Matthew Contemporary English Version (CEV)

chapter 1

     The Ancestors of Jesus

     (Luke 3.23-38)

     1Jesus Christ came from the family of King David and also from the family of Abraham. And this is a list of his

     ancestors. From Abraham to King David, his ancestors were: 

     Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and his brothers (Judah's sons were Perez and Zerah, and their mother was

     Tamar), Hezron;

     Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz (his mother was Rahab), Obed (his mother was Ruth), Jesse, and

     King David. 

     From David to the time of the exile in Babylonia, the ancestors of Jesus were:

     David, Solomon (his mother had been Uriah's wife), Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram;

     Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, and Jehoiachin and his brothers.

     12-16From the exile to the birth of Jesus, his ancestors were:

     Jehoiachin, Shealtiel, Zerubbabel, Abiud, Eliakim, Azor, Zadok, Achim;

     Eliud, Eleazar, Matthan, Jacob, and Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is called the

     Messiah.

     17There were fourteen generations from Abraham to David. There were also fourteen from David to the exile

     in Babylonia and fourteen more to the birth of the Messiah.

     The Birth of Jesus

     (Luke 2.1-7)

     18This is how Jesus Christ was born. A young woman named Mary was engaged to Joseph from King David's

     family. But before they were married, she learned that she was going to have a baby by God's Holy Spirit.

     19Joseph was a good man and did not want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone. So he decided to quietly

     call off the wedding. 20While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream.

     The angel said, "Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. 21Then

     after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22So the Lord's

     promise came true, just as the prophet had said, 23"A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called

     Immanuel," which means "God is with us."

     24After Joseph woke up, he and Mary were soon married, just as the Lord's angel had told him to do. 25But

     they did not sleep together before her baby was born. Then Joseph named him Jesus.

chapter 2

     The Wise Men

     1When Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem in Judea, Herod was king. During this time some wise men

     from the east came to Jerusalem 2and said, "Where is the child born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star

     in the east and have come to worship him." 3When King Herod heard about this, he was worried, and so was

     everyone else in Jerusalem. 4Herod brought together the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses

     and asked them, "Where will the Messiah be born?" 

     5They told him, "He will be born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet wrote,

     6'Bethlehem in the land

     of Judea,

     you are very important

     among the towns of Judea.

     From your town

     will come a leader,

     who will be like a shepherd

     for my people Israel.' "

     7Herod secretly called in the wise men and asked them when they had first seen the star. 8He told them, "Go

     to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, let me know. I want to go and

     worship him too."

     9The wise men listened to what the king said and then left. And the star they had seen in the east went on

     ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10They were thrilled and excited to see

     the star.

     11When the men went into the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother, they knelt down and

     worshiped him. They took out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and gave them to him. 12Later they

     were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and they went back home by another road.

     The Escape to Egypt

     13After the wise men had gone, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up!

     Hurry and take the child and his mother to Egypt! Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is

     looking for the child and wants to kill him."

     14That night, Joseph got up and took his wife and the child to Egypt, 15where they stayed until Herod died.

     So the Lord's promise came true, just as the prophet had said, "I called my son out of Egypt."

     The Killing of the Children

     16When Herod found out that the wise men from the east had tricked him, he was very angry. He gave orders

     for his men to kill all the boys who lived in or near Bethlehem and were two years old and younger. This was

     based on what he had learned from the wise men.

     17So the Lord's promise came true, just as the prophet Jeremiah had said,

     18"In Ramah a voice was heard

     crying and weeping loudly.

     Rachel was mourning

     for her children,

     and she refused

     to be comforted,

     because they were dead."

     The Return from Egypt

     19After King Herod died, an angel from the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph while he was still in Egypt.

     20The angel said, "Get up and take the child and his mother back to Israel. The people who wanted to kill him

     are now dead."

     21Joseph got up and left with them for Israel. 22But when he heard that Herod's son Archelaus was now ruler

     of Judea, he was afraid to go there. Then in a dream he was told to go to Galilee, 23and they went to live

     there in the town of Nazareth. So the Lord's promise came true, just as the prophet had said, "He will be

     called a Nazarene."

chapter 3

     The Preaching of John the Baptist

     (Mark 1.1-8; Luke 3.1-18; John 1.19-28)

     1Years later, John the Baptist started preaching in the desert of Judea. 2He said, "Turn back to God! The

     kingdom of heaven will soon be here." 3John was the one the prophet Isaiah was talking about, when he said,

     "In the desert someone

     is shouting,

     `Get the road ready

     for the Lord!

     Make a straight path

     for him.' "

     4John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and

     wild honey.

     5From Jerusalem and all Judea and from the Jordan River Valley crowds of people went to John. 6They told

     how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the river.

     7Many Pharisees and Sadducees also came to be baptized. But John said to them:

     You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment? 8Do something to show that you

     have really given up your sins. 9And don't start telling yourselves that you belong to Abraham's family. I tell

     you that God can turn these stones into children for Abraham. 10An ax is ready to cut the trees down at

     their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into a fire.

     11I baptize you with water so that you will give up your sins. But someone more powerful is going to come,

     and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

     12His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks. He will store the

     wheat in a barn and burn the husks in a fire that never goes out. 

     The Baptism of Jesus

     (Mark 1.9-11; Luke 3.21,22)

     13Jesus left Galilee and went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14But John kept objecting and said,

     "I ought to be baptized by you. Why have you come to me?"

     15Jesus answered, "For now this is how it should be, because we must do all that God wants us to do." Then

     John agreed.

     16So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as he came out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw the Spirit of

     God coming down on him like a dove. 17Then a voice from heaven said, "This is my own dear Son, and I am

     pleased with him."

chapter 4

     Jesus and the Devil

     (Mark 1.12,13; Luke 4.1-13)

     1The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so that the devil could test him. 2After Jesus had gone without

     eating for forty days and nights, he was very hungry. 3Then the devil came to him and said, "If you are God's

     Son, tell these stones to turn into bread." 4Jesus answered, "The Scriptures say:

     `No one can live only on food.

     People need every word

     that God has spoken.' "

     5Next, the devil took Jesus to the holy city and had him stand on the highest part of the temple. 6The devil

     said, "If you are God's Son, jump off. The Scriptures say:

     `God will give his angels

     orders about you.

     They will catch you

     in their arms,

     and you won't hurt

     your feet on the stones.' "

     7Jesus answered, "The Scriptures also say, `Don't try to test the Lord your God!' "

     8Finally, the devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms on earth and their

     power. 9The devil said to him, "I will give all this to you, if you will bow down and worship me."

     10Jesus answered, "Go away Satan! The Scriptures say:

     `Worship the Lord your God

     and serve only him.' "

     11Then the devil left Jesus, and angels came to help him.

     Jesus Begins His Work

     (Mark 1.14,15; Luke 4.14,15)

     12When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went to Galilee. 13But instead of staying in

     Nazareth, Jesus moved to Capernaum. This town was beside Lake Galilee in the territory of Zebulun and

     Naphtali. 14So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said, 15"Listen, lands of Zebulun

     and Naphtali,

     lands along the road

     to the sea

     and east

     of the Jordan!

     Listen Galilee,

     land of the Gentiles!

     16Although your people

     live in darkness,

     they will see

     a bright light.

     Although they live

     in the shadow of death,

     a light will shine

     on them."

     17Then Jesus started preaching, "Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here."

     Jesus Chooses Four Fishermen

     (Mark 1.16-20; Luke 5.1-11)

     18While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known

     as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake.

     19Jesus said to them, "Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish." 20Right then

     the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.

     21Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father,

     mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him too. 22Right away they left the boat and their father

     and went with Jesus.

     Jesus Teaches, Preaches, and Heals

     (Luke 6.17-19)

     23Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the Jewish meeting places and preaching the good news about

     God's kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness. 24News about him spread all over Syria,

     and people with every kind of sickness or disease were brought to him. Some of them had a lot of demons in

     them, others were thought to be crazy, and still others could not walk. But Jesus healed them all. 25Large

     crowds followed Jesus from Galilee and the region around the ten cities known as Decapolis. They also came

     from Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan River.

chapter 5

     The Sermon on the Mount

     1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the side of a mountain and sat down. Jesus' disciples gathered

     around him,

     Blessings

     (Luke 6.20-23)

     2and he taught them:

     3God blesses those people

     who depend only on him.

     They belong to the kingdom

     of heaven! 4God blesses those people

     who grieve. 

     They will find comfort!

     5God blesses those people

     who are humble.

     The earth will belong

     to them! 

     6God blesses those people

     who want to obey him more than to eat or drink.

     They will be given

     what they want!

     7God blesses those people

     who are merciful.

     They will be treated

     with mercy!

     8God blesses those people

     whose hearts are pure.

     They will see him! 

     9God blesses those people

     who make peace.

     They will be called

     his children!

     10God blesses those people

     who are treated badly

     for doing right.

     They belong to the kingdom

     of heaven. 11God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you

     because of me. 12Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same

     things to the prophets who lived long ago.

     Salt and Light

     (Mark 9.50; Luke 14.34,35)

     13You are like salt for everyone on earth. But if salt no longer tastes like salt, how can it make food salty? All

     it is good for is to be thrown out and walked on.

     14You are like light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, 15and no one would

     light a lamp and put it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone

     in the house. 16Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father

     in heaven.

     The Law of Moses

     17Don't suppose that I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I did not come to do away with

     them, but to give them their full meaning. 18Heaven and earth may disappear. But I promise you that not

     even a period or comma will ever disappear from the Law. Everything written in it must happen. 19If you

     reject even the least important command in the Law and teach others to do the same, you will be the least

     important person in the kingdom of heaven. But if you obey and teach others its commands, you will have an

     important place in the kingdom. 20You must obey God's commands better than the Pharisees and the

     teachers of the Law obey them. If you don't, I promise you that you will never get into the kingdom of

     heaven.

     Anger

     21You know that our ancestors were told, "Do not murder" and "A murderer must be brought to trial." 22But I

     promise you that if you are angry with someone, you will have to stand trial. If you call someone a fool, you

     will be taken to court. And if you say that someone is worthless, you will be in danger of the fires of hell.

     23So if you are about to place your gift on the altar and remember that someone is angry with you, 24leave

     your gift there in front of the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to God.

     25Before you are dragged into court, make friends with the person who has accused you of doing wrong. If

     you don't, you will be handed over to the judge and then to the officer who will put you in jail. 26I promise

     you that you will not get out until you have paid the last cent you owe.

     Marriage

     27You know the commandment which says, "Be faithful in marriage." 28But I tell you that if you look at

     another woman and want her, you are already unfaithful in your thoughts. 29If your right eye causes you to

     sin, poke it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to end

     up in hell. 30If your right hand causes you to sin, chop it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one part

     of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

     Divorce

     (Matthew 19.9; Mark 10.11,12; Luke 16.18)

     31You have been taught that a man who divorces his wife must write out divorce papers for her. 32But I tell

     you not to divorce your wife unless she has committed some terrible sexual sin. If you divorce her, you will

     cause her to be unfaithful, just as any man who marries her is guilty of taking another man's wife.

     Promises

     33You know that our ancestors were told, "Don't use the Lord's name to make a promise unless you are going

     to keep it." 34But I tell you not to swear by anything when you make a promise! Heaven is God's throne, so

     don't swear by heaven. 35The earth is God's footstool, so don't swear by the earth. Jerusalem is the city of

     the great king, so don't swear by it. 36Don't swear by your own head. You cannot make one hair white or

     black. 37When you make a promise, say only "Yes" or "No." Anything else comes from the devil.

     Revenge

     (Luke 6.29,30)

     38You know that you have been taught, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." 39But I tell you not to

     try to get even with a person who has done something to you. When someone slaps your right cheek, turn

     and let that person slap your other cheek. 40If someone sues you for your shirt, give up your coat as well.

     41If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. 42When people ask you for something,

     give it to them. When they want to borrow money, lend it to them.

     Love

     (Luke 6.27,28,32-36)

     43You have heard people say, "Love your neighbors and hate your enemies." 44But I tell you to love your

     enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. 45Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He

     makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the

     ones who do wrong. 46If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for that? Even tax

     collectors love their friends. 47If you greet only your friends, what's so great about that? Don't even

     unbelievers do that? 48But you must always act like your Father in heaven.

chapter 6

     Giving

     1When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you do, you won't get a reward from your Father in

     heaven. 

     2When you give to the poor, don't blow a loud horn. That's what show-offs do in the meeting places and on

     the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their

     reward.

     3When you give to the poor, don't let anyone know about it. 4Then your gift will be given in secret. Your

     Father knows what is done in secret, and he will reward you.

     Prayer

     (Luke 11.2-4)

     5When you pray, don't be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on

     the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward. 

     6When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is

     done in private, and he will reward you.

     7When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who don't know God. They think God likes to hear long

     prayers. 8Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask.

     9You should pray like this:

     Our Father in heaven,

     help us to honor

     your name.

     10Come and set up

     your kingdom,

     so that everyone on earth

     will obey you,

     as you are obeyed

     in heaven.

     11Give us our food for today. 12Forgive us for doing wrong,

     as we forgive others. 

     13Keep us from being tempted

     and protect us from evil. 14If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will

     forgive you. 15But if you don't forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

     Worshiping God by Going without Eating

     16When you go without eating, don't try to look gloomy as those show-offs do when they go without eating.

     I can assure you that they already have their reward. 17Instead, comb your hair and wash your face. 18Then

     others won't know that you are going without eating. But your Father sees what is done in private, and he

     will reward you.

     Treasures in Heaven

     (Luke 12.33,34)

     19Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal

     them. 20Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves

     cannot break in and steal them. 21Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

     Light

     (Luke 11.34-36)

     22Your eyes are like a window for your body. When they are good, you have all the light you need. 23But

     when your eyes are bad, everything is dark. If the light inside you is dark, you surely are in the dark. 

     Money

     (Luke 16.13)

     24You cannot be the slave of two masters! You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than

     the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

     Worry

     (Luke 12.22-31)

     25I tell you not to worry about your life. Don't worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn't life

     more than food or clothing? 26Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store

     grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't you worth more than birds?

     27Can worry make you live longer? 28Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don't

     work hard to make their clothes. 29But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn't as well clothed as

     one of them. 30God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today

     and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?

     31Don't worry and ask yourselves, "Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we

     have any clothes to wear?" 32Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your

     Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. 33But more than anything else, put God's work first and

     do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.

     34Don't worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.

chapter 7

     Judging Others

     (Luke 6.37,38,41,42)

     1Don't condemn others, and God won't condemn you. 2God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He

     will treat you exactly as you treat them. 

     3You can see the speck in your friend's eye, but you don't notice the log in your own eye. 4How can you say,

     "My friend, let me take the speck out of your eye," when you don't see the log in your own eye? 5You're

     nothing but show-offs! First, take the log out of your own eye. Then you can see how to take the speck out

     of your friend's eye.

     6Don't give to dogs what belongs to God. They will only turn and attack you. Don't throw pearls down in front

     of pigs. They will trample all over them.

     Ask, Search, Knock

     (Luke 11.9-13)

     7Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8Everyone

     who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks.

     9Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? 10Would you give your

     child a snake if the child asked for a fish? 11As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your

     children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.

     12Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about.

     The Narrow Gate

     (Luke 13.24)

     13Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to

     follow. A lot of people go through that gate. 14But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there

     is so hard to follow that only a few people find it.

     A Tree and Its Fruit

     (Luke 6.43-45)

     15Watch out for false prophets! They dress up like sheep, but inside they are wolves who have come to

     attack you. 16You can tell what they are by what they do. No one picks grapes or figs from thornbushes. 17A

     good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot produce bad fruit,

     and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. 19Every tree that produces bad fruit will be chopped down and

     burned. 20You can tell who the false prophets are by their deeds.

     A Warning

     (Luke 13.26,27)

     21Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my

     Father in heaven will get in. 22On the day of judgment many will call me their Lord. They will say, "We

     preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles." 23But I will tell

     them, "I will have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people!"

     Two Builders

     (Luke 6.47-49)

     24Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock.

     25Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it did not fall, because it was

     built on solid rock.

     26Anyone who hears my teachings and doesn't obey them is like a foolish person who built a house on sand.

     27The rain poured down, the rivers flooded, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Finally, it fell

     with a crash.

     28When Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were surprised at his teaching. 29He taught them like someone

     with authority, and not like their teachers of the Law of Moses. 

chapter 8

     Jesus Heals a Man

     (Mark 1.40-45; Luke 5.12-16)

     1As Jesus came down the mountain, he was followed by large crowds. 2Suddenly a man with leprosy came

     and knelt in front of Jesus. He said, "Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to."

     3Jesus put his hand on the man and said, "I want to! Now you are well." At once the man's leprosy

     disappeared. 4Jesus told him, "Don't tell anyone about this, but go and show the priest that you are well.

     Then take a gift to the temple just as Moses commanded, and everyone will know that you have been

     healed."

     Jesus Heals an Army Officer's Servant

     (Luke 7.1-10; John 4.43-54)

     5When Jesus was going into the town of Capernaum, an army officer came up to him and said, 6"Lord, my

     servant is at home in such terrible pain that he can't even move."

     7"I will go and heal him," Jesus replied. 

     8But the officer said, "Lord, I'm not good enough for you to come into my house. Just give the order, and my

     servant will get well. 9I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I

     can say to one of them, `Go!' and he goes. I can say to another, `Come!' and he comes. I can say to my

     servant, `Do this!' and he will do it."

     10When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, "I tell you

     that in all of Israel I've never found anyone with this much faith! 11Many people will come from everywhere to

     enjoy the feast in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 12But the ones who should have

     been in the kingdom will be thrown out into the dark. They will cry and grit their teeth in pain."

     13Then Jesus said to the officer, "You may go home now. Your faith has made it happen."

     Right then his servant was healed. 

     Jesus Heals Many People

     (Mark 1.29-34; Luke 4.38-41)

     14Jesus went to the home of Peter, where he found that Peter's mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever.

     15He took her by the hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and served Jesus a meal.

     16That evening many people with demons in them were brought to Jesus. And with only a word he forced out

     the evil spirits and healed everyone who was sick. 17So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah

     had said,

     "He healed our diseases

     and made us well."

     Some Who Wanted To Go with Jesus

     (Luke 9.57-62)

     18When Jesus saw the crowd, he went across Lake Galilee. 19A teacher of the Law of Moses came up to him

     and said, "Teacher, I'll go anywhere with you!" 20Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens, and birds have nests. But

     the Son of Man doesn't have a place to call his own."

     21Another disciple said to Jesus, "Lord, let me wait till I bury my father."

     22Jesus answered, "Come with me, and let the dead bury their dead."

     A Storm

     (Mark 4.35-41; Luke 8.22-25)

     23After Jesus left in a boat with his disciples, 24a terrible storm suddenly struck the lake, and waves started

     splashing into their boat.

     Jesus was sound asleep, 25so the disciples went over to him and woke him up. They said, "Lord, save us!

     We're going to drown!" 

     26But Jesus replied, "Why are you so afraid? You surely don't have much faith." Then he got up and ordered

     the wind and the waves to calm down. And everything was calm.

     27The men in the boat were amazed and said, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him."

     Two Men with Demons in Them

     (Mark 5.1-20; Luke 8.26-39)

     28After Jesus had crossed the lake, he came to shore near the town of Gadara and started down the road.

     Two men with demons in them came to him from the tombs. They were so fierce that no one could travel that

     way. 29Suddenly they shouted, "Jesus, Son of God, what do you want with us? Have you come to punish us

     before our time?" 30Not far from there a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31So the demons begged Jesus, "If

     you force us out, please send us into those pigs!" 32Jesus told them to go, and they went out of the men

     and into the pigs. All at once the pigs rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

     33The people taking care of the pigs ran to the town and told everything, especially what had happened to

     the two men. 34Everyone in town came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave

     their part of the country.

chapter 9

     Jesus Heals a Crippled Man

     (Mark 2.1-12; Luke 5.17-26)

     1Jesus got into a boat and crossed back over to the town where he lived. 2Some people soon brought to him

     a crippled man lying on a mat. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the crippled man, "My

     friend, don't worry! Your sins are forgiven." 3Some teachers of the Law of Moses said to themselves, "Jesus

     must think he is God!"

     4But Jesus knew what was in their minds, and he said, "Why are you thinking such evil things? 5Is it easier for

     me to tell this crippled man that his sins are forgiven or to tell him to get up and walk? 6But I will show you

     that the Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth." So Jesus said to the man, "Get up! Pick up

     your mat and go on home." 7The man got up and went home. 8When the crowds saw this, they were afraid

     and praised God for giving such authority to people.

     Jesus Chooses Matthew

     (Mark 2.13-17; Luke 5.27-32)

     9As Jesus was leaving, he saw a tax collector named Matthew sitting at the place for paying taxes. Jesus

     said to him, "Come with me." Matthew got up and went with him. 10Later, Jesus and his disciples were having

     dinner at Matthew's house. Many tax collectors and other sinners were also there. 11Some Pharisees asked

     Jesus' disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and other sinners?" 12Jesus heard them and

     answered, "Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do. 13Go and learn what the Scriptures mean

     when they say, `Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others.' I didn't come to

     invite good people to be my followers. I came to invite sinners."

     People Ask about Going without Eating

     (Mark 2.18-22; Luke 5.33-39)

     14One day some followers of John the Baptist came and asked Jesus, "Why do we and the Pharisees often go

     without eating, while your disciples never do?" 15Jesus answered:

     The friends of a bridegroom don't go without eating while he is still with them. But the time will come when he

     will be taken from them. Then they will go without eating.

     16No one uses a new piece of cloth to patch old clothes. The patch would shrink and tear a bigger hole.

     17No one pours new wine into old wineskins. The wine would swell and burst the old skins. Then the wine

     would be lost, and the skins would be ruined. New wine must be put into new wineskins. Both the skins and

     the wine will then be safe. 

     A Dying Girl and a Sick Woman

     (Mark 5.21-43; Luke 8.40-56)

     18While Jesus was still speaking, an official came and knelt in front of him. The man said, "My daughter has

     just now died! Please come and place your hand on her. Then she will live again."

     19Jesus and his disciples got up and went with the man.

     20A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and barely touched his clothes.

     21She had said to herself, "If I can just touch his clothes, I will get well."

     22Jesus turned. He saw the woman and said, "Don't worry! You are now well because of your faith." At that

     moment she was healed.

     23When Jesus went into the home of the official and saw the musicians and the crowd of mourners, 24he

     said, "Get out of here! The little girl isn't dead. She is just asleep." Everyone started laughing at Jesus. 25But

     after the crowd had been sent out of the house, Jesus went to the girl's bedside. He took her by the hand

     and helped her up. 26News about this spread all over that part of the country.

     Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

     27As Jesus was walking along, two blind men began following him and shouting, "Son of David, have pity on

     us!" 28After Jesus had gone indoors, the two blind men came up to him. He asked them, "Do you believe I can

     make you well?" 

     "Yes, Lord," they answered.

     29Jesus touched their eyes and said, "Because of your faith, you will be healed." 30They were able to see,

     and Jesus strictly warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31But they left and talked about him to

     everyone in that part of the country.

     Jesus Heals a Man Who Could Not Talk

     32As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, some people brought to him a man who could not talk

     because a demon was in him. 33After Jesus had forced the demon out, the man started talking. The crowds

     were so amazed that they began saying, "Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!"

     34But the Pharisees said, "The leader of the demons gives him the power to force out demons."

     Jesus Has Pity on People

     35Jesus went to every town and village. He taught in their meeting places and preached the good news

     about God's kingdom. Jesus also healed every kind of disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he

     felt sorry for them. They were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37He said to his

     disciples, "A large crop is in the fields, but there are only a few workers. 38Ask the Lord in charge of the

     harvest to send out workers to bring it in."

chapter 10

     Jesus Chooses His Twelve Apostles

     (Mark 3.13-19; Luke 6.12-16)

     1Jesus called together his twelve disciples. He gave them the power to force out evil spirits and to heal every

     kind of disease and sickness. 2The first of the twelve apostles was Simon, better known as Peter. His brother

     Andrew was an apostle, and so were James and John, the two sons of Zebedee. 3Philip, Bartholomew,

     Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus were also apostles. 4The

     others were Simon, known as the Eager One, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.

     Instructions for the Twelve Apostles

     (Mark 6.7-13; Luke 9.1-6)

     5Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions:

     Stay away from the Gentiles and don't go to any Samaritan town. 6Go only to the people of Israel, because

     they are like a flock of lost sheep. 7As you go, announce that the kingdom of heaven will soon be here. 8Heal

     the sick, raise the dead to life, heal people who have leprosy, and force out demons. You received without

     paying, now give without being paid. 9Don't take along any gold, silver, or copper coins. 10And don't carry a

     traveling bag or an extra shirt or sandals or a walking stick. Workers deserve their food. 11So when you go to

     a town or a village, find someone worthy enough to have you as their guest and stay with them until you

     leave. 12When you go to a home, give it your blessing of peace. 13If the home is deserving, let your blessing

     remain with them. But if the home isn't deserving, take back your blessing of peace. 14If someone won't

     welcome you or listen to your message, leave their home or town. And shake the dust from your feet at

     them. 15I promise you that the day of judgment will be easier for the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah than for

     that town.

     Warning about Trouble

     (Mark 13.9-13; Luke 21.12-17)

     16I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. So be as wise as snakes and as innocent as doves.

     17Watch out for people who will take you to court and have you beaten in their meeting places. 18Because

     of me, you will be dragged before rulers and kings to tell them and the Gentiles about your faith. 19But when

     someone arrests you, don't worry about what you will say or how you will say it. At that time you will be

     given the words to say. 20But you will not really be the one speaking. The Spirit from your Father will tell you

     what to say.

     21Brothers and sisters will betray one another and have each other put to death. Parents will betray their

     own children, and children will turn against their parents and have them killed. 22Everyone will hate you

     because of me. But if you remain faithful until the end, you will be saved. 23When people mistreat you in one

     town, hurry to another one. I promise you that before you have gone to all the towns of Israel, the Son of

     Man will come.

     24Disciples are not better than their teacher, and slaves are not better than their master. 25It is enough for

     disciples to be like their teacher and for slaves to be like their master. If people call the head of the family

     Satan, what will they say about the rest of the family?

     The One To Fear

     (Luke 12.2-7)

     26Don't be afraid of anyone! Everything that is hidden will be found out, and every secret will be known.

     27Whatever I say to you in the dark, you must tell in the light. And you must announce from the housetops

     whatever I have whispered to you. 28Don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but they cannot harm your

     soul. Instead, you should fear God who can destroy both your body and your soul in hell. 29Aren't two

     sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground. 30Even the

     hairs on your head are counted. 31So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows. 

     Telling Others about Christ

     (Luke 12.8,9)

     32If you tell others that you belong to me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you are my followers. 33But if

     you reject me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you don't belong to me.

     Not Peace, but Trouble

     (Luke 12.51-53; 14.26,27)

     34Don't think that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came to bring trouble, not peace. 35I came to turn

     sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, and daughters-in-law against their

     mothers-in-law. 36Your worst enemies will be in your own family. 

     37If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my

     disciples. 38And unless you are willing to take up your cross and come with me, you are not fit to be my

     disciples. 39If you try to save your life, you will lose it. But if you give it up for me, you will surely find it.

     Rewards

     (Mark 9.41)

     40Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me also welcomes the one who sent

     me. 41Anyone who welcomes a prophet, just because that person is a prophet, will be given the same reward

     as a prophet. Anyone who welcomes a good person, just because that person is good, will be given the same

     reward as a good person. 42And anyone who gives one of my most humble followers a cup of cool water, just

     because that person is my follower, will surely be rewarded.

chapter 11

     John the Baptist

     (Luke 7.18-35)

     1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left and began teaching and preaching in the

     towns. 2John was in prison when he heard what Christ was doing. So John sent some of his followers 3to ask

     Jesus, "Are you the one we should be looking for? Or must we wait for someone else?"

     4Jesus answered, "Go and tell John what you have heard and seen. 5The blind are now able to see, and the

     lame can walk. People with leprosy are being healed, and the deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life, and

     the poor are hearing the good news. 6God will bless everyone who doesn't reject me because of what I do."

     7As John's followers were going away, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John:

     What sort of person did you go out into the desert to see? Was he like tall grass blown about by the wind?

     8What kind of man did you go out to see? Was he someone dressed in fine clothes? People who dress like

     that live in the king's palace. 9What did you really go out to see? Was he a prophet? He certainly was. I tell

     you that he was more than a prophet. 10In the Scriptures God says about him, "I am sending my messenger

     ahead of you to get things ready for you." 11I tell you that no one ever born on this earth is greater than

     John the Baptist. But whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.

     12From the time of John the Baptist until now, violent people have been trying to take over the kingdom of

     heaven by force. 13All the Books of the Prophets and the Law of Moses told what was going to happen up to

     the time of John. 14And if you believe them, John is Elijah, the prophet you are waiting for. 15If you have

     ears, pay attention! 16You people are like children sitting in the market and shouting to each other,

     17"We played the flute,

     but you would not dance!

     We sang a funeral song,

     but you would not mourn!"

     18John the Baptist did not go around eating and drinking, and you said, "That man has a demon in him!" 19But

     the Son of Man goes around eating and drinking, and you say, "That man eats and drinks too much! He is

     even a friend of tax collectors and sinners." Yet Wisdom is shown to be right by what it does.

     The Unbelieving Towns

     (Luke 10.13-15)

     20In the towns where Jesus had worked most of his miracles, the people refused to turn to God. So Jesus

     was upset with them and said:

     21You people of Chorazin are in for trouble! You people of Bethsaida are in for trouble too! If the miracles that

     took place in your towns had happened in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have turned to God long

     ago. They would have dressed in sackcloth and put ashes on their heads. 22I tell you that on the day of

     judgment the people of Tyre and Sidon will get off easier than you will. 23People of Capernaum, do you think

     you will be honored in heaven? You will go down to hell! If the miracles that took place in your town had

     happened in Sodom, that town would still be standing. 24So I tell you that on the day of judgment the people

     of Sodom will get off easier than you.

     Come to Me and Rest

     (Luke 10.21,22)

     25At that moment Jesus said:

     My Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I am grateful that you hid all this from wise and educated people and

     showed it to ordinary people. 26Yes, Father, that is what pleased you.

     27My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who truly

     knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him

     too.

     28If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. 29Take the yoke I give

     you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. 30This yoke is

     easy to bear, and this burden is light.

chapter 12

     A Question about the Sabbath

     (Mark 2.23-28; Luke 6.1-5)

     1One Sabbath, Jesus and his disciples were walking through some wheat fields. His disciples were hungry and

     began picking and eating grains of wheat. 2Some Pharisees noticed this and said to Jesus, "Why are your

     disciples picking grain on the Sabbath? They are not supposed to do that!" 3Jesus answered:

     You surely must have read what David did when he and his followers were hungry. 4He went into the house of

     God, and then they ate the sacred loaves of bread that only priests are supposed to eat. 5Haven't you read

     in the Law of Moses that the priests are allowed to work in the temple on the Sabbath? But no one says that

     they are guilty of breaking the law of the Sabbath. 6I tell you that there is something here greater than the

     temple. 7Don't you know what the Scriptures mean when they say, "Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I

     want you to be merciful to others?" If you knew what this means, you would not condemn these innocent

     disciples of mine. 8So the Son of Man is Lord over the Sabbath.

     A Man with a Crippled Hand

     (Mark 3.1-6; Luke 6.6-11)

     9Jesus left and went into one of the Jewish meeting places, 10where there was a man whose hand was

     crippled. Some Pharisees wanted to accuse Jesus of doing something wrong, and they asked him, "Is it right

     to heal someone on the Sabbath?"

     11Jesus answered, "If you had a sheep that fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn't you lift it out? 12People

     are worth much more than sheep, and so it is right to do good on the Sabbath." 13Then Jesus told the man,

     "Hold out your hand." The man did, and it became as healthy as the other one.

     14The Pharisees left and started making plans to kill Jesus.

     God's Chosen Servant

     15When Jesus found out what was happening, he left there and large crowds followed him. He healed all of

     their sick, 16but warned them not to tell anyone about him. 17So God's promise came true, just as Isaiah the

     prophet had said,

     18"Here is my chosen servant!

     I love him,

     and he pleases me. 

     I will give him my Spirit,

     and he will bring justice

     to the nations.

     19He won't shout or yell

     or call out in the streets.

     20He won't break off a bent reed

     or put out a dying flame,

     but he will make sure

     that justice is done.

     21All nations will place

     their hope in him."

     Jesus and the Ruler of the Demons

     (Mark 3.20-30; Luke 11.14-23; 12.10)

     22Some people brought to Jesus a man who was blind and could not talk because he had a demon in him.

     Jesus healed the man, and then he was able to talk and see. 23The crowds were so amazed that they asked,

     "Could Jesus be the Son of David?" 24When the Pharisees heard this, they said, "He forces out demons by the

     power of Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons!"

     25Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said to them:

     Any kingdom where people fight each other will end up ruined. And a town or family that fights will soon

     destroy itself. 26So if Satan fights against himself, how can his kingdom last? 27If I use the power of

     Beelzebul to force out demons, whose power do your own followers use to force them out? Your followers are

     the ones who will judge you. 28But when I force out demons by the power of God's Spirit, it proves that God's

     kingdom has already come to you. 29How can anyone break into a strong man's house and steal his things,

     unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can take everything.

     30If you are not on my side, you are against me. If you don't gather in the harvest with me, you scatter it.

     31-32I tell you that any sinful thing you do or say can be forgiven. Even if you speak against the Son of Man,

     you can be forgiven. But if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you can never be forgiven, either in this life or

     in the life to come.

     A Tree and Its Fruit

     (Luke 6.43-45)

     33A good tree produces only good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. You can tell what a tree is like by

     the fruit it produces. 34You are a bunch of evil snakes, so how can you say anything good? Your words show

     what is in your hearts. 35Good people bring good things out of their hearts, but evil people bring evil things

     out of their hearts. 36I promise you that on the day of judgment, everyone will have to account for every

     careless word they have spoken. 37On that day they will be told that they are either innocent or guilty

     because of the things they have said.

     A Sign from Heaven

     (Mark 8.11,12; Luke 11.29-32)

     38Some Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses said, "Teacher, we want you to show us a sign from

     heaven."

     39But Jesus replied:

     You want a sign because you are evil and won't believe! But the only sign you will get is the sign of the

     prophet Jonah. 40He was in the stomach of a big fish for three days and nights, just as the Son of Man will

     be deep in the earth for three days and nights. 41On the day of judgment the people of Nineveh will stand

     there with you and condemn you. They turned to God when Jonah preached, and yet here is something far

     greater than Jonah. 42The Queen of the South will also stand there with you and condemn you. She traveled

     a long way to hear Solomon's wisdom, and yet here is something much greater than Solomon.

     Return of an Evil Spirit

     (Luke 11.24-26)

     43When an evil spirit leaves a person, it travels through the desert, looking for a place to rest. But when the

     demon doesn't find a place, 44it says, "I will go back to the home I left." When it gets there and finds the

     place empty, clean, and fixed up, 45it goes off and finds seven other evil spirits even worse than itself. They

     all come and make their home there, and the person ends up in worse shape than before. That's how it will be

     with you evil people of today.

     Jesus' Mother and Brothers

     (Mark 3.31-35; Luke 8.19-21)

     46While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside because

     they wanted to talk with him. 47Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside and

     want to talk with you." 48Jesus answered, "Who is my mother and who are my brothers?" 49Then he pointed

     to his disciples and said, "These are my mother and my brothers! 50Anyone who obeys my Father in heaven is

     my brother or sister or mother."

chapter 13

     A Story about a Farmer

     (Mark 4.1-9; Luke 8.4-8)

     1That same day Jesus left the house and went out beside Lake Galilee, where he sat down to teach. 2Such

     large crowds gathered around him that he had to sit in a boat, while the people stood on the shore. 3Then he

     taught them many things by using stories. He said: A farmer went out to scatter seed in a field. 4While the

     farmer was scattering the seed, some of it fell along the road and was eaten by birds. 5Other seeds fell on

     thin, rocky ground and quickly started growing because the soil wasn't very deep. 6But when the sun came

     up, the plants were scorched and dried up, because they did not have enough roots. 7Some other seeds fell

     where thornbushes grew up and choked the plants. 8But a few seeds did fall on good ground where the plants

     produced a hundred or sixty or thirty times as much as was scattered. 9If you have ears, pay attention! 

     Why Jesus Used Stories

     (Mark 4.10-12; Luke 8.9,10)

     10Jesus' disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you use nothing but stories when you speak to the

     people?"

     11Jesus answered:

     I have explained the secrets about the kingdom of heaven to you, but not to others. 12Everyone who has

     something will be given more. But people who don't have anything will lose even what little they have. 13I use

     stories when I speak to them because when they look, they cannot see, and when they listen, they cannot

     hear or understand. 14So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said,

     "These people will listen

     and listen,

     but never understand.

     They will look and look,

     but never see.

     15All of them have

     stubborn minds!

     Their ears are stopped up,

     and their eyes are covered.

     They cannot see or hear

     or understand.

     If they could,

     they would turn to me,

     and I would heal them."

     16But God has blessed you, because your eyes can see and your ears can hear! 17Many prophets and good

     people were eager to see what you see and to hear what you hear. But I tell you that they did not see or

     hear.

     Jesus Explains the Story about the Farmer

     (Mark 4.13-20; Luke 8.11-15)

     18Now listen to the meaning of the story about the farmer:

     19The seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message about the kingdom, but don't

     understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches the message from their hearts. 20The seeds that fell on

     rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it right away. 21But they don't have

     deep roots, and they don't last very long. As soon as life gets hard or the message gets them in trouble, they

     give up.

     22The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. But they start worrying

     about the needs of this life and are fooled by the desire to get rich. So the message gets choked out, and

     they never produce anything. 23The seeds that fell on good ground are the people who hear and understand

     the message. They produce as much as a hundred or sixty or thirty times what was planted.

     Weeds among the Wheat

     24Jesus then told them this story:

     The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a farmer scattered good seed in a field. 25But while

     everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and scattered weed seeds in the field and then left.

     26When the plants came up and began to ripen, the farmer's servants could see the weeds. 27The servants

     came and asked, "Sir, didn't you scatter good seed in your field? Where did these weeds come from?" 

     28"An enemy did this," he replied.

     His servants then asked, "Do you want us to go out and pull up the weeds?"

     29"No!" he answered. "You might also pull up the wheat. 30Leave the weeds alone until harvest time. Then I'll

     tell my workers to gather the weeds and tie them up and burn them. But I'll have them store the wheat in my

     barn."

     Stories about a Mustard Seed and Yeast

     (Mark 4.30-32; Luke 13.18-21)

     31Jesus told them another story:

     The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a farmer plants a mustard seed in a field. 32Although it is

     the smallest of all seeds, it grows larger than any garden plant and becomes a tree. Birds even come and nest

     on its branches.

     33Jesus also said:

     The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a woman mixes a little yeast into three big batches of

     flour. Finally, all the dough rises.

     The Reason for Teaching with Stories

     (Mark 4.33,34)

     34Jesus used stories when he spoke to the people. In fact, he did not tell them anything without using

     stories. 35So God's promise came true, just as the prophet had said, "I will use stories

     to speak my message

     and to explain things

     that have been hidden

     since the creation

     of the world."

     Jesus Explains the Story about the Weeds

     36After Jesus left the crowd and went inside, his disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the story

     about the weeds in the wheat field." 37Jesus answered:

     The one who scattered the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seeds are

     the people who belong to the kingdom. The weed seeds are those who belong to the evil one, 39and the one

     who scattered them is the devil. The harvest is the end of time, and angels are the ones who bring in the

     harvest.

     40Weeds are gathered and burned. That's how it will be at the end of time. 41The Son of Man will send out

     his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everyone who does wrong or causes others to sin. 42Then

     he will throw them into a flaming furnace, where people will cry and grit their teeth in pain. 43But everyone

     who has done right will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. If you have ears, pay attention!

     A Hidden Treasure

     44The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when someone finds a treasure hidden in a field and buries it

     again. A person like that is happy and goes and sells everything in order to buy that field.

     A Valuable Pearl

     45The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a shop owner is looking for fine pearls. 46After finding a

     very valuable one, the owner goes and sells everything in order to buy that pearl.

     A Fish Net

     47The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a net is thrown into a lake and catches all kinds of fish.

     48When the net is full, it is dragged to the shore, and the fishermen sit down to separate the fish. They keep

     the good ones, but throw the bad ones away. 49That's how it will be at the end of time. Angels will come and

     separate the evil people from the ones who have done right. 50Then those evil people will be thrown into a

     flaming furnace, where they will cry and grit their teeth in pain.

     New and Old Treasures

     51Jesus asked his disciples if they understood all these things. They said, "Yes, we do."

     52So he told them, "Every student of the Scriptures who becomes a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like

     someone who brings out new and old treasures from the storeroom."

     The People of Nazareth Turn against Jesus

     (Mark 6.1-6; Luke 4.16-30)

     53When Jesus had finished telling these stories, he left 54and went to his hometown. He taught in their

     meeting place, and the people were so amazed that they asked, "Where does he get all this wisdom and the

     power to work these miracles? 55Isn't he the son of the carpenter? Isn't Mary his mother, and aren't James,

     Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers? 56Don't his sisters still live here in our town? How can he do all this?"

     57So the people were very unhappy because of what he was doing.

     But Jesus said, "Prophets are honored by everyone, except the people of their hometown and their own

     family." 58And because the people did not have any faith, Jesus did not work many miracles there.

chapter 14

     The Death of John the Baptist

     (Mark 6.14-29; Luke 9.7-9)

     1About this time Herod the ruler heard the news about Jesus 2and told his officials, "This is John the Baptist!

     He has come back from death, and that's why he has the power to work these miracles." 3-4Herod had earlier

     arrested John and had him chained and put in prison. He did this because John had told him, "It isn't right for

     you to take Herodias, the wife of your brother Philip." 5Herod wanted to kill John. But the people thought John

     was a prophet, and Herod was afraid of what they might do.

     6When Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests. She pleased Herod 7so much

     that he swore to give her whatever she wanted. 8But the girl's mother told her to say, "Here on a platter I

     want the head of John the Baptist!"

     9The king was sorry for what he had said. But he did not want to break the promise he had made in front of

     his guests. So he ordered a guard 10to go to the prison and cut off John's head. 11It was taken on a platter

     to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 12John's followers took his body and buried it. Then they told Jesus

     what had happened.

     Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

     (Mark 6.30-44; Luke 9.10-17; John 6.1-14)

     13After Jesus heard about John, he crossed Lake Galilee to go to some place where he could be alone. But

     the crowds found out and followed him on foot from the towns. 14When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw

     the large crowd. He felt sorry for them and healed everyone who was sick. 15That evening the disciples came

     to Jesus and said, "This place is like a desert, and it is already late. Let the crowds leave, so they can go to

     the villages and buy some food."

     16Jesus replied, "They don't have to leave. Why don't you give them something to eat?"

     17But they said, "We have only five small loaves of bread and two fish." 18Jesus asked his disciples to bring

     the food to him, 19and he told the crowd to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and the two

     fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his

     disciples, and they gave it to the people. 20After everyone had eaten all they wanted, Jesus' disciples picked

     up twelve large baskets of leftovers.

     21There were about five thousand men who ate, not counting the women and children.

     Jesus Walks on the Water

     (Mark 6.45-52; John 6.15-21)

     22Right away, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and start back across the lake. But he stayed until he

     had sent the crowds away. 23Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray. Later that

     evening, he was still there. 24By this time the boat was a long way from the shore. It was going against the

     wind and was being tossed around by the waves. 25A little while before morning, Jesus came walking on the

     water toward his disciples. 26When they saw him, they thought he was a ghost. They were terrified and

     started screaming.

     27At once, Jesus said to them, "Don't worry! I am Jesus. Don't be afraid." 

     28Peter replied, "Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water."

     29"Come on!" Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward him.

     30But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking. "Save me, Lord!" he

     shouted.

     31Right away, Jesus reached out his hand. He helped Peter up and said, "You surely don't have much faith.

     Why do you doubt?"

     32When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind died down. 33The men in the boat worshiped Jesus and

     said, "You really are the Son of God!"

     Jesus Heals Sick People in Gennesaret

     (Mark 6.53-56)

     34Jesus and his disciples crossed the lake and came to shore near the town of Gennesaret. 35The people

     found out that he was there, and they sent word to everyone who lived in that part of the country. So they

     brought all the sick people to Jesus. 36They begged him just to let them touch his clothes, and everyone who

     did was healed.

chapter 15

     The Teaching of the Ancestors

     (Mark 7.1-13)

     1About this time some Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses came from Jerusalem. They asked Jesus,

     2"Why don't your disciples obey what our ancestors taught us to do? They don't even wash their hands

     before they eat." 3Jesus answered:

     Why do you disobey God and follow your own teaching? 4Didn't God command you to respect your father and

     mother? Didn't he tell you to put to death all who curse their parents? 5But you let people get by without

     helping their parents when they should. You let them say that what they have has been offered to God. 6Is

     this any way to show respect to your parents? You ignore God's commands in order to follow your own

     teaching. 7And you are nothing but show-offs! Isaiah the prophet was right when he wrote that God had

     said, 8"All of you praise me

     with your words,

     but you never really

     think about me.

     9It is useless for you

     to worship me,

     when you teach rules

     made up by humans."

     What Really Makes People Unclean

     (Mark 7.14-23)

     10Jesus called the crowd together and said, "Pay attention and try to understand what I mean. 11The food

     that you put into your mouth doesn't make you unclean and unfit to worship God. The bad words that come

     out of your mouth are what make you unclean."

     12Then his disciples came over to him and asked, "Do you know that you insulted the Pharisees by what you

     said?"

     13Jesus answered, "Every plant that my Father in heaven did not plant will be pulled up by the roots. 14Stay

     away from those Pharisees! They are like blind people leading other blind people, and all of them will fall into a

     ditch."

     15Peter replied, "What did you mean when you talked about the things that make people unclean?"

     16Jesus then said:

     Don't any of you know what I am talking about by now? 17Don't you know that the food you put into your

     mouth goes into your stomach and then out of your body? 18But the words that come out of your mouth

     come from your heart. And they are what make you unfit to worship God. 19Out of your heart come evil

     thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others. 20These

     are what make you unclean. Eating without washing your hands will not make you unfit to worship God.

     A Woman's Faith

     (Mark 7.24-30)

     21Jesus left and went to the territory near the cities of Tyre and Sidon. 22Suddenly a Canaanite woman from

     there came out shouting, "Lord and Son of David, have pity on me! My daughter is full of demons." 23Jesus

     did not say a word. But the woman kept following along and shouting, so his disciples came up and asked him

     to send her away. 24Jesus said, "I was sent only to the people of Israel! They are like a flock of lost sheep."

     25The woman came closer. Then she knelt down and begged, "Please help me, Lord!"

     26Jesus replied, "It isn't right to take food away from children and feed it to dogs." 27"Lord, that's true," the

     woman said, "but even dogs get the crumbs that fall from their owner's table."

     28Jesus answered, "Dear woman, you really do have a lot of faith, and you will be given what you want." At

     that moment her daughter was healed.

     Jesus Heals Many People

     29From there, Jesus went along Lake Galilee. Then he climbed a hill and sat down. 30Large crowds came and

     brought many people who were crippled or blind or lame or unable to talk. They placed them, and many

     others, in front of Jesus, and he healed them all. 31Everyone was amazed at what they saw and heard.

     People who had never spoken could now speak. The lame were healed, the crippled could walk, and the blind

     were able to see. Everyone was praising the God of Israel.

     Jesus Feeds Four Thousand

     (Mark 8.1-10)

     32Jesus called his disciples together and told them, "I feel sorry for these people. They have been with me for

     three days, and they don't have anything to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry. They might faint

     on their way home."

     33His disciples said, "This place is like a desert. Where can we find enough food to feed such a crowd?"

     34Jesus asked them how much food they had. They replied, "Seven small loaves of bread and a few little

     fish." 35After Jesus had told the people to sit down, 36he took the seven loaves of bread and the fish and

     gave thanks. He then broke them and handed them to his disciples, who passed them around to the crowds. 

     37Everyone ate all they wanted, and the leftovers filled seven large baskets.

     38There were four thousand men who ate, not counting the women and children.

     39After Jesus had sent the crowds away, he got into a boat and sailed across the lake. He came to shore

     near the town of Magadan.

chapter 16

     A Demand for a Sign from Heaven

     (Mark 8.11-13; Luke 12.54-56)

     1The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tried to test him by asking for a sign from heaven. 2He told

     them:

     If the sky is red in the evening, you say the weather will be good. 3But if the sky is red and gloomy in the

     morning, you say it is going to rain. You can tell what the weather will be like by looking at the sky. But you

     don't understand what is happening now. 4You want a sign because you are evil and won't believe! But the

     only sign you will be given is what happened to Jonah. Then Jesus left.

     The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

     (Mark 8.14-21)

     5The disciples had forgotten to bring any bread when they crossed the lake. 6Jesus then warned them,

     "Watch out! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 7The disciples talked this over and

     said to each other, "He must be saying this because we didn't bring along any bread." 

     8Jesus knew what they were thinking and said:

     You surely don't have much faith! Why are you talking about not having any bread? 9Don't you understand?

     Have you forgotten about the five thousand people and all those baskets of leftovers from just five loaves of

     bread? 10And what about the four thousand people and all those baskets of leftovers from only seven loaves

     of bread? 11Don't you know by now that I am not talking to you about bread? Watch out for the yeast of the

     Pharisees and Sadducees!

     12Finally, the disciples understood that Jesus wasn't talking about the yeast used to make bread, but about

     the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

     Who Is Jesus?

     (Mark 8.27-30; Luke 9.18-21)

     13When Jesus and his disciples were near the town of Caesarea Philippi, he asked them, "What do people say

     about the Son of Man?"

     14The disciples answered, "Some people say you are John the Baptist or maybe Elijah or Jeremiah or some

     other prophet." 15Then Jesus asked them, "But who do you say I am?"

     16Simon Peter spoke up, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

     17Jesus told him:

     Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! You didn't discover this on your own. It was shown to you by my

     Father in heaven. 18So I will call you Peter, which means "a rock." On this rock I will build my church, and

     death itself will not have any power over it. 19I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and God in

     heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth. But he will not allow anything that you don't allow.

     20Jesus told his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

     Jesus Speaks about His Suffering and Death

     (Mark 8.31--9.1; Luke 9.22-27)

     21From then on, Jesus began telling his disciples what would happen to him. He said, "I must go to Jerusalem.

     There the nation's leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law of Moses will make me suffer

     terribly. I will be killed, but three days later I will rise to life."

     22Peter took Jesus aside and told him to stop talking like that. He said, "God would never let this happen to

     you, Lord!" 

     23Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Satan, get away from me! You're in my way because you think like

     everyone else and not like God."

     24Then Jesus said to his disciples:

     If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and

     follow me. 25If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find

     it. 26What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What would you give to get back

     your soul? 27The Son of Man will soon come in the glory of his Father and with his angels to reward all people

     for what they have done. 28I promise you that some of those standing here will not die before they see the

     Son of Man coming with his kingdom.

chapter 17

     The True Glory of Jesus

     (Mark 9.2-13; Luke 9.28-36)

     1Six days later Jesus took Peter and the brothers James and John with him. They went up on a very high

     mountain where they could be alone. 2There in front of the disciples, Jesus was completely changed. His face

     was shining like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

     3All at once Moses and Elijah were there talking with Jesus. 4So Peter said to him, "Lord, it is good for us to

     be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 

     5While Peter was still speaking, the shadow of a bright cloud passed over them. From the cloud a voice said,

     "This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him. Listen to what he says!" 6When the disciples heard the

     voice, they were so afraid that they fell flat on the ground. 7But Jesus came over and touched them. He said,

     "Get up and don't be afraid!" 8When they opened their eyes, they saw only Jesus.

     9On their way down from the mountain, Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen

     until after the Son of Man had been raised from death.

     10The disciples asked Jesus, "Don't the teachers of the Law of Moses say that Elijah must come before the

     Messiah does?"

     11Jesus told them, "Elijah certainly will come and get everything ready. 12In fact, he has already come. But

     the people did not recognize him and treated him just as they wanted to. They will soon make the Son of Man

     suffer in the same way." 13Then the disciples understood that Jesus was talking to them about John the

     Baptist.

     Jesus Heals a Boy

     (Mark 9.14-29; Luke 9.37-43a)

     14Jesus and his disciples returned to the crowd. A man knelt in front of him 15and said, "Lord, have pity on

     my son! He has a bad case of epilepsy and often falls into a fire or into water. 16I brought him to your

     disciples, but none of them could heal him."

     17Jesus said, "You people are too stubborn to have any faith! How much longer must I be with you? Why do I

     have to put up with you? Bring the boy here." 18Then Jesus spoke sternly to the demon. It went out of the

     boy, and right then he was healed. 

     19Later the disciples went to Jesus in private and asked him, "Why couldn't we force out the demon?"

     20-21Jesus replied:

     It is because you don't have enough faith! But I can promise you this. If you had faith no larger than a

     mustard seed, you could tell this mountain to move from here to there. And it would. Everything would be

     possible for you.

     Jesus Again Speaks about His Death

     (Mark 9.30-32; Luke 9.43b-45)

     22While Jesus and his disciples were going from place to place in Galilee, he told them, "The Son of Man will

     be handed over to people 23who will kill him. But three days later he will rise to life." All of this made the

     disciples very sad.

     Paying the Temple Tax

     24When Jesus and the others arrived in Capernaum, the collectors for the temple tax came to Peter and

     asked, "Does your teacher pay the temple tax?"

     25"Yes, he does," Peter answered. 

     After they had returned home, Jesus went up to Peter and asked him, "Simon, what do you think? Do the

     kings of this earth collect taxes and fees from their own people or from foreigners?" 26Peter answered, "From

     foreigners."

     Jesus replied, "Then their own people don't have to pay. 27But we don't want to cause trouble. So go cast a

     line into the lake and pull out the first fish you hook. Open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Use it to pay

     your taxes and mine."

chapter 18

     Who Is the Greatest?

     (Mark 9.33-37; Luke 9.46-48)

     1About this time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him who would be the greatest in the kingdom of

     heaven. 2Jesus called a child over and had the child stand near him. 3Then he said:

     I promise you this. If you don't change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of

     heaven. 4But if you are as humble as this child, you are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And when

     you welcome one of these children because of me, you welcome me.

     Temptations To Sin

     (Mark 9.42-48; Luke 17.1,2)

     6It will be terrible for people who cause even one of my little followers to sin. Those people would be better

     off thrown into the deepest part of the ocean with a heavy stone tied around their necks! 7The world is in for

     trouble because of the way it causes people to sin. There will always be something to cause people to sin,

     but anyone who does this will be in for trouble.

     8If your hand or foot causes you to sin, chop it off and throw it away! You would be better off to go into life

     crippled or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the fire that never goes out. 9If your

     eye causes you to sin, poke it out and get rid of it. You would be better off to go into life with only one eye

     than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fires of hell.

     The Lost Sheep

     (Luke 15.3-7)

     10-11Don't be cruel to any of these little ones! I promise you that their angels are always with my Father in

     heaven. 12Let me ask you this. What would you do if you had a hundred sheep and one of them wandered

     off? Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go look for the one that had wandered away? 13I

     am sure that finding it would make you happier than having the ninety-nine that never wandered off. 14That's

     how it is with your Father in heaven. He doesn't want any of these little ones to be lost.

     When Someone Sins

     (Luke 17.3)

     15If one of my followers sins against you, go and point out what was wrong. But do it in private, just

     between the two of you. If that person listens, you have won back a follower. 16But if that one refuses to

     listen, take along one or two others. The Scriptures teach that every complaint must be proven true by two

     or more witnesses. 17If the follower refuses to listen to them, report the matter to the church. Anyone who

     refuses to listen to the church must be treated like an unbeliever or a tax collector. 

     Allowing and Not Allowing

     18I promise you that God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth, but he will not allow anything you

     don't allow. 19I promise that when any two of you on earth agree about something you are praying for, my

     Father in heaven will do it for you. 20Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there

     with you.

     An Official Who Refused To Forgive

     21Peter came up to the Lord and asked, "How many times should I forgive someone who does something

     wrong to me? Is seven times enough?" 22Jesus answered:

     Not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! 23This story will show you what the kingdom of heaven is

     like: One day a king decided to call in his officials and ask them to give an account of what they owed him.

     24As he was doing this, one official was brought in who owed him fifty million silver coins. 25But he didn't

     have any money to pay what he owed. The king ordered him to be sold, along with his wife and children and

     all he owned, in order to pay the debt.

     26The official got down on his knees and began begging, "Have pity on me, and I will pay you every cent I

     owe!" 27The king felt sorry for him and let him go free. He even told the official that he did not have to pay

     back the money.

     28As the official was leaving, he happened to meet another official, who owed him a hundred silver coins. So

     he grabbed the man by the throat. He started choking him and said, "Pay me what you owe!"

     29The man got down on his knees and began begging, "Have pity on me, and I will pay you back." 30But the

     first official refused to have pity. Instead, he went and had the other official put in jail until he could pay

     what he owed.

     31When some other officials found out what had happened, they felt sorry for the man who had been put in

     jail. Then they told the king what had happened. 32The king called the first official back in and said, "You're

     an evil man! When you begged for mercy, I said you did not have to pay back a cent. 33Don't you think you

     should show pity to someone else, as I did to you?" 34The king was so angry that he ordered the official to

     be tortured until he could pay back everything he owed. 35That is how my Father in heaven will treat you, if

     you don't forgive each of my followers with all your heart.

chapter 19

     Teaching about Divorce

     (Mark 10.1-12)

     1When Jesus finished teaching, he left Galilee and went to the part of Judea that is east of the Jordan River.

     2Large crowds followed him, and he healed their sick people.

     3Some Pharisees wanted to test Jesus. They came up to him and asked, "Is it right for a man to divorce his

     wife for just any reason?"

     4Jesus answered, "Don't you know that in the beginning the Creator made a man and a woman? 5That's why

     a man leaves his father and mother and gets married. He becomes like one person with his wife. 6Then they

     are no longer two people, but one. And no one should separate a couple that God has joined together."

     7The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Why did Moses say that a man could write out divorce papers and send his wife

     away?"

     8Jesus replied, "You are so heartless! That's why Moses allowed you to divorce your wife. But from the

     beginning God did not intend it to be that way. 9I say that if your wife has not committed some terrible

     sexual sin, you must not divorce her to marry someone else. If you do, you are unfaithful." 10The disciples

     said, "If that's how it is between a man and a woman, it's better not to get married."

     11Jesus told them, "Only those people who have been given the gift of staying single can accept this

     teaching. 12Some people are unable to marry because of birth defects or because of what someone has done

     to their bodies. Others stay single for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Anyone who can accept this

     teaching should do so."

     Jesus Blesses Little Children

     (Mark 10.13-16; Luke 18.15-17)

     13Some people brought their children to Jesus, so that he could place his hands on them and pray for them.

     His disciples told the people to stop bothering him. 14But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and don't

     try to stop them! People who are like these children belong to God's kingdom." 15After Jesus had placed his

     hands on the children, he left.

     A Rich Young Man

     (Mark 10.17-31; Luke 18.18-30)

     16A man came to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?"

     17Jesus said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? Only God is good. If you want to have eternal

     life, you must obey his commandments."

     18"Which ones?" the man asked.

     Jesus answered, "Do not murder. Be faithful in marriage. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others. 19Respect

     your father and mother. And love others as much as you love yourself." 20The young man said, "I have

     obeyed all of these. What else must I do?"

     21Jesus replied, "If you want to be perfect, go sell everything you own! Give the money to the poor, and you

     will have riches in heaven. Then come and be my follower." 22When the young man heard this, he was sad,

     because he was very rich.

     23Jesus said to his disciples, "It's terribly hard for rich people to get into the kingdom of heaven! 24In fact,

     it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into God's kingdom."

     25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly surprised and asked, "How can anyone ever be saved?"

     26Jesus looked straight at them and said, "There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do

     anything."

     27Peter replied, "Remember, we have left everything to be your followers! What will we get?" 

     28Jesus answered:

     Yes, all of you have become my followers. And so in the future world, when the Son of Man sits on his

     glorious throne, I promise that you will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. 29All who

     have given up home or brothers and sisters or father and mother or children or land for me will be given a

     hundred times as much. They will also have eternal life. 30But many who are now first will be last, and many

     who are last will be first.

chapter 20

     Workers in a Vineyard

     1As Jesus was telling what the kingdom of heaven would be like, he said:

     Early one morning a man went out to hire some workers for his vineyard. 2After he had agreed to pay them

     the usual amount for a day's work, he sent them off to his vineyard.

     3About nine that morning, the man saw some other people standing in the market with nothing to do. 4He

     said he would pay them what was fair, if they would work in his vineyard. 5So they went.

     At noon and again about three in the afternoon he returned to the market. And each time he made the same

     agreement with others who were loafing around with nothing to do.

     6Finally, about five in the afternoon the man went back and found some others standing there. He asked

     them, "Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?"

     7"Because no one has hired us," they answered. Then he told them to go work in his vineyard.

     8That evening the owner of the vineyard told the man in charge of the workers to call them in and give them

     their money. He also told the man to begin with the ones who were hired last. 9When the workers arrived, the

     ones who had been hired at five in the afternoon were given a full day's pay.

     10The workers who had been hired first thought they would be given more than the others. But when they

     were given the same, 11they began complaining to the owner of the vineyard. 12They said, "The ones who

     were hired last worked for only one hour. But you paid them the same that you did us. And we worked in the

     hot sun all day long!"

     13The owner answered one of them, "Friend, I didn't cheat you. I paid you exactly what we agreed on.

     14Take your money now and go! What business is it of yours if I want to pay them the same that I paid you?

     15Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Why should you be jealous, if I want to be

     generous?"

     16Jesus then said, "So it is. Everyone who is now first will be last, and everyone who is last will be first." 

     Jesus Again Tells about His Death

     (Mark 10.32-34; Luke 18.31-34)

     17As Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, he took his twelve disciples aside and told them in private:

     18We are now on our way to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and

     the teachers of the Law of Moses. They will sentence him to death, 19and then they will hand him over to

     foreigners who will make fun of him. They will beat him and nail him to a cross. But on the third day he will rise

     from death.

     A Mother's Request

     (Mark 10.35-45)

     20The mother of James and John came to Jesus with her two sons. She knelt down and started begging him

     to do something for her. 21Jesus asked her what she wanted, and she said, "When you come into your

     kingdom, please let one of my sons sit at your right side and the other at your left." 22Jesus answered, "Not

     one of you knows what you are asking. Are you able to drink from the cup that I must soon drink from?"

     James and John said, "Yes, we are!" 

     23Jesus replied, "You certainly will drink from my cup! But it isn't for me to say who will sit at my right side

     and at my left. That is for my Father to say."

     24When the ten other disciples heard this, they were angry with the two brothers. 25But Jesus called the

     disciples together and said:

     You know that foreign rulers like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over

     everyone they rule. 26But don't act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the

     others. 27And if you want to be first, you must be the slave of the rest. 28The Son of Man did not come to

     be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people. 

     Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

     (Mark 10.46-52; Luke 18.35-43)

     29Jesus was followed by a large crowd as he and his disciples were leaving Jericho. 30Two blind men were

     sitting beside the road. And when they heard that Jesus was coming their way, they shouted, "Lord and Son

     of David, have pity on us!" 31The crowd told them to be quiet, but they shouted even louder, "Lord and Son

     of David, have pity on us!"

     32When Jesus heard them, he stopped and asked, "What do you want me to do for you?"

     33They answered, "Lord, we want to see!" 

     34Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Right away they could see, and they became his

     followers.

chapter 21

     Jesus Enters Jerusalem

     (Mark 11.1-11; Luke 19.28-38; John 12.12-19)

     1When Jesus and his disciples came near Jerusalem, he went to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives and sent

     two of them on ahead. 2He told them, "Go into the next village, where you will at once find a donkey and her

     colt. Untie the two donkeys and bring them to me. 3If anyone asks why you are doing that, just say, `The

     Lord needs them.' Right away he will let you have the donkeys." 4So God's promise came true, just as the

     prophet had said,

     5"Announce to the people

     of Jerusalem:

     `Your king is coming to you!

     He is humble

     and rides on a donkey.

     He comes on the colt

     of a donkey.' "

     6The disciples left and did what Jesus had told them to do. 7They brought the donkey and its colt and laid

     some clothes on their backs. Then Jesus got on.

     8Many people spread clothes in the road, while others put down branches which they had cut from trees.

     9Some people walked ahead of Jesus and others followed behind. They were all shouting, "Hooray for the Son

     of David! God bless the one who comes

     in the name of the Lord.

     Hooray for God

     in heaven above!"

     10When Jesus came to Jerusalem, everyone in the city was excited and asked, "Who can this be?"

     11The crowd answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

     Jesus in the Temple

     (Mark 11.15-19; Luke 19.45-48; John 2.13-22)

     12Jesus went into the temple and chased out everyone who was selling or buying. He turned over the tables

     of the moneychangers and the benches of the ones who were selling doves. 13He told them, "The Scriptures

     say, `My house should be called a place of worship.' But you have turned it into a place where robbers hide." 

     14Blind and lame people came to Jesus in the temple, and he healed them. 15But the chief priests and the

     teachers of the Law of Moses were angry when they saw his miracles and heard the children shouting praises

     to the Son of David. 16The men said to Jesus, "Don't you hear what those children are saying?"

     "Yes, I do!" Jesus answered. "Don't you know that the Scriptures say, `Children and infants will sing praises'?"

     17Then Jesus left the city and went out to the village of Bethany, where he spent the night. 

     Jesus Puts a Curse on a Fig Tree

     (Mark 11.12-14,20-24)

     18When Jesus got up the next morning, he was hungry. He started out for the city, 19and along the way he

     saw a fig tree. But when he came to it, he found only leaves and no figs. So he told the tree, "You will never

     again grow any fruit!" Right then the fig tree dried up.

     20The disciples were shocked when they saw how quickly the tree had dried up. 21But Jesus said to them, "If

     you have faith and don't doubt, I promise that you can do what I did to this tree. And you will be able to do

     even more. You can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. 22If you have faith when

     you pray, you will be given whatever you ask for."

     A Question about Jesus' Authority

     (Mark 11.27-33; Luke 20.1-8)

     23Jesus had gone into the temple and was teaching when the chief priests and the leaders of the people

     came up to him. They asked, "What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?"

     24Jesus answered, "I have just one question to ask you. If you answer it, I will tell you where I got the right

     to do these things. 25Who gave John the right to baptize? Was it God in heaven or merely some human

     being?"

     They thought it over and said to each other, "We can't say that God gave John this right. Jesus will ask us

     why we didn't believe John. 26On the other hand, these people think that John was a prophet, and we are

     afraid of what they might do to us. That's why we can't say that it was merely some human who gave John

     the right to baptize." 27So they told Jesus, "We don't know."

     Jesus said, "Then I won't tell you who gave me the right to do what I do." 

     A Story about Two Sons

     28Jesus said:

     I will tell you a story about a man who had two sons. Then you can tell me what you think. The father went

     to the older son and said, "Go work in the vineyard today!" 29His son told him that he would not do it, but

     later he changed his mind and went. 30The man then told his younger son to go work in the vineyard. The

     boy said he would, but he didn't go. 31Which one of the sons obeyed his father?

     "The older one," the chief priests and leaders answered. 

     Then Jesus told them:

     You can be sure that tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you ever will!

     32When John the Baptist showed you how to do right, you would not believe him. But these evil people did

     believe. And even when you saw what they did, you still would not change your minds and believe.

     Renters of a Vineyard

     (Mark 12.1-12; Luke 20.9-19)

     33Jesus told the chief priests and leaders to listen to this story:

     A land owner once planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it and dug a pit to crush the grapes in. He also

     built a lookout tower. Then he rented out his vineyard and left the country.

     34When it was harvest time, the owner sent some servants to get his share of the grapes. 35But the renters

     grabbed those servants. They beat up one, killed one, and stoned one of them to death. 36He then sent

     more servants than he did the first time. But the renters treated them in the same way. 

     37Finally, the owner sent his own son to the renters, because he thought they would respect him. 38But

     when they saw the man's son, they said, "Someday he will own the vineyard. Let's kill him! Then we can have

     it all for ourselves." 39So they grabbed him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

     40Jesus asked, "When the owner of that vineyard comes, what do you suppose he will do to those renters?"

     41The chief priests and leaders answered, "He will kill them in some horrible way. Then he will rent out his

     vineyard to people who will give him his share of grapes at harvest time."

     42Jesus replied, "You surely know that the Scriptures say,

     `The stone that the builders

     tossed aside

     is now the most important

     stone of all.

     This is something

     the Lord has done,

     and it is amazing to us.'

     43I tell you that God's kingdom will be taken from you and given to people who will do what he demands.

     44Anyone who stumbles over this stone will be crushed, and anyone it falls on will be smashed to pieces."

     45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard these stories, they knew that Jesus was talking about

     them. 46So they looked for a way to arrest Jesus. But they were afraid to, because the people thought he

     was a prophet.

chapter 22

     The Great Banquet

     (Luke 14.15-24)

     1Once again Jesus used stories to teach the people:

     2The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a king gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3The king

     sent some servants to tell the invited guests to come to the banquet, but the guests refused. 4He sent other

     servants to say to the guests, "The banquet is ready! My cattle and prize calves have all been prepared.

     Everything is ready. Come to the banquet!"

     5But the guests did not pay any attention. Some of them left for their farms, and some went to their places

     of business. 6Others grabbed the servants, then beat them up and killed them.

     7This made the king so furious that he sent an army to kill those murderers and burn down their city. 8Then

     he said to the servants, "It is time for the wedding banquet, and the invited guests don't deserve to come.

     9Go out to the street corners and tell everyone you meet to come to the banquet." 10They went out on the

     streets and brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike. And the banquet room was filled with

     guests.

     11When the king went in to meet the guests, he found that one of them wasn't wearing the right kind of

     clothes for the wedding. 12The king asked, "Friend, why didn't you wear proper clothes for the wedding?" But

     the guest had no excuse. 13So the king gave orders for that person to be tied hand and foot and to be

     thrown outside into the dark. That's where people will cry and grit their teeth in pain. 14Many are invited, but

     only a few are chosen.

     Paying Taxes

     (Mark 12.13-17; Luke 20.20-26)

     15The Pharisees got together and planned how they could trick Jesus into saying something wrong. 16They

     sent some of their followers and some of Herod's followers to say to him, "Teacher, we know that you are

     honest. You teach the truth about what God wants people to do. And you treat everyone with the same

     respect, no matter who they are. 17Tell us what you think! Should we pay taxes to the Emperor or not?"

     18Jesus knew their evil thoughts and said, "Why are you trying to test me? You show-offs! 19Let me see one

     of the coins used for paying taxes." They brought him a silver coin, 20and he asked, "Whose picture and name

     are on it?"

     21"The Emperor's," they answered.

     Then Jesus told them, "Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God what belongs to God." 22His

     answer surprised them so much that they walked away. 

     Life in the Future World

     (Mark 12.18-27; Luke 20.27-40)

     23The Sadducees did not believe that people would rise to life after death. So that same day some of the

     Sadducees came to Jesus and said:

     24Teacher, Moses wrote that if a married man dies and has no children, his brother should marry the widow.

     Their first son would then be thought of as the son of the dead brother.

     25Once there were seven brothers who lived here. The first one married, but died without having any

     children. So his wife was left to his brother. 26The same thing happened to the second and third brothers and

     finally to all seven of them. 27At last the woman died. 28When God raises people from death, whose wife will

     this woman be? She had been married to all seven brothers.

     29Jesus answered:

     You are completely wrong! You don't know what the Scriptures teach. And you don't know anything about

     the power of God. 30When God raises people to life, they won't marry. They will be like the angels in heaven.

     31And as for people being raised to life, God was speaking to you when he said, 32"I am the God worshiped

     by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." He isn't the God of the dead, but of the living. 33The crowds were surprised

     to hear what Jesus was teaching.

     The Most Important Commandment

     (Mark 12.28-34; Luke 10.25-28)

     34After Jesus had made the Sadducees look foolish, the Pharisees heard about it and got together. 35One of

     them was an expert in the Jewish Law. So he tried to test Jesus by asking, 36"Teacher, what is the most

     important commandment in the Law?"

     37Jesus answered:

     Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. 38This is the first and most important

     commandment. 39The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, "Love others as much

     as you love yourself." 40All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two

     commandments.

     About David's Son

     (Mark 12.35-37; Luke 20.41-44)

     41While the Pharisees were still there, Jesus asked them, 42"What do you think about the Messiah? Whose

     family will he come from?"

     They answered, "He will be a son of King David." 43Jesus replied, "How then could the Spirit lead David to call

     the Messiah his Lord? David said,

     44'The Lord said to my Lord:

     Sit at my right side until I make your enemies

     into a footstool for you.'

     45If David called the Messiah his Lord, how can the Messiah be a son of King David?" 46No one was able to

     give Jesus an answer, and from that day on, no one dared ask him any more questions.

chapter 23

     Jesus Condemns the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law of Moses

     (Mark 12.38-40; Luke 11.37-52; 20.45-47)

     1Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

     2The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law are experts in the Law of Moses. 3So obey everything they

     teach you, but don't do as they do. After all, they say one thing and do something else.

     4They pile heavy burdens on people's shoulders and won't lift a finger to help. 5Everything they do is just to

     show off in front of others. They even make a big show of wearing Scripture verses on their foreheads and

     arms, and they wear big tassels for everyone to see. 6They love the best seats at banquets and the front

     seats in the meeting places. 7And when they are in the market, they like to have people greet them as their

     teachers. 8But none of you should be called a teacher. You have only one teacher, and all of you are like

     brothers and sisters. 9Don't call anyone on earth your father. All of you have the same Father in heaven.

     10None of you should be called the leader. The Messiah is your only leader. 11Whoever is the greatest should

     be the servant of the others. 12If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble

     yourself, you will be honored.

     13-14You Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses are in for trouble! You're nothing but show-offs. You

     lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. You won't go in yourselves, and you keep others from going in.

     15You Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses are in for trouble! You're nothing but show-offs. You

     travel over land and sea to win one follower. And when you have done so, you make that person twice as fit

     for hell as you are.

     16You are in for trouble! You are supposed to lead others, but you are blind. You teach that it doesn't matter

     if a person swears by the temple. But you say that it does matter if someone swears by the gold in the

     temple. 17You blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred?

     18You also teach that it doesn't matter if a person swears by the altar. But you say that it does matter if

     someone swears by the gift on the altar. 19Are you blind? Which is more important, the gift or the altar that

     makes the gift sacred? 20Anyone who swears by the altar also swears by everything on it. 21And anyone

     who swears by the temple also swears by God, who lives there. 22To swear by heaven is the same as

     swearing by God's throne and by the one who sits on that throne.

     23You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you're in for trouble! You give God a tenth of the spices

     from your garden, such as mint, dill, and cumin. Yet you neglect the more important matters of the Law, such

     as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the important things you should have done, though you should

     not have left the others undone either. 24You blind leaders! You strain out a small fly but swallow a camel.

     25You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you're in for trouble! You wash the outside of your cups

     and dishes, while inside there is nothing but greed and selfishness. 26You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside

     of a cup, and then the outside will also be clean.

     27You Pharisees and teachers are in for trouble! You're nothing but show-offs. You're like tombs that have

     been whitewashed. On the outside they are beautiful, but inside they are full of bones and filth. 28That's

     what you are like. Outside you look good, but inside you are evil and only pretend to be good. 29You

     Pharisees and teachers are nothing but show-offs, and you're in for trouble! You build monuments for the

     prophets and decorate the tombs of good people. 30And you claim that you would not have taken part with

     your ancestors in killing the prophets. 31But you prove that you really are the relatives of the ones who killed

     the prophets. 32So keep on doing everything they did. 33You are nothing but snakes and the children of

     snakes! How can you escape going to hell?

     34I will send prophets and wise people and experts in the Law of Moses to you. But you will kill them or nail

     them to a cross or beat them in your meeting places or chase them from town to town. 35That's why you will

     be held guilty for the murder of every good person, beginning with the good man Abel. This also includes

     Barachiah's son Zechariah, the man you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36I can promise that

     you people living today will be punished for all these things!

     Jesus Loves Jerusalem

     (Luke 13.34,35)

     37Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Your people have killed the prophets and have stoned the messengers who were sent

     to you. I have often wanted to gather your people, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you

     wouldn't let me. 38And now your temple will be deserted. 39You won't see me again until you say,

     "Blessed is the one who comes

     in the name of the Lord."

chapter 24

     The Temple Will Be Destroyed

     (Mark 13.1,2; Luke 21.5,6)

     1After Jesus left the temple, his disciples came over and said, "Look at all these buildings!"

     2Jesus replied, "Do you see these buildings? They will certainly be torn down! Not one stone will be left in

     place."

     Warning about Trouble

     (Mark 13.3-13; Luke 21.7-19)

     3Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him in private and asked, "When will

     this happen? What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?"

     4Jesus answered:

     Don't let anyone fool you. 5Many will come and claim to be me. They will say that they are the Messiah, and

     they will fool many people.

     6You will soon hear about wars and threats of wars, but don't be afraid. These things will have to happen

     first, but that isn't the end. 7Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. People will starve to

     death, and in some places there will be earthquakes. 8But this is just the beginning of troubles.

     9You will be arrested, punished, and even killed. Because of me, you will be hated by people of all nations.

     10Many will give up and will betray and hate each other. 11Many false prophets will come and fool a lot of

     people. 12Evil will spread and cause many people to stop loving others. 13But if you keep on being faithful

     right to the end, you will be saved. 14When the good news about the kingdom has been preached all over the

     world and told to all nations, the end will come.

     The Horrible Thing

     (Mark 13.14-23; Luke 21.20-24)

     15Someday you will see that "Horrible Thing" in the holy place, just as the prophet Daniel said. Everyone who

     reads this must try to understand! 16If you are living in Judea at that time, run to the mountains. 17If you

     are on the roof of your house, don't go inside to get anything. 18If you are out in the field, don't go back for

     your coat. 19It will be a terrible time for women who are expecting babies or nursing young children. 20And

     pray that you won't have to escape in winter or on a Sabbath. 21This will be the worst time of suffering since

     the beginning of the world, and nothing this terrible will ever happen again. 22If God doesn't make the time

     shorter, no one will be left alive. But because of God's chosen ones, he will make the time shorter.

     23Someone may say, "Here is the Messiah!" or "There he is!" But don't believe it. 24False messiahs and false

     prophets will come and work great miracles and signs. They will even try to fool God's chosen ones. 25But I

     have warned you ahead of time. 26If you are told that the Messiah is out in the desert, don't go there! And if

     you are told that he is in some secret place, don't believe it! 27The coming of the Son of Man will be like

     lightning that can be seen from east to west. 28Where there is a corpse, there will always be buzzards.

     When the Son of Man Appears

     (Mark 13.24-27; Luke 21.25-28)

     29Right after those days of suffering,

     "The sun will become dark,

     and the moon

     will no longer shine.

     The stars will fall,

     and the powers in the sky will be shaken."

     30Then a sign will appear in the sky. And there will be the Son of Man. All nations on earth will weep when

     they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31At the sound of a

     loud trumpet, he will send his angels to bring his chosen ones together from all over the earth.

     A Lesson from a Fig Tree

     (Mark 13.28-31; Luke 21.29-33)

     32Learn a lesson from a fig tree. When its branches sprout and start putting out leaves, you know that

     summer is near. 33So when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time has almost come.

     34I can promise you that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all this happens. 35The

     sky and the earth won't last forever, but my words will.

     No One Knows the Day or Time

     (Mark 13.32-37; Luke 17.26-30,34-36)

     36No one knows the day or hour. The angels in heaven don't know, and the Son himself doesn't know. Only

     the Father knows. 37When the Son of Man appears, things will be just as they were when Noah lived.

     38People were eating, drinking, and getting married right up to the day that the flood came and Noah went

     into the big boat. 39They didn't know anything was happening until the flood came and swept them all away.

     That is how it will be when the Son of Man appears. 40Two men will be in the same field, but only one will be

     taken. The other will be left. 41Two women will be together grinding grain, but only one will be taken. The

     other will be left. 42So be on your guard! You don't know when your Lord will come. 43Homeowners never

     know when a thief is coming, and they are always on guard to keep one from breaking in. 44Always be ready!

     You don't know when the Son of Man will come.

     Faithful and Unfaithful Servants

     (Luke 12.35-48)

     45Who are faithful and wise servants? Who are the ones the master will put in charge of giving the other

     servants their food supplies at the proper time? 46Servants are fortunate if their master comes and finds

     them doing their job. 47You may be sure that a servant who is always faithful will be put in charge of

     everything the master owns. 48But suppose one of the servants thinks that the master won't return until

     late. 49Suppose that evil servant starts beating the other servants and eats and drinks with people who are

     drunk. 50If that happens, the master will surely come on a day and at a time when the servant least expects

     him. 51That servant will then be punished and thrown out with the ones who only pretended to serve their

     master. There they will cry and grit their teeth in pain.

chapter 25

     A Story about Ten Girls

     1The kingdom of heaven is like what happened one night when ten girls took their oil lamps and went to a

     wedding to meet the groom. 2Five of the girls were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their

     lamps, but no extra oil. 4The ones who were wise took along extra oil for their lamps. 5The groom was late

     arriving, and the girls became drowsy and fell asleep. 6Then in the middle of the night someone shouted,

     "Here's the groom! Come to meet him!"

     7When the girls got up and started getting their lamps ready, 8the foolish ones said to the others, "Let us

     have some of your oil! Our lamps are going out."

     9The girls who were wise answered, "There's not enough oil for all of us! Go and buy some for yourselves."

     10While the foolish girls were on their way to get some oil, the groom arrived. The girls who were ready went

     into the wedding, and the doors were closed. 11Later the other girls returned and shouted, "Sir, sir! Open the

     door for us!"

     12But the groom replied, "I don't even know you!"

     13So, my disciples, always be ready! You don't know the day or the time when all this will happen.

     A Story about Three Servants

     (Luke 19.11-27)

     14The kingdom is also like what happened when a man went away and put his three servants in charge of all

     he owned. 15The man knew what each servant could do. So he handed five thousand coins to the first

     servant, two thousand to the second, and one thousand to the third. Then he left the country.

     16As soon as the man had gone, the servant with the five thousand coins used them to earn five thousand

     more. 17The servant who had two thousand coins did the same with his money and earned two thousand

     more. 18But the servant with one thousand coins dug a hole and hid his master's money in the ground.

     19Some time later the master of those servants returned. He called them in and asked what they had done

     with his money. 20The servant who had been given five thousand coins brought them in with the five

     thousand that he had earned. He said, "Sir, you gave me five thousand coins, and I have earned five

     thousand more."

     21"Wonderful!" his master replied. "You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but

     now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness!"

     22Next, the servant who had been given two thousand coins came in and said, "Sir, you gave me two

     thousand coins, and I have earned two thousand more."

     23"Wonderful!" his master replied. "You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but

     now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness!"

     24The servant who had been given one thousand coins then came in and said, "Sir, I know that you are hard

     to get along with. You harvest what you don't plant and gather crops where you haven't scattered seed. 25I

     was frightened and went out and hid your money in the ground. Here is every single coin!"

     26The master of the servant told him, "You are lazy and good-for-nothing! You know that I harvest what I

     don't plant and gather crops where I haven't scattered seed. 27You could have at least put my money in the

     bank, so that I could have earned interest on it."

     28Then the master said, "Now your money will be taken away and given to the servant with ten thousand

     coins! 29Everyone who has something will be given more, and they will have more than enough. But

     everything will be taken from those who don't have anything. 30You are a worthless servant, and you will be

     thrown out into the dark where people will cry and grit their teeth in pain."

     The Final Judgment

     31When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all of his angels, he will sit on his royal throne. 32The people

     of all nations will be brought before him, and he will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from

     their goats.

     33He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34Then the king will say to those on his right,

     "My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was

     created. 35When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me

     something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, 36and when I was naked, you gave me clothes

     to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me."

     37Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, "When did we give you something to eat or drink? 38When did

     we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear 39or visit you while you were sick or in jail?"

     40The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed,

     you did it for me."

     41Then the king will say to those on his left, "Get away from me! You are under God's curse. Go into the

     everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels! 42I was hungry, but you did not give me anything to

     eat, and I was thirsty, but you did not give me anything to drink. 43I was a stranger, but you did not

     welcome me, and I was naked, but you did not give me any clothes to wear. I was sick and in jail, but you did

     not take care of me."

     44Then the people will ask, "Lord, when did we fail to help you when you were hungry or thirsty or a stranger

     or naked or sick or in jail?"

     45The king will say to them, "Whenever you failed to help any of my people, no matter how unimportant they

     seemed, you failed to do it for me."

     46Then Jesus said, "Those people will be punished forever. But the ones who pleased God will have eternal

     life."

chapter 26

     The Plot To Kill Jesus

     (Mark 14.1,2; Luke 22.1,2; John 11.45-53)

     1When Jesus had finished teaching, he told his disciples, 2"You know that two days from now will be

     Passover. That is when the Son of Man will be handed over to his enemies and nailed to a cross."

     3At that time the chief priests and the nation's leaders were meeting at the home of Caiaphas the high priest.

     4They planned how they could sneak around and have Jesus arrested and put to death. 5But they said, "We

     must not do it during Passover, because the people will riot."

     At Bethany

     (Mark 14.3-9; John 12.1-8)

     6Jesus was in the town of Bethany, eating at the home of Simon, who had leprosy. 7A woman came in with a

     bottle of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' head. 8But when his disciples saw this, they became

     angry and complained, "Why such a waste? 9We could have sold this perfume for a lot of money and given it

     to the poor." 10Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said:

     Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 11You will always have the poor

     with you, but you won't always have me. 12She has poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial.

     13You may be sure that wherever the good news is told all over the world, people will remember what she has

     done. And they will tell others.

     Judas and the Chief Priests

     (Mark 14.10,11; Luke 22.3-6)

     14Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples. He went to the chief priests 15and asked, "How much will

     you give me if I help you arrest Jesus?" They paid Judas thirty silver coins, 16and from then on he started

     looking for a good chance to betray Jesus.

     Jesus Eats the Passover Meal with His Disciples

     (Mark 14.12-21; Luke 22.7-13; John 13.21-30)

     17On the first day of the Festival of Thin Bread, Jesus' disciples came to him and asked, "Where do you want

     us to prepare the Passover meal?"

     18Jesus told them to go to a certain man in the city and tell him, "Our teacher says, `My time has come! I

     want to eat the Passover meal with my disciples in your home.' " 19They did as Jesus told them and prepared

     the meal.

     20-21When Jesus was eating with his twelve disciples that evening, he said, "One of you will surely hand me

     over to my enemies."

     22The disciples were very sad, and each one said to Jesus, "Lord, you can't mean me!"

     23He answered, "One of you men who has eaten with me from this dish will betray me. 24The Son of Man will

     die, as the Scriptures say. But it's going to be terrible for the one who betrays me! That man would be better

     off if he had never been born."

     25Judas said, "Teacher, you surely don't mean me!"

     "That's what you say!" Jesus replied. But later, Judas did betray him.

     The Lord's Supper

     (Mark 14.22-26; Luke 22.14-23; 1 Corinthians 11.23-25)

     26During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to

     his disciples and said, "Take this and eat it. This is my body."

     27Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He then gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this

     and drink it. 28This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with you. It will be poured out, so that

     many people will have their sins forgiven. 29From now on I am not going to drink any wine, until I drink new

     wine with you in my Father's kingdom." 30Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

     Peter's Promise

     (Mark 14.27-31; Luke 22.31-34; John 13.36-38)

     31Jesus said to his disciples, "During this very night, all of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say,

     `I will strike down

     the shepherd,

     and the sheep

     will be scattered.'

     32But after I am raised to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you."

     33Peter spoke up, "Even if all the others reject you, I never will!"

     34Jesus replied, "I promise you that before a rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you don't

     know me." 35But Peter said, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never say I don't know you."

     All the others said the same thing.

     Jesus Prays

     (Mark 14.32-42; Luke 22.39-46)

     36Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, "Sit here

     while I go over there and pray."

     37Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John. He was very sad and troubled, 38and he

     said to them, "I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me." 39Jesus walked

     on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't make

     me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want." 40He came back

     and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, "Can't any of you stay awake with me for just one hour?

     41Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak."

     42Again Jesus went to pray and said, "My Father, if there is no other way, and I must suffer, I will still do

     what you want."

     43Jesus came back and found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open. 44He left

     them and prayed the same prayer once more.

     45Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, "Are you still sleeping and resting? The time has come for

     the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. 46Get up! Let's go. The one who will betray me is already

     here."

     Jesus Is Arrested

     (Mark 14.43-50; Luke 22.47-53; John 18.3-12)

     47Jesus was still speaking, when Judas the betrayer came up. He was one of the twelve disciples, and a large

     mob armed with swords and clubs was with him. They had been sent by the chief priests and the nation's

     leaders. 48Judas had told them ahead of time, "Arrest the man I greet with a kiss." 49Judas walked right up to

     Jesus and said, "Hello, teacher." Then Judas kissed him.

     50Jesus replied, "My friend, why are you here?" The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51One of Jesus'

     followers pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

     52But Jesus told him, "Put your sword away. Anyone who lives by fighting will die by fighting. 53Don't you

     know that I could ask my Father, and right away he would send me more than twelve armies of angels? 54But

     then, how could the words of the Scriptures come true, which say that this must happen?"

     55Jesus said to the mob, "Why do you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like a criminal? Day after day

     I sat and taught in the temple, and you didn't arrest me. 56But all this happened, so that what the prophets

     wrote would come true."

     All of Jesus' disciples left him and ran away.

     Jesus Is Questioned by the Council

     (Mark 14.53-65; Luke 22.54,55,63-71; John 18.13,14,19-24)

     57After Jesus had been arrested, he was led off to the house of Caiaphas the high priest. The nation's

     leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses were meeting there. 58But Peter followed along at a distance

     and came to the courtyard of the high priest's palace. He went in and sat down with the guards to see what

     was going to happen.

     59The chief priests and the whole council wanted to put Jesus to death. So they tried to find some people

     who would tell lies about him in court. 60But they could not find any, even though many did come and tell

     lies. At last, two men came forward 61and said, "This man claimed that he would tear down God's temple and

     build it again in three days." 62The high priest stood up and asked Jesus, "Why don't you say something in

     your own defense? Don't you hear the charges they are making against you?" 63But Jesus did not answer. So

     the high priest said, "With the living God looking on, you must tell the truth. Tell us, are you the Messiah, the

     Son of God?" 64"That is what you say!" Jesus answered. "But I tell all of you,

     `Soon you will see

     the Son of Man

     sitting at the right side of God All-Powerful

     and coming on the clouds

     of heaven.' "

     65The high priest then tore his robe and said, "This man claims to be God! We don't need any more witnesses!

     You have heard what he said. 66What do you think?"

     They answered, "He is guilty and deserves to die!" 67Then they spit in his face and hit him with their fists.

     Others slapped him 68and said, "You think you are the Messiah! So tell us who hit you!"

     Peter Says He Doesn't Know Jesus

     (Mark 14.66-72; Luke 22.56-62; John 18.15-18,25-27)

     69While Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, a servant girl came up to him and said, "You were with Jesus

     from Galilee."

     70But in front of everyone Peter said, "That isn't so! I don't know what you are talking about!"

     71When Peter had gone out to the gate, another servant girl saw him and said to some people there, "This

     man was with Jesus from Nazareth."

     72Again Peter denied it, and this time he swore, "I don't even know that man!"

     73A little while later some people standing there walked over to Peter and said, "We know that you are one of

     them. We can tell it because you talk like someone from Galilee."

     74Peter began to curse and swear, "I don't know that man!"

     Right then a rooster crowed, 75and Peter remembered that Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will

     say three times that you don't know me." Then Peter went out and cried hard.

Matthew 27

     Jesus Is Taken to Pilate

     (Mark 15.1; Luke 23.1,2; John 18.28-32)

     1Early the next morning all the chief priests and the nation's leaders met and decided that Jesus should be

     put to death. 2They tied him up and led him away to Pilate the governor.

     The Death of Judas

     (Acts 1.18,19)

     3Judas had betrayed Jesus, but when he learned that Jesus had been sentenced to death, he was sorry for

     what he had done. He returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and leaders 4and said, "I have

     sinned by betraying a man who has never done anything wrong."

     "So what? That's your problem," they replied. 5Judas threw the money into the temple and then went out and

     hanged himself.

     6The chief priests picked up the money and said, "This money was paid to have a man killed. We can't put it

     in the temple treasury." 7Then they had a meeting and decided to buy a field that belonged to someone who

     made clay pots. They wanted to use it as a graveyard for foreigners. 8That's why people still call that place

     "Field of Blood." 9So the words of the prophet Jeremiah came true,

     "They took

     the thirty silver coins,

     the price of a person

     among the people of Israel.

     10They paid it

     for a potter's field, as the Lord

     had commanded me."

     Pilate Questions Jesus

     (Mark 15.2-5; Luke 23.3-5; John 18.33-38)

     11Jesus was brought before Pilate the governor, who asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

     "Those are your words!" Jesus answered. 12And when the chief priests and leaders brought their charges

     against him, he did not say a thing.

     13Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear what crimes they say you have done?" 14But Jesus did not say anything,

     and the governor was greatly amazed.

     The Death Sentence

     (Mark 15.6-15; Luke 23.13-26; John 18.39--19.16)

     15During Passover the governor always freed a prisoner chosen by the people. 16At that time a well-known

     terrorist named Jesus Barabbas was in jail. 17So when the crowd came together, Pilate asked them, "Which

     prisoner do you want me to set free? Do you want Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?"

     18Pilate knew that the leaders had brought Jesus to him because they were jealous. 19While Pilate was

     judging the case, his wife sent him a message. It said, "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man. I

     have had nightmares because of him."

     20But the chief priests and the leaders convinced the crowds to ask for Barabbas to be set free and for Jesus

     to be killed. 21Pilate asked the crowd again, "Which of these two men do you want me to set free?"

     "Barabbas!" they replied.

     22Pilate asked them, "What am I to do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?"

     They all yelled, "Nail him to a cross!"

     23Pilate answered, "But what crime has he done?"

     "Nail him to a cross!" they yelled even louder.

     24Pilate saw that there was nothing he could do and that the people were starting to riot. So he took some

     water and washed his hands in front of them and said, "I won't have anything to do with killing this man. You

     are the ones doing it!" 25Everyone answered, "We and our own families will take the blame for his death!"

     26Pilate set Barabbas free. Then he ordered his soldiers to beat Jesus with a whip and nail him to a cross.

     Soldiers Make Fun of Jesus

     (Mark 15.16-21; John 19.2,3)

     27The governor's soldiers led Jesus into the fortress and brought together the rest of the troops. 28They

     stripped off Jesus' clothes and put a scarlet robe on him. 29They made a crown out of thorn branches and

     placed it on his head, and they put a stick in his right hand. The soldiers knelt down and pretended to worship

     him. They made fun of him and shouted, "Hey, you king of the Jews!" 30Then they spit on him. They took the

     stick from him and beat him on the head with it.

     Jesus Is Nailed to a Cross

     (Mark 15.22-32; Luke 23.27-43; John 19.17-27)

     31When the soldiers had finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the robe. They put his own clothes back

     on him and led him off to be nailed to a cross. 32On the way they met a man from Cyrene named Simon, and

     they forced him to carry Jesus' cross.

     33They came to a place named Golgotha, which means "Place of a Skull." 34There they gave Jesus some wine

     mixed with a drug to ease the pain. But when Jesus tasted what it was, he refused to drink it. 35The soldiers

     nailed Jesus to a cross and gambled to see who would get his clothes. 36Then they sat down to guard him.

     37Above his head they put a sign that told why he was nailed there. It read, "This is Jesus, the King of the

     Jews." 38The soldiers also nailed two criminals on crosses, one to the right of Jesus and the other to his left.

     39People who passed by said terrible things about Jesus. They shook their heads and 40shouted, "So you're

     the one who claimed you could tear down the temple and build it again in three days! If you are God's Son,

     save yourself and come down from the cross!"

     41The chief priests, the leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses also made fun of Jesus. They said,

     42"He saved others, but he can't save himself. If he is the king of Israel, he should come down from the

     cross! Then we will believe him. 43He trusted God, so let God save him, if he wants to. He even said he was

     God's Son." 44The two criminals also said cruel things to Jesus.

     The Death of Jesus

     (Mark 15.33-41; Luke 23.44-49; John 19.28-30)

     45At noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until three o'clock. 46Then about that time Jesus

     shouted, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?" 47Some of

     the people standing there heard Jesus and said, "He's calling for Elijah." 48One of them at once ran and

     grabbed a sponge. He soaked it in wine, then put it on a stick and held it up to Jesus. 49Others said, "Wait!

     Let's see if Elijah will come and save him." 50Once again Jesus shouted, and then he died. 51At once the

     curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and rocks split apart. 52Graves

     opened, and many of God's people were raised to life. 53Then after Jesus had risen to life, they came out of

     their graves and went into the holy city, where they were seen by many people. 54The officer and the

     soldiers guarding Jesus felt the earthquake and saw everything else that happened. They were frightened and

     said, "This man really was God's Son!"

     55Many women had come with Jesus from Galilee to be of help to him, and they were there, looking on at a

     distance. 56Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John were

     some of these women.

     Jesus Is Buried

     (Mark 15.42-47; Luke 23.50-56; John 19.38-42)

     57That evening a rich disciple named Joseph from the town of Arimathea 58went and asked for Jesus' body.

     Pilate gave orders for it to be given to Joseph, 59who took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth.

     60Then Joseph put the body in his own tomb that had been cut into solid rock and had never been used. He

     rolled a big stone against the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61All this time Mary Magdalene and the

     other Mary were sitting across from the tomb.

     62On the next day, which was a Sabbath, the chief priests and the Pharisees went together to Pilate.

     63They said, "Sir, we remember what that liar said while he was still alive. He claimed that in three days he

     would come back from death. 64So please order the tomb to be carefully guarded for three days. If you don't,

     his disciples may come and steal his body. They will tell the people that he has been raised to life, and this

     last lie will be worse than the first one." 65Pilate said to them, "All right, take some of your soldiers and guard

     the tomb as well as you know how." 66So they sealed it tight and placed soldiers there to guard it.

chapter 28

     Jesus Is Alive

     (Mark 16.1-8; Luke 24.1-12; John 20.1-10)

     1The Sabbath was over, and it was almost daybreak on Sunday when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary

     went to see the tomb. 2Suddenly a strong earthquake struck, and the Lord's angel came down from heaven.

     He rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white

     as snow. 4The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead.

     5The angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross.

     6He isn't here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body

     was lying. 7Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there,

     and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you."

     8The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples.

     9Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them. They went near him, held on to his feet, and worshiped him.

     10Then Jesus said, "Don't be afraid! Tell my followers to go to Galilee. They will see me there."

     Report of the Guard

     11While the women were on their way, some soldiers who had been guarding the tomb went into the city.

     They told the chief priests everything that had happened. 12So the chief priests met with the leaders and

     decided to bribe the soldiers with a lot of money. 13They said to the soldiers, "Tell everyone that Jesus'

     disciples came during the night and stole his body while you were asleep. 14If the governor hears about this,

     we will talk to him. You won't have anything to worry about." 15The soldiers took the money and did what

     they were told. The Jewish people still tell each other this story.

     What Jesus' Followers Must Do

     (Mark 16.14-18; Luke 24.36-49; John 20.19-23; Acts 1.6-8)

     16Jesus' eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus had told them to meet him. 17They saw

     him and worshiped him, but some of them doubted.

     18Jesus came to them and said:

     I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! 19Go to the people of all nations and make them my

     disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20and teach them to do

     everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.