The Power of Faith over a Demon

¹⁴ When^(A) they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing^(B) with them. ¹⁵ All of a sudden, when the whole crowd saw Him, they were amazed^[a] and ran to greet Him. ¹⁶ Then He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about?”

¹⁷ Out of the crowd, one man answered Him, “Teacher,^(C) I brought my son to You. He has a spirit^(D) that makes him unable to speak.^{(E) 18} Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”

¹⁹ He replied to them, “You unbelieving^(F) generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me.” ²⁰ So they brought him to Him. When the spirit saw Him, it immediately convulsed the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. ²¹ “How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father.

“From childhood,” he said. ²² “And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy^(G) him. But if You can do anything, have compassion^(H) on us and help us.”

²³ Then Jesus said to him, “‘If You can’?^[b][c] Everything is possible^(I) to the one who believes.”^(J)

²⁴ Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.”

²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly coming together, He rebuked^(K) the unclean^(L) spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf^(M) spirit,^[d] I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!”

²⁶ Then it came out, shrieking and convulsing^(N) him^[e] violently. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him,^(O) and he stood up.

²⁸ After He went into a house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

²⁹ And He told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer^(P) [and fasting].”^[f](Q)

The Power of Faith over a Demon

¹⁴ When they reached the crowd,^(A) a man approached and knelt down before Him. ¹⁵ “Lord,” he said, “have mercy on my son, because he has seizures^[a] and suffers severely. He often falls into the fire and often into the water. ¹⁶ I brought him to Your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”^(B)

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and rebellious^[b] generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.”^{(C) 18} Then Jesus rebuked the demon,^[c] and it^[d] came out of him,^(D) and from that moment^[e] the boy was healed.

¹⁹ Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

²⁰ “Because of your little faith,” He^[f] told them. “For I assure you: If you have faith the size of^[g] a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.^(E) Nothing will be impossible for you.^(F) [²¹ However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.]”^[h]

The Power of Faith over a Demon

³⁷ The next day,^(A) when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him. ³⁸ Just then a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, because he’s my only child.^{(B) 39} Often a spirit seizes him; suddenly he shrieks, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth;^[a] wounding^[b] him, it hardly ever leaves him. ⁴⁰ I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”^(C)

⁴¹ Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and rebellious^[c] generation!^(D) How long will I be with you and put up with you?^(E) Bring your son here.”

⁴² As the boy was still approaching, the demon knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, cured the boy,^(F) and gave him back to his father.^{(G) 43} And they were all astonished at the greatness of God.^(H)

The Second Prediction of His Death

While everyone was amazed at all the things He was doing,^(I) He told His disciples,

The Second Prediction of His Death

³⁰ Then^(A) they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but He did not want anyone to know it.^{(B) 31} For He was teaching^(C) His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man^(D) is being betrayed^[a] into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after He is killed, He will rise^(E) three days later.”^{(F) 32} But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.^(G)

The Second Prediction of His Death

²² As^(A) they were meeting^[a] in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. ²³ They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.” And they were deeply distressed.

⁴³ And they were all astonished at the greatness of God.^(A)

The Second Prediction of His Death

While everyone was amazed at all the things He was doing,^(B) He told His disciples, ⁴⁴ “Let these words sink in:^[a] The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”^(C)

⁴⁵ But they did not understand this statement;^(D) it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it,^(E) and they were afraid to ask Him about it.^[b]

Paying the Temple Tax

²⁴ When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the double-drachma tax^[a] approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your Teacher pay the double-drachma tax?”^(A)

²⁵ “Yes,” he said.

When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first,^[b] “What do you think, Simon? Who do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes from? From their sons or from strangers?”^[c](B)

²⁶ “From strangers,” he said.^[d]

“Then the sons are free,” Jesus told him. ²⁷ “But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin.^[e] Take it and give it to them for Me and you.”^(C)

Who is the Greatest?

³³ Then^(A) they came to Capernaum.^(B) When He was in the house,^(C) He asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”^{(D) 34} But they were silent,^(E) because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.^{(F) 35} Sitting down, He called the Twelve^(G) and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”^{(H) 36} Then He took a child,^(I) had him stand among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes^[a] one little child such as this in My name^(J) welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent^(K) Me.”^(L)

Who Is the Greatest?

18 At that time^[a](A) the disciples^(B) came to Jesus and said, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”^(C)

² Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them. ³ “I assure you,” He said, “unless you are converted^[b] and become like children,^(D) you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.^{(E) 4} Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes^[c] one child like this in My name welcomes Me.

⁶ “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone^[d] were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea!^(F)