耶稣使四千人吃饱

那时,又有一大群人聚在一起,他们没有东西吃。耶稣就叫来门徒,说: “我怜悯这些人,他们跟我在一起已经三天,没有任何吃的了。 如果让他们饿着肚子回家,他们在路上会体力不支,因为有些人是远道而来的。”

门徒说:“在这荒野,如何找到足够的食物给这些人吃呢?”

耶稣问:“你们有多少饼?”

门徒答道:“七个。”

耶稣便吩咐大家坐在地上,然后拿着那七个饼祝谢了,掰开,递给门徒,让门徒分给大家,门徒就把饼分给大家。 他们还有几条小鱼。耶稣祝谢了,叫门徒分给众人。 大家都吃了,并且吃饱了,剩下的零碎装满了七个筐子。 吃的人约有四千。耶稣让众人回家后, 10 随即和门徒上船,来到大玛努他地区。

11 法利赛人出来盘问耶稣,要求祂从天上显一个神迹给他们看看,借此试探祂。 12 耶稣深深叹息道:“这世代的人为什么总是要看神迹呢?我实在告诉你们,没有神迹给这世代的人看。” 13 然后,耶稣离开他们,乘船回对岸去了。

防备法利赛人和希律的酵

14 门徒忘了带饼,船上只有一个饼。 15 耶稣警告他们:“你们要谨慎,要提防法利赛人和希律的酵!”

16 他们彼此议论说:“老师这样说,是不是因为我们没有带饼呢?”

17 耶稣知道他们的心思,就说:“你们为什么议论没有带饼的事呢?难道你们还不明白、不领悟吗?你们的心还是愚顽吗? 18 你们有眼不会看,有耳不会听吗?你们不记得吗? 19 我掰开五个饼分给五千人吃的时候,你们捡了多少篮的零碎呢?”

门徒答道:“十二篮。”

20 耶稣又说:“我用七个饼喂饱四千人的时候,你们捡了多少筐零碎呢?”

门徒答道:“七筐。”

21 耶稣接着说:“你们还不明白吗?”

治好伯赛大的瞎子

22 他们到了伯赛大,有人带来一个瞎子,求耶稣摸他。 23 耶稣拉着瞎子的手带他走到村外,吐唾沫在他的眼睛上,并把手按在他身上,问他:“你看见什么了?”

24 他抬头看了看,说:“我看见人们好像一棵棵的树,走来走去。”

25 耶稣把手按在他的眼睛上,他定睛一看,便恢复了视力,什么都看得清清楚楚。 26 耶稣叫他回家,并对他说:“不要再进这个村子了。”

彼得宣告耶稣是基督

27 耶稣和门徒前往凯撒利亚·腓立比境内的村庄。在路上,祂问门徒:“别人说我是谁?”

28 他们说:“有人说你是施洗者约翰,有人说你是以利亚,有人说你是众先知中的一位。”

29 耶稣又问他们:“那么,你们说我是谁?”

彼得回答说:“你是基督!”

30 耶稣吩咐他们不要泄露祂的身份。

耶稣预言自己的受难和复活

31 从此,耶稣便告诉他们,人子必须受许多苦,被长老、祭司长和律法教师弃绝,杀害,但必在三天之后复活。 32 耶稣清楚地把这些事告诉了他们,彼得就把祂拉到一边,劝阻祂。 33 耶稣转身看了看门徒,斥责彼得说:“撒旦,退到我后面去!因为你不考虑上帝的意思,只考虑人的意思。”

34 祂叫众人和门徒一起过来,对他们说:“如果有人要跟从我,就应当舍己,背起他的十字架跟从我。 35 因为想救自己生命的,必失去生命;但为了我和福音而失去生命的,必得到生命。 36 人就是赚得全世界,却丧失自己的生命,又有什么益处呢? 37 他还能用什么换回生命呢?

38 “在这淫乱、罪恶的世代,如果有人以我和我的道为耻,人子在父的荣耀中与圣天使再来的时候,也要以他为耻。”

Jesus Feeds Four Thousand

(Matthew 15.32-39)

One day another large crowd gathered around Jesus. They had not brought along anything to eat. So Jesus called his disciples together and said, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been with me for three days, and they don't have anything to eat. Some of them live a long way from here. If I send them away hungry, they might faint on their way home.”

The disciples said, “This place is like a desert. Where can we find enough food to feed such a crowd?”

Jesus asked them how much food they had. They replied, “Seven small loaves of bread.”[a]

After Jesus told the crowd to sit down, he took the seven loaves and gave thanks. He then broke the loaves and handed them to his disciples, who passed them out to the crowd. They also had a few little fish, and after Jesus had blessed these, he told the disciples to pass them around.

8-9 The crowd of about 4,000 people ate all they wanted, and the leftovers filled seven large baskets.

As soon as Jesus had sent the people away, 10 he got into the boat with the disciples and crossed to the territory near Dalmanutha.[b]

A Sign from Heaven

(Matthew 16.1-4)

11 (A) The Pharisees came out and started an argument with Jesus. They wanted to test him by asking for a sign from heaven. 12 (B) Jesus groaned and said, “Why are you always looking for a sign? I can promise you that you will not be given one!” 13 Then he left them. He again got into a boat and crossed over to the other side of the lake.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod

(Matthew 16.5-12)

14 The disciples had forgotten to bring any bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 (C) Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.”[c]

16 The disciples talked this over and said to each other, “He must be saying this because we don't have any bread.”

17 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you talking about not having any bread? Don't you understand? Are your minds still closed? 18 (D) Are your eyes blind and your ears deaf? Don't you remember 19 how many baskets of leftovers you picked up when I fed those 5,000 people with only five small loaves of bread?”

“Yes,” the disciples answered. “There were twelve baskets.”

20 Jesus then asked, “And how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up when I broke seven small loaves of bread for those 4,000 people?”

“Seven,” they answered.

21 “Don't you know what I am talking about by now?” Jesus asked.

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

22 As Jesus and his disciples were going into Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch the man. 23 Jesus took him by the hand and led him out of the village, where he spit into the man's eyes. He placed his hands on the blind man and asked him if he could see anything. 24 The man looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees walking around.”

25 Once again Jesus placed his hands on the man's eyes, and this time the man stared. His eyes were healed, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus said to him, “You may return home now, but don't go into the village.”

Who Is Jesus?

(Matthew 16.13-20; Luke 9.18-21)

27 Jesus and his disciples went to the villages near the town of Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “What do people say about me?”

28 (E) The disciples answered, “Some say you are John the Baptist or maybe Elijah.[d] Others say you are one of the prophets.”

29 (F) Then Jesus asked, “But who do you say I am?”

“You are the Messiah!” Peter replied.

30 Jesus warned the disciples not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus Speaks about His Suffering and Death

(Matthew 16.21-28; Luke 9.22-27)

31 Jesus began telling his disciples what would happen to him. He said, “The nation's leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law of Moses will make the Son of Man suffer terribly. He will be rejected and killed, but three days later he will rise to life.” 32 Then Jesus explained clearly what he meant.

Peter took Jesus aside and told him to stop talking like that. 33 But when Jesus turned and saw the disciples, he corrected Peter. He said to him, “Satan, get away from me! You are thinking like everyone else and not like God.”

34 (G) Jesus then told the crowd and the disciples to come closer, and he said:

If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me. 35 (H) If you want to save your life,[e] you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me and for the good news, you will save it. 36 What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? 37 What could you give to get back your soul?

38 Don't be ashamed of me and my message among these unfaithful and sinful people! If you are, the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Footnotes

  1. 8.5 small loaves of bread: See the note at 6.38.
  2. 8.10 Dalmanutha: The place is unknown.
  3. 8.15 Herod: Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great.
  4. 8.28 Elijah: See the note at 6.15.
  5. 8.35 life: In verses 35-37 the same Greek word is translated “life,” “yourself,” and “soul.”

Jesus gives food to 4,000 people

At that time, another large crowd had come to hear Jesus. The people had nothing to eat. Jesus asked his disciples to come to him. He said to them, ‘I feel sorry for this crowd. They have been here with me now for three days and they do not have any food. I do not want to send them back to their homes while they are hungry. They might fall down during their journey because they are weak. Some of them have travelled a long way to come here.’

The disciples replied, ‘This place is far from any houses. We cannot get enough bread to feed all these people.’

‘How many loaves of bread do you have?’ Jesus asked. ‘We have seven loaves,’ they replied.

Jesus told the crowd that they should sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves in his hands and he thanked God for them. Then he broke the bread and he gave the pieces to his disciples. The disciples gave the bread to the people. The disciples also had a few small fish, so Jesus thanked God for these. Then he told his disciples to give the fish to the people too. The people ate, and they all had enough food. After the people had eaten, there were still lots of small pieces of food. Jesus' disciples filled seven baskets with these pieces. About 4,000 people were there and ate the food. Then Jesus sent the people away. 10 Immediately, he got into the boat with his disciples. They all returned to the part of the country called Dalmanutha.[a]

11 Some Pharisees came to Jesus. They began to argue with him. They wanted to see him do something powerful. That would show them that God had really sent him. 12 Jesus cried with a low, sad sound. He said, ‘People who are alive today want God to show them something powerful. But I tell you this: God will not do the powerful thing for them that they want.’ 13 Then Jesus left those Pharisees. He got back into the boat to go to the other side of the lake.

Jesus talks about the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod

14 Jesus' disciples had forgotten to take bread with them. They only had one loaf in the boat. 15 Jesus said to them, ‘Be careful. Do not accept the yeast of the Pharisees or the yeast of Herod.’[b]

16 The disciples began to say to each other, ‘Jesus is saying that because we do not have any bread.’

17 Jesus knew what they were talking about. So he said to them, ‘You should not be arguing about the bread. You still do not understand my teaching. You seem unable to learn. 18 You are like people who have eyes but they cannot see with them. You are like people who have ears but they cannot hear with them. 19 Remember that I used five loaves of bread to feed 5,000 men. How many baskets did you fill with pieces of food that were left?’

‘There were 12 baskets,’ they replied.

20 Jesus asked them, ‘I also used seven loaves to feed 4,000 people. That time, how many baskets did you fill with pieces of food?’

‘There were seven baskets,’ they replied.

21 ‘You really should understand about me now,’ he said to them.

Jesus makes a blind man able to see

22 Jesus and his disciples came to a village called Bethsaida. Some people led a blind man to Jesus. They asked Jesus to touch the man. 23 Jesus took the blind man's hand and he led the man out of the village. Jesus put water from his own mouth on the man's eyes. And he put his hands on the man. ‘Can you see anything?’ Jesus asked.

24 The man looked up. He said, ‘I can see people. But they look like trees that are walking about.’

25 So Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes again. The man looked carefully and then his eyes were completely well. Now he could see everything clearly. 26 Jesus told the man that he must go back to his home. Jesus said, ‘Do not even go into the village.’

Peter says who Jesus is

27 Then Jesus and his disciples went to visit some villages. They were near to the town of Caesarea Philippi. On the way, Jesus asked his disciples, ‘When people talk about me, who do they say that I am?’

28 They replied, ‘Some people say that you are John the Baptist. Other people say that you are Elijah. And some other people say that you are one of God's prophets.’[c]

29 Jesus asked them, ‘But what do you think? Who do you say that I am?’

Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’[d]

30 Then Jesus warned his disciples that they must not tell anyone about him.

Jesus tells his disciples how he will die

31 Then Jesus began to teach his disciples about the things that must happen to the Son of Man.[e] He would have to suffer in many ways. The important Jews, the leaders of the priests and the teachers of God's Law would turn against him. People would kill him. But after three days, he would become alive again.

32 What Jesus said was very clear. Then Peter took Jesus away from the other disciples. Peter began to tell Jesus that he must not say things like that.

33 Jesus turned round and he looked at his disciples. He said that Peter was not saying good things. He said to Peter, ‘Satan, go away from me![f] Your thoughts do not come from God. Instead, you are thinking like men think.’

34 Then Jesus asked the crowd and his disciples to come to him. He said to them, ‘A person who wants to come with me must not think about himself. He must decide that his own life is not important. He must be like someone who carries his own cross to go and die. Then he may come with me as my disciple. 35 Whoever wants to keep his own life safe will lose it. But whoever gives his life to serve me and God's good news will have true life. 36 A person may get everything in the whole world for himself. But if he loses his life, it will not be any good for him. 37 There is nothing that a person can give to get back his life.

38 People who are living today do not obey God. They are very bad. But you must not be ashamed of me or of my words. If you are, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you. One day he will return and God's holy angels will be with him. He will have the bright glory of his Father. He will be ashamed of you on that day if you are ashamed of him now.’

Footnotes

  1. 8:10 Dalmanutha is on the west shore of Lake Galilee. It is south of the flat part of the country called Gennesaret.
  2. 8:15 People put yeast into flour and water when they want to make bread. The yeast causes the flour to grow bigger and become a loaf of bread. Jesus was talking about the things that the Pharisees taught people. These things could grow and hurt people. See Matthew 16:12.
  3. 8:28 This is the same report that people told King Herod in Matthew 6:14-16.
  4. 8:29 The people were waiting for God to send someone special to them. They called this person the Messiah or the Christ. Jesus knew that the people had wrong ideas about this person. They thought that this person would save them from the Roman government. They thought that he would be a great soldier. So Jesus wanted to teach the people what he, the Messiah, had come to do.
  5. 8:31 Before this time, Jesus had not told anyone so clearly what would happen to him.
  6. 8:33 Peter did not understand that God wanted Jesus to die for us. Satan wanted Peter to stop Jesus, so that Jesus would not obey God. That is why Jesus called Peter ‘Satan’.