The Fig Tree Withered(A)

18 (B)Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 (C)And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree(D)

20 (E)And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”

21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, (F)if you have faith and (G)do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, (H)but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And (I)whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Jesus’ Authority Questioned(J)

23 (K)Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and (L)said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”

24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 25 The (M)baptism of (N)John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we (O)fear the multitude, (P)for all count John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.”

And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my (Q)vineyard.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?”

They said to Him, “The first.”

Jesus said to them, (R)“Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. 32 For (S)John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; (T)but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward [a]relent and believe him.

The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers(U)

33 “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner (V)who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and (W)went into a far country. 34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 35 (X)And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 37 Then last of all he sent his (Y)son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, (Z)‘This is the heir. (AA)Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 (AB)So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”

41 (AC)They said to Him, (AD)“He will destroy those wicked men miserably, (AE)and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will [b]render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

(AF)‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43 “Therefore I say to you, (AG)the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And (AH)whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, (AI)it will grind him to powder.”

45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they [c]perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they (AJ)feared the multitudes, because (AK)they took Him for a prophet.

The Parable of the Wedding Feast(AL)

22 And Jesus answered (AM)and spoke to them again by parables and said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; (AN)my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them [d]spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out (AO)his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not (AP)worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and (AQ)gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there (AR)who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was (AS)speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, [e]take him away, and cast him (AT)into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 (AU)“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?(AV)

15 (AW)Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the (AX)Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not [f]regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

18 But Jesus [g]perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.”

So they brought Him a denarius.

20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”

21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

And He said to them, (AY)“Render[h] therefore to Caesar the things that are (AZ)Caesar’s, and to God the things that are (BA)God’s.” 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?(BB)

23 (BC)The same day the Sadducees, (BD)who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: “Teacher, (BE)Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are [i]mistaken, (BF)not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but (BG)are like angels [j]of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 (BH)‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the multitudes heard this, (BI)they were astonished at His teaching.

The Scribes: Which Is the First Commandment of All?(BJ)

34 (BK)But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, (BL)a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, (BM)“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: (BN)‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 (BO)On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?(BP)

41 (BQ)While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”

They said to Him, “The (BR)Son of David.”

43 He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:

44 ‘The(BS) Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’?

45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” 46 (BT)And no one was able to answer Him a word, (BU)nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees(BV)

23 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: (BW)“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you [k]to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for (BX)they say, and do not do. (BY)For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to (BZ)be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. (CA)They love the [l]best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ (CB)But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your [m]Teacher, [n]the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; (CC)for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But (CD)he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 (CE)And whoever exalts himself will be [o]humbled, and he who humbles himself will be [p]exalted.

13 “But (CF)woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 [q]Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (CG)For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of [r]hell as yourselves.

16 “Woe to you, (CH)blind guides, who say, (CI)‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it. 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold (CJ)or the temple that [s]sanctifies the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it. 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift (CK)or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who [t]swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by (CL)Him who [u]dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by (CM)the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (CN)For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and (CO)have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (CP)For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and [v]self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (CQ)For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 (CR)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and [w]adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’

31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that (CS)you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 (CT)Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. 33 Serpents, (CU)brood[x] of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 (CV)Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: (CW)some of them you will kill and crucify, and (CX)some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 (CY)that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, (CZ)from the blood of righteous Abel to (DA)the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Jesus Laments over Jerusalem(DB)

37 (DC)“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets (DD)and stones those who are sent to her! How often (DE)I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks (DF)under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, (DG)‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple(DH)

24 Then (DI)Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, (DJ)not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age(DK)

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, (DL)the disciples came to Him privately, saying, (DM)“Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

And Jesus answered and said to them: (DN)“Take heed that no one deceives you. For (DO)many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ (DP)and will deceive many. And you will hear of (DQ)wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for [y]all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For (DR)nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be (DS)famines, [z]pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

(DT)“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then (DU)many false prophets will rise up and (DV)deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow (DW)cold. 13 (DX)But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this (DY)gospel of the kingdom (DZ)will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

The Great Tribulation(EA)

15 (EB)“Therefore when you see the (EC)‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (ED)(whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But (EE)woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For (EF)then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; (EG)but for the [aa]elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

23 (EH)“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For (EI)false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, (EJ)if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.

26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 (EK)For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 (EL)For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

The Coming of the Son of Man(EM)

29 (EN)“Immediately after the tribulation of those days (EO)the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 (EP)Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, (EQ)and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 (ER)And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His [ab]elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The Parable of the Fig Tree(ES)

32 “Now learn (ET)this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know (EU)that [ac]it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, (EV)this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 (EW)Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

No One Knows the Day or Hour(EX)

36 (EY)“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of [ad]heaven, (EZ)but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 (FA)For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 (FB)Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 (FC)Watch therefore, for you do not know what [ae]hour your Lord is coming. 43 (FD)But know this, that if the master of the house had known what [af]hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 (FE)Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant(FF)

45 (FG)“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food [ag]in due season? 46 (FH)Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that (FI)he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master (FJ)is delaying [ah]his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is (FK)not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. (FL)There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet (FM)the bridegroom. (FN)Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, (FO)they all slumbered and slept.

“And at midnight (FP)a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom [ai]is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and (FQ)trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and (FR)the door was shut.

11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, (FS)‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, (FT)I do not know you.’

13 (FU)“Watch therefore, for you (FV)know neither the day nor the hour [aj]in which the Son of Man is coming.

The Parable of the Talents(FW)

14 (FX)“For the kingdom of heaven is (FY)like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, (FZ)to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were (GA)faithful over a few things, (GB)I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into (GC)the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, (GD)‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into (GE)the joy of your lord.’

24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You (GF)wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

29 (GG)‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant (GH)into the outer darkness. (GI)There will be weeping and (GJ)gnashing of teeth.’

The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations

31 (GK)“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the [ak]holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 (GL)All the nations will be gathered before Him, and (GM)He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the (GN)sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, (GO)inherit the kingdom (GP)prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 (GQ)for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; (GR)I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was (GS)naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; (GT)I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, (GU)inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, (GV)‘Depart from Me, you cursed, (GW)into the everlasting fire prepared for (GX)the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

44 “Then they also will answer [al]Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, (GY)inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And (GZ)these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

The Plot to Kill Jesus(HA)

26 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples,

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 21:32 regret it
  2. Matthew 21:41 give
  3. Matthew 21:45 knew
  4. Matthew 22:6 insolently
  5. Matthew 22:13 NU omits take him away, and
  6. Matthew 22:16 Lit. look at the face of
  7. Matthew 22:18 knew
  8. Matthew 22:21 Pay
  9. Matthew 22:29 deceived
  10. Matthew 22:30 NU omits of God
  11. Matthew 23:3 NU omits to observe
  12. Matthew 23:6 Or place of honor
  13. Matthew 23:8 Leader
  14. Matthew 23:8 NU omits the Christ
  15. Matthew 23:12 put down
  16. Matthew 23:12 lifted up
  17. Matthew 23:14 NU omits v. 14.
  18. Matthew 23:15 Gr. Gehenna
  19. Matthew 23:17 NU sanctified
  20. Matthew 23:20 Swears an oath
  21. Matthew 23:21 M dwelt
  22. Matthew 23:25 M unrighteousness
  23. Matthew 23:29 decorate
  24. Matthew 23:33 offspring
  25. Matthew 24:6 NU omits all
  26. Matthew 24:7 NU omits pestilences
  27. Matthew 24:22 chosen ones’
  28. Matthew 24:31 chosen ones
  29. Matthew 24:33 Or He
  30. Matthew 24:36 NU adds nor the Son
  31. Matthew 24:42 NU day
  32. Matthew 24:43 Lit. watch of the night
  33. Matthew 24:45 at the right time
  34. Matthew 24:48 NU omits his coming
  35. Matthew 25:6 NU omits is coming
  36. Matthew 25:13 NU omits the rest of v. 13.
  37. Matthew 25:31 NU omits holy
  38. Matthew 25:44 NU, M omit Him

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