could have sold it for a fortune and given the
money to the poor."
10But Jesus replied, "Why berate her for doing such a good thing to me? 11You will always have the poor
among you, but I will not be here with you much longer. 12She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my
body for burial. 13I assure you, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's
deed will be talked about in her memory."
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15and asked, "How much will
you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16From that time on, Judas
began looking for the right time and place to betray Jesus.
The Last Supper
17On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you
want us to prepare the Passover supper?"
18"As you go into the city," he told them, "you will see a certain man. Tell him, `The Teacher says, My time
has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.' " 19So the disciples did as Jesus
told them and prepared the Passover supper there.
20When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve disciples. 21While they were eating, he
said, "The truth is, one of you will betray me."
22Greatly distressed, one by one they began to ask him, "I'm not the one, am I, Lord?"
23He replied, "One of you who is eating with me now will betray me. 24For I, the Son of Man, must die, as the
Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for my betrayer. Far better for him if he had never
been born!"
25Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, "Teacher, I'm not the one, am I?"
And Jesus told him, "You have said it yourself."
26As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God's blessing on it. Then he broke it in pieces
and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take it and eat it, for this is my body." 27And he took a cup of wine and
gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, "Each of you drink from it, 28for this is my blood,
which seals the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many. 29Mark
my words--I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom." 30Then
they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peters Denial
31"Tonight all of you will desert me," Jesus told them. "For the Scriptures say,
`God will strike the Shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
32But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there."
33Peter declared, "Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will."
34"Peter," Jesus replied, "the truth is, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three
times."
35"No!" Peter insisted. "Not even if I have to die with you! I will never deny you!" And all the other disciples
vowed the same.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36Then Jesus brought them to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, "Sit here while I go on ahead
to pray." 37He took Peter and Zebedee's two sons, James and John, and he began to be filled with anguish
and deep distress. 38He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch
with me."
39He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this
cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine." 40Then he returned to the disciples
and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Couldn't you stay awake and watch with me even one hour?
41Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the
body is weak!"
42Again he left them and prayed, "My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away until I drink it, your will be
done." 43He returned to them again and found them sleeping, for they just couldn't keep their eyes open.
44So he went back to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45Then he came to the disciples and
said, "Still sleeping? Still resting? Look, the time has come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of
sinners. 46Up, let's be going. See, my betrayer is here!"
Jesus Is Arrested
47And even as he said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a mob that was armed with
swords and clubs. They had been sent out by the leading priests and other leaders of the people. 48Judas
had given them a prearranged signal: "You will know which one to arrest when I go over and give him the kiss
of greeting." 49So Judas came straight to Jesus. "Greetings, Teacher!" he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.
50Jesus said, "My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for." Then the others grabbed Jesus and
arrested him. 51One of the men with Jesus pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest's
servant.
52"Put away your sword," Jesus told him. "Those who use the sword will be killed by the sword. 53Don't you
realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?
54But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?"
55Then Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I some dangerous criminal, that you have come armed with swords and
clubs to arrest me? Why didn't you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. 56But this is all
happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures." At that point, all the disciples
deserted him and fled.
Jesus before the Council
57Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the
teachers of religious law and other leaders had gathered. 58Meanwhile, Peter was following far behind and
eventually came to the courtyard of the high priest's house. He went in, sat with the guards, and waited to
see what was going to happen to Jesus.
59Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about
Jesus, so they could put him to death. 60But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness,
there was no testimony they could use. Finally, two men were found 61who declared, "This man said, `I am
able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.' "
62Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Well, aren't you going to answer these charges? What do
you have to say for yourself?" 63But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I demand in the
name of the living God that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God."
64Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say. And in the future you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God's
right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven."
65Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror, shouting, "Blasphemy! Why do we need other
witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. 66What is your verdict?"
"Guilty!" they shouted. "He must die!"
67Then they spit in Jesus' face and hit him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68saying, "Prophesy to us,
you Messiah! Who hit you that time?"
Peter Denies Jesus
69Meanwhile, as Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, a servant girl came over and said to him, "You
were one of those with Jesus the Galilean."
70But Peter denied it in front of everyone. "I don't know what you are talking about," he said.
71Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, "This man was
with Jesus of Nazareth."
72Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. "I don't even know the man," he said.
73A little later some other bystanders came over to him and said, "You must be one of them; we can tell by
your Galilean accent."
74Peter said, "I swear by God, I don't know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed. 75Suddenly,
Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he
went away, crying bitterly.
Chapter 27
Judas Hangs Himself
1Very early in the morning, the leading priests and other leaders met again to discuss how to persuade the
Roman government to sentence Jesus to death. 2Then they bound him and took him to Pilate, the Roman
governor.
3When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with
remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and other leaders. 4"I have sinned,"
he declared, "for I have betrayed an innocent man."
"What do we care?" they retorted. "That's your problem." 5Then Judas threw the money onto the floor of the
Temple and went out and hanged himself. 6The leading priests picked up the money. "We can't put it in the
Temple treasury," they said, "since it's against the law to accept money paid for murder." 7After some
discussion they finally decided to buy the potter's field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners.
8That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood. 9This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says,
"They took the thirty pieces of silver--
the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel--
10
and purchased the potter's field,
as the Lord directed."
Jesus Trial before Pilate
11Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. "Are you the King of the Jews?" the governor
asked him.
Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say."
12But when the leading priests and other leaders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.
13"Don't you hear their many charges against you?" Pilate demanded. 14But Jesus said nothing, much to the
governor's great surprise.
15Now it was the governor's custom to release one prisoner to the crowd each year during the Passover
celebration--anyone they wanted. 16This year there was a notorious criminal in prison, a man named
Barabbas. 17As the crowds gathered before Pilate's house that morning, he asked them, "Which one do you
want me to release to you--Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" 18(He knew very well that the
Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)
19Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: "Leave that innocent
man alone, because I had a terrible nightmare about him last night."
20Meanwhile, the leading priests and other leaders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas to be released
and for Jesus to be put to death. 21So when the governor asked again, "Which of these two do you want me
to release to you?" the crowd shouted back their reply: "Barabbas!"
22"But if I release Barabbas," Pilate asked them, "what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?"
And they all shouted, "Crucify him!"
23"Why?" Pilate demanded. "What crime has he committed?"
But the crowd only roared the louder, "Crucify him!"
24Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water
and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this man. The responsibility is
yours!"
25And all the people yelled back, "We will take responsibility for his death--we and our children!"
26So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him
over to the Roman soldiers to crucify him.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27Some of the governor's soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire battalion.
28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29They made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on
his head, and they placed a stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery,
yelling, "Hail! King of the Jews!" 30And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and beat him on the head with
it. 31When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him
again. Then they led him away to be crucified.
The Crucifixion
32As they were on the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and they forced
him to carry Jesus' cross. 33Then they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means Skull Hill). 34The
soldiers gave him wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.
35After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 36Then they
sat around and kept guard as he hung there. 37A signboard was fastened to the cross above Jesus' head,
announcing the charge against him. It read: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."
38Two criminals were crucified with him, their crosses on either side of his. 39And the people passing by
shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. 40"So! You can destroy the Temple and build it again in three
days, can you? Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!"
41The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders also mocked Jesus. 42"He saved
others," they scoffed, "but he can't save himself! So he is the king of Israel, is he? Let him come down from
the cross, and we will believe in him! 43He trusted God--let God show his approval by delivering him! For he
said, `I am the Son of God.' " 44And the criminals who were crucified with him also shouted the same insults
at him.
The Death of Jesus
45At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. 46At about three o'clock, Jesus called out
with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
47Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 48One of them
ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a stick so he could drink. 49But the rest said,
"Leave him alone. Let's see whether Elijah will come and save him."
50Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit. 51At that moment the curtain in the Temple was
torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52and tombs opened. The bodies of many
godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead 53after Jesus' resurrection. They left the
cemetery, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.
54The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had
happened. They said, "Truly, this was the Son of God!"
55And many women who had come from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance.
56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and Zebedee's wife, the
mother of James and John.
The Burial of Jesus
57As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who was one of Jesus' followers, 58went to
Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. 59Joseph took the body and
wrapped it in a long linen cloth. 60He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock.
Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance as he left. 61Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were
sitting nearby watching.
The Guard at the Tomb
62The next day--on the first day of the Passover ceremonies--the leading priests and Pharisees went to see
Pilate. 63They told him, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: `After three
days I will be raised from the dead.' 64So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will
prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he came back to life! If that
happens, we'll be worse off than we were at first."
65Pilate replied, "Take guards and secure it the best you can." 66So they sealed the tomb and posted guards
to protect it.
Chapter 28
The Resurrection
1Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to
see the tomb. 2Suddenly there was a great earthquake, because an angel of the Lord came down from
heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it. 3His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white
as snow. 4The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
5Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was
crucified. 6He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where
his body was lying. 7And now, go quickly and tell his disciples he has been raised from the dead, and he is
going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember, I have told you."
8The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they
rushed to find the disciples to give them the angel's message. 9And as they went, Jesus met them.
"Greetings!" he said. And they ran to him, held his feet, and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Don't
be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there."
The Report of the Guard
11As the women were on their way into the city, some of the men who had been guarding the tomb went to
the leading priests and told them what had happened. 12A meeting of all the religious leaders was called, and
they decided to bribe the soldiers. 13They told the soldiers, "You must say, `Jesus' disciples came during the
night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.' 14If the governor hears about it, we'll stand up for
you and everything will be all right." 15So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say.
Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.
The Great Commission
16Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When
they saw him, they worshiped him--but some of them still doubted!
18Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth.
19Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit. 20Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of
this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."