The document was marked with 1992 Deletions, 1986 Insertions, 0 Moves.

Mark English Standard Version (ESV)

chapter 1

     John the Baptist Prepares the Way

     1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

     2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

        who will prepare your way,

     3the voice of one crying in the wilderness:

        'Prepare the way of the Lord,

        make his paths straight,'"

     4John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of

     sins. 5And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in

     the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt

     around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is

     mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I have baptized you

     with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

     The Baptism of Jesus

     9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And when he

     came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a

     dove. 11And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

     The Temptation of Jesus

     12The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13And he was in the wilderness forty days, being

     tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

     Jesus Begins His Ministry

     14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, "The

     time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

     Jesus Calls the First Disciples

     16Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the

     sea, for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of

     men." 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19And going on a little farther, he saw James

     the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20And immediately he

     called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

     Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit

     21And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was

     teaching. 22And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not

     as the scribes. 23And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried

     out, 24"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you

     are--the Holy One of God." 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 26And the

     unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27And they were all amazed,

     so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He

     commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28And at once his fame spread everywhere

     throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

     Jesus Heals Many

     29And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

     30Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31And he came

     and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

     32That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33And the whole

     city was gathered together at the door. 34And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast

     out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

     Jesus Preaches in Galilee

     35And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place,

     and there he prayed. 36And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37and they found him and

     said to him, "Everyone is looking for you." 38And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may

     preach there also, for that is why I came out." 39And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their

     synagogues and casting out demons.

     Jesus Cleanses a Leper

     40And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean."

     41Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." 42And

     immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away

     at once, 44and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and

     offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them." 45But he went out and began to talk

     freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in

     desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

chapter 2

     Jesus Heals a Paralytic

     1And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2And many

     were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the

     word to them. 3And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4And when they could not get

     near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they

     let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My

     son, your sins are forgiven." 6Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7"Why

     does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8And immediately

     Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you

     question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to

     say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth

     to forgive sins" --he said to the paralytic-- 11 "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home." 12And he

     rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and

     glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

     Jesus Calls Levi

     13He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14And

     as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me."

     And he rose and followed him.

     15And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his

     disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he

     was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and

     sinners?" 17And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but

     those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

     A Question About Fasting

     18Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, "Why do John's

     disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 19And Jesus said to them,

     "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with

     them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they

     will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears

     away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old

     wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins--and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new

     wine is for fresh wineskins."

     Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

     23One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck

     heads of grain. 24And the Pharisees were saying to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the

     Sabbath?" 25And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was

     hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the

     high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also

     gave it to those who were with him?" 27And he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for

     the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."

chapter 3

     A Man with a Withered Hand

     1Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2And they watched Jesus, to

     see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3And he said to the man with

     the withered hand, "Come here." 4And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm,

     to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. 5And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their

     hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was

     restored. 6The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to

     destroy him.

     A Great Crowd Follows Jesus

     7Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea 8and

     Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd

     heard all that he was doing, they came to him. 9And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him

     because of the crowd, lest they crush him, 10for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed

     around him to touch him. 11And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried

     out, "You are the Son of God." 12And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.

     The Twelve Apostles

     13And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14And

     he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them

     out to preach 15and have authority to cast out demons. 16He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he

     gave the name Peter); 17James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the

     name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and

     Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, 19and Judas Iscariot,

     who betrayed him.

     20Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21And when his

     family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, "He is out of his mind."

     Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

     22And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "by the

     prince of demons he casts out the demons." 23And he called them to him and said to them in parables, "How

     can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a

     house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against

     himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man's

     house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

     28 "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29

     but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" -- 30for

     they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."

     Jesus' Mother and Brothers

     31And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32And a

     crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking

     you." 33And he answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" 34And looking about at those who sat

     around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother

     and sister and mother."

chapter 4

     The Parable of the Sower

     1Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a

     boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2And he was teaching

     them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And

     as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky

     ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And

     when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among

     thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil

     and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." 9And

     he said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

     The Purpose of the Parables

     10And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11And he said to

     them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in

     parables, 12 so that "they may indeed see but not perceive,

        and may indeed hear but not understand,

     lest they should turn and be forgiven."

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

     14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they

     hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones

     sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they

     have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of

     the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who

     hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things

     enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the

     ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold."

     A Lamp Under a Basket

     21And he said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?

     22 For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. 23 If

     anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." 24And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear: with the

     measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 For to the one who has,

     more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

     The Parable of the Growing Seed

     26And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises

     night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the

     blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle,

     because the harvest has come."

     The Parable of the Mustard Seed

     30And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is

     like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32

     yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches,

     so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."

     33With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34He did not speak to

     them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

     Jesus Calms a Storm

     35On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." 36And leaving

     the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37And a

     great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38But

     he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care

     that we are perishing?" 39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the

     wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no

     faith?" 41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even wind and

     sea obey him?"

chapter 5

     Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man

     1They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2And when Jesus had stepped out

     of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3He lived among the

     tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4for he had often been bound with

     shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the

     strength to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out

     and bruising himself with stones. 6And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7And

     crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I

     adjure you by God, do not torment me." 8For he was saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean

     spirit!" 9And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many." 10And

     he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there

     on the hillside, 12and they begged him, saying, "Send us to the pigs; let us enter them." 13So he gave them

     permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two

     thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea.

     14The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had

     happened. 15And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion,

     sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16And those who had seen it described to

     them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17And they began to beg Jesus to

     depart from their region. 18As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons

     begged him that he might be with him. 19And he did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends

     and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20And he went away

     and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

     Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus's Daughter

     21And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he

     was beside the sea. 22Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell

     at his feet 23and implored him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay

     your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live." 24And he went with him.And a great crowd

     followed him and thronged about him. 25And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve

     years, 26and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no

     better but rather grew worse. 27She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd

     and touched his garment. 28For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I will be made well." 29And

     immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30And

     Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and

     said, "Who touched my garments?" 31And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing around you,

     and yet you say, 'Who touched me?'" 32And he looked around to see who had done it. 33But the woman,

     knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the

     whole truth. 34And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of

     your disease."

     35While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why

     trouble the Teacher any further?" 36But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue,

     "Do not fear, only believe." 37And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the

     brother of James. 38They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion,

     people weeping and wailing loudly. 39And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why are you making a

     commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping." 40And they laughed at him. But he put them all

     outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was.

     41Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." 42And

     immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately

     overcome with amazement. 43And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to

     give her something to eat.

chapter 6

     Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

     1He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2And on the Sabbath

     he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man

     get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3Is not

     this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his

     sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without

     honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household." 5And he could do no

     mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6And he marveled

     because of their unbelief.And he went about among the villages teaching.

     Jesus Sends Out the Apostles

     7And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the

     unclean spirits. 8He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff--no bread, no bag, no

     money in their belts-- 9but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10And he said to them, "Whenever

     you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they

     will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them."

     12So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13And they cast out many demons and

     anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

     The Death of John the Baptist

     14King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, "John the Baptist has been raised

     from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him." 15But others said, "He is Elijah." And

     others said, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John,

     whom I beheaded, has been raised." 17For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in

     prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. 18For John had been

     saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19And Herodias had a grudge against

     him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a

     righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he

     heard him gladly.

     21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military

     commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased

     Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you."

     23And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom." 24And she went

     out and said to her mother, "For what should I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist." 25And she

     came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of

     John the Baptist on a platter." 26And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests

     he did not want to break his word to her. 27And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring

     John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the

     girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid

     it in a tomb.

     Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

     30The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31And he said to them,

     "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they

     had no leisure even to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33Now

     many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there

     ahead of them. 34When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because

     they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35And when it grew late,

     his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36Send them away to

     go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." 37But he answered

     them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii

     worth of bread and give it to them to eat?" 38And he said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and

     see." And when they had found out, they said, "Five, and two fish." 39Then he commanded them all to sit

     down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41And taking

     the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave

     them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42And they all ate

     and were satisfied. 43And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44And those who

     ate the loaves were five thousand men.

     Jesus Walks on the Water

     45Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while

     he dismissed the crowd. 46And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47And

     when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48And he saw that they

     were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he

     came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49but when they saw him walking on the sea

     they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he

     spoke to them and said, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." 51And he got into the boat with them, and the

     wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52for they did not understand about the loaves, but their

     hearts were hardened.

     Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret

     53When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54And when they

     got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55and ran about the whole region and began to

     bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56And wherever he came, in villages,

     cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the

     fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

chapter 7

     Traditions and Commandments

     1Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2they

     saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3(For the Pharisees and

     all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4and when they

     come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they

     observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) 5And the Pharisees

     and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat

     with defiled hands?" 6And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is

     written, "'This people honors me with their lips,

        but their heart is far from me;

     7 in vain do they worship me,

        teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

     8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men."

     9And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your

     tradition! 10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must

     surely die.' 11 But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, Whatever you would have gained from me

     is Corban' (that is, given to God)-- 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother,

     13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things

     you do."

     What Defiles a Person

     14And he called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is

     nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are

     what defile him." 17And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the

     parable. 18And he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever

     goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is

     expelled?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him.

     21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22

     coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from

     within, and they defile a person."

     The Syrophoenician Woman's Faith

     24And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did

     not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25But immediately a woman whose little daughter was

     possessed by an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26Now the woman was a

     Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27And he said

     to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

     28But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29And he

     said to her, "For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter." 30And she went

     home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

     Jesus Heals a Deaf Man

     31Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the

     Decapolis. 32And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged

     him to lay his hand on him. 33And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears,

     and after spitting touched his tongue. 34And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha,"

     that is, "Be opened." 35And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36And Jesus

     charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37And

     they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and

     the mute speak."

chapter 8

     Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

     1In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples

     to him and said to them, 2 "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three

     days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way.

     And some of them have come from far away." 4And his disciples answered him, "How can one feed these

     people with bread here in this desolate place?" 5And he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They

     said, "Seven." 6And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and

     having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set

     them before the crowd. 7And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also

     should be set before them. 8And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over,

     seven baskets full. 9And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10And immediately

     he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

     The Pharisees Demand a Sign

     11The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12And

     he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will

     be given to this generation." 13And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.

     The Leaven of the Pharisees

     14Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15And he

     cautioned them, saying, "Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." 16And

     they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17And Jesus, aware of this, said to

     them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are

     your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not

     remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did

     you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve." 20 "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of

     broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven." 21And he said to them, "Do you not yet

     understand?"

     Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

     22And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.

     23And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and

     laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?" 24And he looked up and said, "I see men, but

     they look like trees, walking." 25Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his

     sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26And he sent him to his home, saying, "Do not even enter

     the village."

     Peter Confesses Jesus As the Christ

     27And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his

     disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" 28And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and

     others, one of the prophets." 29And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him,

     "You are the Christ." 30And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

     Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

     31And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders

     and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32And he said this plainly.

     And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter

     and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of

     man."

     34And he called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him

     deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever

     loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole

     world and forfeit his life? 37 For what can a man give in return for his life? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me

     and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he

     comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

chapter 9

     1And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they

     see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."

     The Transfiguration

     2And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by

     themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no

     one on earth could bleach them. 4And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with

     Jesus. 5And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and

     one for Moses and one for Elijah." 6For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7And a cloud

     overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." 8And

     suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

     9And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the

     Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising

     from the dead might mean. 11And they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?"

     12And he said to them, "Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man

     that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and

     they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him."

     Healing of a Boy with an Unclean Spirit

     14And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.

     15And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted

     him. 16And he asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" 17And someone from the crowd

     answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18And whenever it

     seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your

     disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." 19And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long

     am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." 20And they brought the boy to him.

     And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about,

     foaming at the mouth. 21And Jesus asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said,

     "From childhood. 22And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do

     anything, have compassion on us and help us." 23And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible for

     one who believes." 24Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"

     25And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You

     mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." 26And after crying out and

     convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead."

     27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28And when he had entered the house, his

     disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29And he said to them, "This kind cannot be

     driven out by anything but prayer."

     Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection

     30They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, 31for he was

     teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and

     they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise." 32But they did not understand the

     saying, and were afraid to ask him.

     Who Is the Greatest?

     33And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing

     on the way?" 34But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the

     greatest. 35And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must

     be last of all and servant of all." 36And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his

     arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives

     me, receives not me but him who sent me."

     Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us

     38John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him,

     because he was not following us." 39But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in

     my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41

     For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no

     means lose his reward.

     Temptations to Sin

     42 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great

     millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin,

     cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable

     fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet

     to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the

     kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 'where their worm does not die

     and the fire is not quenched.' 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost

     its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

chapter 10

     Teaching About Divorce

     1And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him

     again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.

     2And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" 3He

     answered them, "What did Moses command you?" 4They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of

     divorce and to send her away." 5And Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you

     this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' 7 'Therefore a

     man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, 8 and they shall become one flesh.' So they

     are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

     10And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11And he said to them, "Whoever

     divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, 12 and if she divorces her husband and

     marries another, she commits adultery."

     Let the Children Come to Me

     13And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14But

     when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for

     to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like

     a child shall not enter it." 16And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

     The Rich Young Man

     17And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, "Good

     Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one

     is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not

     steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" 20And he said to him,

     "Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth." 21And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You

     lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and

     come, follow me." 22Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

     23And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to

     enter the kingdom of God!" 24And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again,

     "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a

     needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." 26And they were exceedingly astonished, and said

     to him, "Then who can be saved?" 27Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with

     God. For all things are possible with God." 28Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left everything and

     followed you." 29Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or

     mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold

     now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and

     in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

     Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

     32And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were

     amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to

     happen to him, 33saying, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to

     the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34

     And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise."

     The Request of James and John

     35And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do

     for us whatever we ask of you." 36And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" 37And they

     said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." 38Jesus said to them,

     "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the

     baptism with which I am baptized?" 39And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup

     that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit

     at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." 41And

     when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42And Jesus called them to him and

     said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their

     great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great

     among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even

     the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

     Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

     46And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus,

     a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47And when he heard that it was Jesus of

     Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48And many rebuked him,

     telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49And Jesus stopped

     and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart. Get up; he is calling you."

     50And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51And Jesus said to him, "What do you want

     me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Rabbi, let me recover my sight." 52And Jesus said to him,

     "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the

     way.

chapter 11

     The Triumphal Entry

     1Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two

     of his disciples 2and said to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will

     find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, 'Why are you

     doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.'" 4And they went away and

     found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5And some of those standing there said

     to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" 6And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them

     go. 7And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8And many spread

     their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9And those who

     went before and those who followed were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the

     Lord! 10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!"

     11And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it

     was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

     Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

     12On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13And seeing in the distance a fig

     tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves,

     for it was not the season for figs. 14And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his

     disciples heard it.

     Jesus Cleanses the Temple

     15And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those

     who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who

     sold pigeons. 16And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17And he was teaching

     them and saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'?

     But you have made it a den of robbers." 18And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a

     way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19And when

     evening came they went out of the city.

     The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree

     20As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21And Peter

     remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered." 22And Jesus answered

     them, "Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into

     the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for

     him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be

     yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father

     also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

     The Authority of Jesus Challenged

     27And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes

     and the elders came to him, 28and they said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things, or who

     gave you this authority to do them?" 29Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will

     tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer

     me." 31And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did

     you not believe him?' 32But shall we say, 'From man'?"--they were afraid of the people, for they all held that

     John really was a prophet. 33So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither

     will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

chapter 12

     The Parable of the Tenants

     1And he began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a

     pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. 2 When the

     season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And

     they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent to them another servant, and

     they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 And he sent another, and him they killed. And so

     with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. 6 He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he

     sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 7 But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the

     heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 8 And they took him and killed him and threw him

     out of the vineyard. 9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give

     the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this Scripture: "'The stone that the builders rejected

        has become the cornerstone;

     11 this was the Lord's doing,

        and it is marvelous in our eyes'?"

     12And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable

     against them. So they left him and went away.

     Paying Taxes to Caesar

     13And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14And they

     came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you

     are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

     Should we pay them, or should we not?" 15But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the

     test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." 16And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose

     likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." 17Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the

     things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they marveled at him.

     The Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection

     18And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying,

     19"Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man