²² And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of ^(A)the ^[a]world and the ^(B)deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

²³ And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “^(A)How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴ The disciples ^(B)were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ^25 (C)It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ They were even more astonished and said to Him, “^[a]Then who can be saved?” ²⁷ Looking at them, Jesus *said, “^(D)With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

^28 (E)Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” ²⁹ Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, ^(F)there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, ^30 [b]but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in ^[c]the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in ^(G)the age to come, eternal life. ³¹ But ^(H)many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”

Jesus’ Sufferings Foretold

^32 (I)They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they ^(J)were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him, ³³ saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and ^(K)the Son of Man will be ^[d]delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will ^[e]hand Him over to the Gentiles. ³⁴ They will mock Him and ^(L)spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.”

^35 [f](M)James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, *came up to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” ³⁶ And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” ³⁷ They said to Him, “^[g]Grant that we ^(N)may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” ³⁸ But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able ^(O)to drink the cup that I drink, or ^(P)to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” ³⁹ They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink ^(Q)you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. ⁴⁰ But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; ^(R)but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

^41 (S)Hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with ^[h]James and John. ⁴² Calling them to Himself, Jesus *said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. ⁴³ But it is not this way among you, ^(T)but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; ⁴⁴ and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man ^(U)did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His ^[i]life a ransom for many.”

Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

^46 (V)Then they *came to Jericho. And ^(W)as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. ⁴⁷ When he heard that it was Jesus the ^(X)Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, ^(Y)Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁸ Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “^(Z)Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁹ And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they *called the blind man, saying to him, “^(AA)Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” ⁵⁰ Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. ⁵¹ And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “^[j](AB)Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” ⁵² And Jesus said to him, “Go; ^(AC)your faith has ^[k]made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.

²⁴ And Jesus looked at him and said, “^(A)How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!